Community police officers have been stationed at Siparia West Secondary School following a recent fight in which one student was knocked unconscious with a chair while another played dead to survive a brutal beating.
Since the story was published, parents have been reaching out to complain about bullying and harassment at the school.
Speaking to Guardian Media, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsy-Dolly said this school has been of concern to her.
With regard to the recent report of the assault, Minister Gadsby-Dolly said: “The Community Police are involved in this incident, and in any incident at schools where they are required.
She said, however, there have been discrepancies between what the official reports are and what was told to the media.
“The report of this incident as covered in the media and as reported by the school are markedly different. Both accounts speak to a scuffle having taken place, but the school’s report does not indicate that it escalated into the severe beating of any student,” she said.
The minister noted that the Community Police and the Student Support Services continue to work with all of the students involved in the incident.
“Effective immediately, the Community Police will be spending an increased amount of time at this school in an effort to quell disruptions,” she said.
She noted that the students who are repeatedly causing such disruptions have been identified.
“While they are receiving the attention of the Student Support Services, their behaviour is being carefully monitored,” she said.
Last week, a mother reported that her two sons were badly beaten at the school.
She said her younger son, who is a pupil of Form Two, was attempting to defend a female student who was being assaulted by a male pupil when the attack turned on him.
The matter was reported to the Siparia police station.
Siparia West was identified as one of 15 high-risk schools in T&T.
Last February, after a school fight, six students were suspended. Several online videos surfaced showing students brutalising and extorting each other.
