The Ministry of Education has been approaching school violence in a serious and systematic way. In response to questions from the Sunday Guardian on violence in schools, the ministry stated in a release that it has established a Violence Prevention Academy, and to date 25 schools have been using a data-based approach.
That approach seeks "to identify situations, times, events of indiscipline and violence and applying various strategies from increased school patrols to psychosocial support to address such matters." Acknowledging the absence of any teacher from a class has the potential to create bedlam among unsupervised students, the ministry said: "Indiscipline and sometimes violent situations are possible outcomes."
The Sunday Guardian, last week, investigated claims of teacher absenteeism and the impact on the school system. The ministry said 269 deans and 372 heads of departments have been employed "to address indiscipline and provide support for teachers in areas of classroom management and curriculum delivery at the secondary level."
The appointments of guidance officers to schools are also increasing on an annual basis.
Approximately 60 out of 125 secondary schools now have those officers. Primary schools are now serviced by 180 officers and school social workers. Though there are only two school psychologists, the ministry receives psychological assistance from the Health Ministry and the private sector. In addition, all government secondary schools now have two safety officers in each school.
The ministry drew reference to research done by Prof Ramesh Deosaran in 2008, from 1,100 secondary school teachers in 20 secondary schools. The report said that 47 per cent of teachers identified teachers' indiscipline as a big problem.
However, more than 60 per cent said that parental neglect, poor upbringing and family life breakdowns were the major causes of school delinquency. Threats by students made against teachers many times in one school term was in the 30 per cent range.
