radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
The Education Ministry is disputing allegations of a drug block at the Siparia West Secondary School, which has been plagued with incidents of violence and delinquency for the past decade.
Having come under the radar of the ministry, the school is deemed high risk and is one of 15 schools where police patrols have been mandated since February.
But community activist Victor Roberts, who staged a protest outside the Education Ministry office in San Fernando yesterday to highlight issues at the school, said violence continues in the classrooms.
He claimed a student was stabbed with a knife this week and was taken for medical treatment at the Siparia District Health facility.
However, this was categorically denied by officials at the school, who said there was no stabbing in recent times.
Roberts also claimed Block E is an area where marijuana is sold.
“There are areas in the school where children cannot pass where marijuana is being sold. (Name called) was a victim and he was told he cannot pass there unless he buys marijuana. He, being strong-willed, decided he will pass and he was attacked. Now, I am teaching him to defend himself,” Roberts said.
He also claimed that students destroy property, flinging chairs out the windows.
“Teachers are afraid. MTS guards are being attacked and stoned. We are saying that legislation must be put in place to deal with school violence. We need some kind of sanctions against the perpetrators of this violence in schools. We have to save our children,” Roberts said.
He noted that the student who was stabbed this week has not yet returned to school.
Although security checks are made, Roberts also said the students still manage to enter the compound with weapons. He said police officers make patrols during lunchtime and after school but most times the violence takes place inside the classrooms, where the children are unsupervised.
One student, who spoke on the condition of anonymity yesterday, confirmed that violence occurrs almost daily.
But when told of the allegations yesterday, Minister Gadsby-Dolly made enquiries, then replied: “The principal has denied these claims. Though there are students who have been discovered with marijuana, there is no drug block.”
She added: “Two police officers regularly patrol the school and assist where required. There was no stabbing of any student at the school this week.”
This is not the first time that the school has been highlighted in a negative light. In February, after a school fight, six students were suspended. Several online videos surfaced showing students brutalising and extorting each other. In 2017, former principal Sonnylal Sookoo was suspended following an altercation with a student. He was later reinstated.
And in 2019, then Education Minister Anthony Garcia sought to intervene after identifying the issues at the school. A report blamed a breakdown of school systems, a lack of leadership, poor student attendance and a 25 per cent daily teacher absenteeism rate.
