Senior Reporter
anna-lisa.paul@guardian.co.tt
An alleged sexual assault attempt at Santa Rosa Government Primary School has left staff and students traumatised, after an intruder gained access to the premises on June 2nd. The predator reportedly locked himself in a storeroom with several female pupils and tried to molest them.
The suspect, who is yet to be apprehended by police, reportedly accessed the school’s compound along Pinto Road, Arima, via a hole in the perimeter fence, before the bell rang around 8.30 am.
According to police, witnesses said the suspect, pretending to be an On-the-Job Trainee (OJT) music teacher, is accused of luring pupils into a storeroom under the guise of needing help to move furniture. Once the children were inside, he allegedly locked the door and solicited sexual acts from them, offering money in exchange.
As the terrified pupils began screaming for help, their schoolmates outside tried to break down the door but were unsuccessful. They alerted a female teacher, who rushed to the classroom but she too could not rescue the pupils.
The teacher then called on an MTS guard for assistance and alerted the police. At that moment, the suspect burst through the door, assaulted the teacher by pushing her to the ground, and fled the classroom, escaping the compound the same way he had entered.
Although staff and students received counselling through the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and the Student Support Services Division (SSSD), officials said this support was insufficient, as some pupils have still not returned to school.
NPTA: Serious breach of safety protocols
Concerned about the incident and the welfare of both staff and pupils, the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) described the presence of an unauthorised individual on the school compound as “a serious and severe breach of safety protocols.”
NPTA president Walter Stewart called for an immediate and comprehensive overhaul of the school’s safety measures, particularly regarding parents and visitors on the compound.
Speaking with Guardian Media, Stewart said, “We have been reliably informed that there is a hole in the perimeter fence through which the intruder may have gained entry.”
The NPTA recommended the immediate enforcement of identification checks for all parents and visitors seeking entry, with the requirement that they be escorted from the school gate to the office.
Stewart also emphasised that security personnel assigned to schools must be fully aware of and strictly adhere to all safety protocols at all times.
He reiterated that principals hold daily responsibility for the safety and security of all students on their compound, and urged that efforts be made to regularly review and strengthen security measures.
TTUTA wants more security guards
T&T Unified Teachers Association president Martin Lum Kin said the hole in the school’s fence was yet to be repaired up to yesterday.
Expressing concern over the incident, he said, “We, along with the members of staff, are all concerned with the compliment of security officers assigned to the school.”
He renewed the call for the increased security guards at all schools.
MOE cooperating with police investigation
The Ministry of Education (MOE) is cooperating fully with police investigators. According to the ministry, “Preliminary information indicates that the individual was seen traversing multiple areas of the school building.”
They assured that “the principal and staff responded promptly, acting in accordance with established safety procedures and alerting the relevant authorities”.
The MOE also indicated that it had introduced interim measures, stating, “As a precautionary measure, the Ministry has initiated a review of the school’s existing security protocols. This step is part of our continued commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students, staff, and visitors across the national school system.”
The ministry reminded all school administrators and security personnel to remain vigilant and to ensure that all safety protocols are enforced consistently.
Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath insisted, “Every child deserves a safe space to learn-free from fear or disruption,” and further noted that, “The ministry will continue working with all stakeholders to safeguard that right.”