Between 25 to 30 El Dorado East Secondary School students who were allegedly involved in illegal activities, ranging from gambling, drugs, sex and threatening teachers, could be removed from classes.
The figure was given yesterday by Education Minister Anthony Garcia shortly after arriving in Tobago, where Prime Minister Keith Rowley will hold his second Cabinet retreat.
Garcia made the disclosure one day after visiting the East-based school, where he vowed to take action against wayward students after learning staff was living in fear, as the institution had become overrun by illegal activities. He also instructed the principal to provide him with a list of all the problematic students.
Yesterday, when questioned if he had obtained that list, Garcia said no. Garcia said once the list reached his hands, he would examine the offences committed by the students.
Asked how many students were likely to be on the list, Garcia “some say it could be 25...it could be 30. This matter is in the hands of the director of the school supervisor so I would contact him today to find out whether he has been in contact with the principal to get that list.
“Then, we will be able to decide. I can tell you that one of the things that we plan to do as a matter of urgency is to get in contact with the parents and guardians of those students and have a meeting with them to have control over those students.”
Garcia promised action would be taken against them “as soon as possible.” Last month, the ministry decided to remove from classes 24 students from the Chaguanas West Secondary School after police were alerted of a planned gun attack at the school. Some of the 24 are said to hold criminal records and others are currently before the courts for criminal activity.
Garcia said the ministry would come to a decision soon on its next course of action with those students.
“I have been engaging them (Support Students Services Division) in treating all the students who have problems.”
Questioned if school violence will be discussed at the Cabinet retreat, Garcia was unsure. “That is the Prime Minister’s call. I don’t want to prejudge anything. As the person who has responsibility for the education system in the country it must be very worrying to me.
“Therefore, I can use all the resources and information that I can gather...everything at my disposal to bring to an end this sorry state of affairs.”
Behaviour change consultant, Franklyn Dolly, believes deviant students should be given psychometric testing “to know what is happening with them.” He estimated at least five per cent of students in “about 60 to 70 per cent of schools” needed the test.
“If the ministry fails to address the five per cent of these children the figure would increase.These children are angry. They can not cope in the system. The only thing that is helping them to cope is the illegal activities,” he said.
Yesterday, president of the National Parents Teachers Association Zena Ramatali said the association would have a closed-door meeting on Saturday to discuss the issues at the El Dorado East Secondary School.
Several calls to president of T&T Unified Teachers’ Association Devanand Sinanan’s cell phone went unanswered yesterday.