Twenty one students are to be removed from the El Dorado East Secondary School and sent to the Couva Learning Enhancement Centre by the end of this week. Education Minister Anthony Garcia confirmed this yesterday. He also signalled his intention to provide administrative support to the school’s principal to ensure it became a reality soon.
It was only last week Monday that officials of the Ministry of Education met with parents of students attending the school, who had been said to be exhibiting undesirable behaviours. School officials had listed 31 students from various forms believed to be engaged in deviant and disruptive acts which included drinking, gambling, smoking and taxing other students.
Although the 31 parents were invited to the meeting, only 13 turned up to discuss their children’s welfare. During the Monday meeting, Garcia promised each case would be assessed individually and a final decision would be taken before the term ended.
Pressed to reveal the details of a meeting held on Thursday last with district school supervisors, as well as the school’s guidance counsellors and teachers, Garcia said it was decided that ten students would “be rehabilitated within the school environment.”
The remaining 21 students were to be removed immediately and sent to one of the two enhancement learning centres where they will undergo counselling, remedial sessions and interactive therapy. Garcia said he was also awaiting a final report from the Chief Education Officer and the school supervisors which is expected to be received today.
Explaining the process to be employed from here on, Garcia said the first step was to issue suspension letters to the students. Returning from a weekend meeting in Grenada yesterday, Garcia said, “I am hoping the letters went out to the parents while I was away.” School principals are only permitted to suspend students for a maximum of seven days, and can apply to the ministry for an extension, depending on the severity of the offence.
Revealing that the school principal had “done this,” Garcia went on, “I have already indicated that I will give the approval for the extended suspension.” As a result, the 21 students will be removed from the school system as soon as possible.
Regarding the cause of a fire at the school last Thursday, Garcia said they were still awaiting the findings from fire officials. He stressed that only when the findings were received, would officials determine if a police investigation was necessary.
Garcia added, “It is our suspicion that the perpetrators of that act are among the 21 students to be removed.” Fire officials were called to the school at Karamath Street, El Dorado, around 1.30 pm, on March 18, after smoke was seen coming from a classroom on the third floor. Unable to gain access to Classroom 41, fire officers were forced to cut the lock on an adjoining classroom.
Garcia yesterday confirmed that fire had been set to the ceiling of the classroom. Bringing the blaze under control quickly, officers were able to minimise the damage and no injuries were reported. However, two classrooms were subsequently damaged by the fire and water. On Friday, the Ministry of Education advised Forms One to Four students occupying Block E, to remain at home as clean-up operations were carried out. School is expected to reopen as normal today.
TTUTA concerned
Extremely concerned about the situation at the El Dorado East Secondary School, president of the T&T Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Devanand Sinanan urged everyone involved to think carefully before assigning blame. Speaking yesterday, Sinanan said, “We don’t know who the perpetrators are and we cannot pass judgment without having proof.”
Calling for a police investigation to determine the culprits, Sinanan said, “Let the law take its course.” He said if it turned out to be a question of student indiscipline, the police should be called in.
Asked if TTUTA had been asked to intervene on behalf of their members who may be scared or apprehensive about entering a classroom with any of the alleged perpetrators, Sinanan said no, but he assured that they were ready to respond to any request for assistance.