This new method of removing students to be rehabilitated external to the school was first employed on February 22, at the Chaguanas North Secondary School. Approximately 24 students were removed less than one week after school officials were alerted about plans to carry out a gun attack at the school.
Classes were abruptly suspended on February 19, after information surfaced that gunmen were planning to attack a teacher, students and security personnel. A 17-year-old Form Five student subsequently pleaded guilty to using threatening language to inflict grievous bodily harm against his Geography teacher. He was later granted bail in the amount of $10,000 when he appeared in court.
Asked to provide an update on the situation during a press conference at the ministry last Monday, chief education officer Harrilal Seecharan said ten of the 24 students had reported for the rehabilitative session on March 14.
It was later explained that the ministry only had authority over students who were 16 years and under, and that they were dependent on the parents of older students to ensure that they participated in the rehabilitative programme.