Education Minister Anthony Garcia says the decision last February to remove 24 students from the secondary school system after reports of violence and behavioural issues among the group waa this one.
This week, the Guardian obtained a report on the progress of 20 of the 24 students, from the Chaguanas North Secondary School who were removed from classes. It indicated that four of the students never returned to the programme while four immediately returned to school after the ministry determined their infractions were minor.
At the time the school had reported fights and threats to teachers. Police officers had entered the compound after reports of a planned gun attack which never materialised.
Armed members of the Defence Force took up temporary posting at the school after it was reported that the school would come under attack from gang members in the community. Subsequently, a 17-year-old Form Five pleaded guilty to using threatening language to inflict grievous bodily harm against his geography teacher.
Some of the 24 were said to have criminal records and others are currently before the courts. Another group of four students was transferred to another school.
Of the remaining 12, one migrated, while the others are in alternative education programmes, including Servol Life Centres, Citizen Conservation Programme (CC) and NESC (National Energy Skills Centre) centres. One of the remaining 12 sat CSEC exams this year and three of the students are preparing to sit CSEC.
Asked whether the plan to remove the students had achieved the desired effect, Garcia said he felt it had been very successful.
Between March 7 and 24, the students were placed in a programme which sought to change their learning environment. They were first exposed to individual and group counselling to treat with behavioural issues, then placed in a classroom setting for “universal guidance” either at another secondary school or a learning centre.
Students also received follow up assessments which is an ongoing process and there were parent consultations. The ministry also has on-going consultation with teachers at learning centres.