President of the T&T Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) Lynsley Doodhai yesterday admitted that bullying within the secondary school system was on the rise.
Doodhai was commenting on the latest bullying incident involving a 15-year-old Barataria North Secondary School student who was attacked by three female students outside the school compound last week Wednesday.
Since the incident, the mother of the victim, Nakpangi Joseph, has urged the Barataria police to press assault charges against two of her daughter’s attackers.
Joseph claimed that for a year her daughter has been subjected to harassment and ridicule by the gang of students who were eventually suspended by the school.
Joseph, whose daughter was suspended for three days, is expected to give community police WPC Ali a statement today at the station.
“The police already have my daughter’s medical and a report from me. Once the statement is given the girls will be charged. I have no intention of backing down from the charges,” Joseph said yesterday.
Doodhai commended Joseph for standing up against the bullies and going to the police.
“She did the right thing,” Doodhai said. “Such incidents should be reported to the police.”
Apart from students being targeted by bullies, Doodhai said the personal safety of teachers are also threatened.
Although TTUTA has not been compiling data on bullying at schools, Doodhai said several reports have come to their attention.
“The number is quite a lot. Those that were reported at the schools level would not come to us. What I can tell you is it quite prevalent in the secondary schools.”
Doodhai viewed bullying as disturbing and worrying, stating the figures have been increasing.
“More and more cases of bullying have been coming to the public’s attention. I know the Ministry is saying that the figures have been decreasing. If you talk to teachers they would tell you there are many instances of bullying that are taking place in the schools. Many go unreported.”
While Doodhai stated that TTUTA cannot do anything to protect students who are victims of bullying, they can offer solutions and suggestions of how bullying can be handled and prevented.
He said schools that are aware of bullying should encourage the victims to speak out.
As for the victims and bullies, Doodhai said they would both need help through the school’s Students Support Services.
From the minute a student is suspended for bullying Doodhai urged the school to get the police involved to protect students and staff.
Doodhai said bullies most times are placed in a learning enhance centre where they follow a different curriculum.
“However, one drawback from this is the attendance at the centre is voluntary and not mandatory.”