The Ministry of Education Transformation has outlined comprehensive plans to address violence and deviance among schoolchildren.
They were shared by Minister of Education Transformation Chad Blackman and his team at the ministry yesterday in the Well of the House of Assembly, while fielding questions from fellow parliamentarians on the second day of debate on the Appropriation Bill, 2026.
Member of Parliament for The City of Bridgetown, Michael Lashley, and St Michael Central MP Tyra Trotman each raised questions related to the need to stem student violence and parent-on-teacher violence on the school compound, as well as security issues and the need for interventions to save schoolchildren at risk.
Blackman contended what was happening at schools was “a broader societal issue” which must be confronted by the entire country.
He conceded children manifest behaviours “in many respects in ways that we don’t want them to” but said “there are broader societal issues that we must confront”.
He advised Government was already taking a “zero tolerance stance” on the issues, but said “equally, parents and guardians have to take a level of responsibility with respect to the behaviour of their children and wards.
“Whilst the ministry will work assiduously to make sure there are programmes and early interventions to treat to the behaviours of our students in the minority who are acting in a deviant way, the message has to go out that parents have a responsibility to work with the ministry in ensuring that when their children come to school, they are there to learn, they are there to study, they are there to get an education,” Blackman said.
He also announced that secondary students would in the future be required to join a “uniformed organisation” such as a service club or sporting group.
He added he was prepared to have a conversation with the country, students and parents on the issues of school security and violence.
Also responding to questions were Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw and her deputy Julia Beckles.
Archer-Bradshaw said the ministry was working “assiduously to get to the bottom of the problem of student violence”.
“We have identified a four-tier system that will help us get to the root of the problem.”
She explained that the matter of student suspension would also be examined and announced that a code of conduct was being considered to support the Code of Discipline set out in the Education Act. She confirmed there was a proposal for the Act to increase the fine of $500 for people going on school premises and committing violence on teachers to $5 000 as a deterrent.
Backbencher Tyra Trotman aired concerns surrounding school security, and drug use by students and the “lethal weapons” some are taking to school.
Responding, Beckles said principals and their teams had stepped up student searches, conducted several times of the day, though she disclosed there were students escaping that net by stashing the forbidden items outside the school compound.
Beckles said while walk-in detectors had not yet been installed at schools, other detection methods were being used. She also advised on installation of cameras around the school plant and of plans to have cameras installed in the guard’s hut.
The Deputy Chief Education Officer reported a decline in the number of acts of violence perpetrated by students, with only two recorded so far this year, as compared with 12 last year. There was also only one reported act of violence on a teacher, Beckles said.
She, however, suggested there needed to be more education of students, parents and guardians “on what is written in the Education Act”.
