A parents’ advocacy group is welcoming the Ministry of Educational Transformation’s crackdown on school violence, but has cautioned that punitive action alone is not enough to address what it said appears to be a national crisis.
Concern about violent incidents at schools across Barbados—including attacks that have left teachers injured—prompted Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw to issue a circular last Friday, directing school principals to advise students, parents and guardians of Section 64 (1) of the Education Act. Under that section, it is an offence to: cause a disturbance in an educational institution; insult or abuse a teacher in the presence or hearing of pupils; use threatening, abusive, or insulting words in an educational institution; or assault a teacher or insult, assault or abuse a pupil. The legislation carries penalties of up to six months’ imprisonment, a $500 fine, or both.
Spokesperson and coordinator of the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados, Paula-Anne Moore, stressed on Friday that any zero-tolerance policy must be implemented with fairness, due process and safeguards against the disproportionate criminalisation of disadvantaged students.
“This is a welcome step in the right direction, but long-promised systemic policy and implementation are urgently needed,” Moore said.
She raised concerns about how offences such as “a disturbance” will be defined and enforced, and whether students could now face automatic suspension, expulsion or even criminal charges for relatively minor infractions.
“If this is indeed the announced ‘zero tolerance’ official policy in action… what is the process by which this policy is implemented?” she asked. “The same inequities and biases which manifest in our wider criminal court system, which disproportionately negatively impact those who are socio-economically disadvantaged, might also manifest here.”
The parent advocate stressed the importance of rehabilitation over criminalisation, especially for first-time and younger offenders.
“Some can be saved, especially with the earliest intervention. Consigning them to criminal records and locking them up in prison at an early age may doom them to a life of crime,” she said.
Moore insisted that while decisive action may appear politically popular, enforcement must be matched with clear guidelines and the flexibility for school leaders to exercise discretion. She also cautioned against a one-size-fits-all approach, advocating for discretion based on the severity of incidents.
“A zero tolerance approach to all indiscipline incidents should not result in automatic suspension, expulsion, or criminal referral. A case-by-case judicious response is preferable, instead of a ‘one size fits all’ scenario,” she said.
“This includes the establishment of (residential) rehabilitation facilities for deviant students, the hiring of more social workers and guidance counsellors (currently none at primary schools), and, where necessary, legislative reforms.”
Moore also pointed to the wider social context driving school violence and urged a national, multi-agency strategy as outlined by Prime Minister Mia Mottley previously.
“Preventative measures inclusive of more public school psychologists are needed,” she said. “Early diagnostics and therapy starting at primary school level are important tools to address learning challenges which can be at the heart of deviant behaviour…. Dysfunctional homes, at-risk communities and poverty challenges also result in such behaviour.”
She further called for greater transparency and accountability from the ministry itself, noting that frustrated parents have often reported incidents of victimisation without satisfactory official response.
“The Ministry of Educational Transformation must also publicly commit to its own accountability. Effective accountability must be two-way, transparent, and clearly enforced.”
Calling on parents to take responsibility and engage in positive behaviour management at home, she added: “We urge fellow parents/guardians to discharge their parental duties responsibly… and to be willing to be receptive to support when it is needed and offered.”
The Barbados Union of Teachers and the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union have welcomed the ministry’s stance against the disturbingly rising student-on-teacher violence over the past several months. (SZB)
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