Reports of violence and bullying in schools, alongside the discovery of weapons on students during school hours, have sparked urgent concern across Saint Lucia.
In light of last week’s allegations by the mother of a teen, questions are intensifying about whether schools are doing enough to ensure student safety.
Neal Fontenelle, President of the National Principals’ Association, spoke candidly about the efforts currently underway to address the issue.
“We have been working, and I say we, the ministry, the National Principals Association, and the counseling departments across the different districts to ensure that we improve our response to bullying, but also to ensure that we limit the amount of bullying that takes place,” he explained.
Fontenelle highlighted existing programs aimed at creating safer school environments. “We have a safe school program. We have a bloody bench program at the primary schools in particular, where we encourage students to speak out against bullying,” he said.
Safety, he emphasized, is the first priority. “Even in my school, personally, before we go ahead and educate the students, we have to ensure their safety. Of course, the measures that we take, some schools have random situations, of course, [and we get] the police and so on. It’s a matter of promoting a positive attitude at the school that would discourage that type of behavior.”
Fontenelle acknowledged the Ministry of Education’s active role in supporting school safety, while stressing that ongoing improvement is necessary.
“This is a way of addressing the safety issues at schools. And I cannot say that the Ministry of Education is not sensitive towards those issues. Most times when we meet the MP and the top brass of the Ministry of Education, these are usually issues and concerns that come about. We know that the ministry is doing a lot to assist in terms of school safety. But of course, there’s always more that can be done.”
As students, parents, and educators navigate these challenging developments, Fontenelle’s remarks underline a collaborative approach aimed at reducing violence, improving safety, and reinforcing the importance of supportive learning environments.