In Brief
- Firm Stance: Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has reiterated her call to remove violent and disruptive students from the school system, challenging critics to take these students into their own homes.
- Blame Assigned: She heavily criticised TTUTA, the NPTA, and the PNM, accusing them of undermining efforts to curb school violence and failing to protect teachers and law-abiding students.
- Tragic Context: Her comments follow the tragic death of 15-year-old Jayden Lalchan, who took his own life after facing relentless bullying at school.
- Responses Pending: TTUTA is preparing a formal statement in response to the Prime Minister’s accusations, while PNM MP Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly has not yet commented.
By Alicia Chamely
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is doubling down on her stance that violent, disrespectful students should be removed from schools, stating that those against the measure should “volunteer” to take them into their own homes.
She further lashed out at the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), the National Parent Teachers Association (NPTA), and the People’s National Movement (PNM) for allegedly doing nothing to protect teachers and children from violent parents and students.
In a strongly worded statement on her social media on Tuesday evening, Persad-Bissessar wrote in all caps, “I INVITE THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE AGAINST THE REMOVAL OF VIOLENT, DISRESPECTFUL STUDENTS FROM SCHOOLS TO VOLUNTEER TO TAKE THEM INTO YOUR OWN HOMES, WITH YOUR OWN FAMILIES, AND DEAL WITH THEM.”
Persad-Bissessar stated it was the hope of all decent, law-abiding citizens that their children would be provided with a safe educational environment, only to have them go to school in fear every day because of violent students.
Reflecting on the psychological effects of bullying and violence, she referenced 15-year-old Jayden Lalchan, who took his own life because of constant and relentless bullying by another student at St Stephen’s College in Princes Town.
She stated that children who experience bullying and intimidation suffer deeply, noting, “They cannot study properly because of the constant fear, despair and depression, causing their education to suffer and their futures to be stolen from them.”
“This is not fair to well-behaved students and their hardworking parents, who make sacrifices every day so their children can have a good education and a better future,” she stated.
Firing back at the criticism she received for advocating that disruptive students be sent home, she took aim at TTUTA, the NPTA, and the PNM, accusing them of undermining efforts to curb violence in schools.
Persad-Bissessar stated, “TTUTA, NPTA and the PNM have done nothing and will continue to do nothing to keep our teachers and children safe from violent students and parents in our schools. These three groups complained about police being used to protect our teachers and children in schools and are now fighting to keep violent, out-of-control, abusive students inside our schools to continue terrorising and brutalising our teachers and students.”
“They and other commentators will do nothing to help your children if they become the victims of violent bullies or, God forbid, fall into depression and become suicidal,” she stated.
Persad-Bissessar added, “I invite those of you who are against the removal of violent, disrespectful students from our schools to volunteer to take these students into your own homes, with your own families, and deal with them. These persons would never do that because they would never want their own families endangered, but they have no problem with your children being put in danger.”
She stated her government would continue to stand up for students and teachers, ensuring that they and their futures remain safe.
Concluding, Persad-Bissessar stated, “Good, hardworking, law-abiding citizens and their diligent, disciplined children, who try to live productive lives, should not be made to suffer because of the wicked, uncaring actions of others.”
Calls and messages to Opposition PNM Member of Parliament Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly were not returned as of submission.
When contacted by AZP News, TTUTA President Crystal Asche stated that TTUTA would be releasing a statement regarding the Prime Minister’s accusation that the Association has done nothing to safeguard students and teachers from school violence.
