BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC—Education, Technological and Vocational Training Minister Kay McConney is calling on all stakeholders to adopt a “whole-of-country” approach to violence in schools.
In a recorded broadcast, McConney said the ministry had received funding from the Sandy Lane Trust, allowing for the deployment of student counselors to both secondary and primary schools.
In addition, the ministry is building a program with the Ministry of People Empowerment to allow access to an expanded pool of social workers and to develop a healing program to support grieving students and teachers.
“We recognize that grief is a big thing in the school system. Some have seen their loved ones hurt and killed, and it’s not easy then to pick up and come to school and have to deal with all the other things they have to deal with in life. Therefore, this healing program is meant to help us support our students and teachers through that grieving process<’ McConney said.
The Education Minister noted that “it takes a village to raise a child.” The ministry recognizes that partnership with the village is crucial and that more support is needed to provide children, teachers, and parents with the support they need.
“There is concern about violent acts which have happened in some of our schools recently. Members of the public are feeling worried for the safety of our children and worried about violent behavior in the wider society that is making its way into the school environment,” she said.
McConney said children live what they learn, and they bring some of what they know outside of school – the good and the bad.
She said that while schools must first and foremost focus on delivering quality education that caters to all, the ministry cannot avoid being increasingly vigilant and placing greater emphasis on safety and security in these times.
She said weapons do not belong in the hands of children, acknowledging that there are instances where children admitted that they were encouraged by an adult to carry a knife or scissors to school for protection.
The Education Minister said that fighting must not be the first option for resolving conflict simply because some children have yet to learn how to cope when they get angry. Over the last four to five years, the ministry has had to ‘ramp up’ the number of qualified persons in the Student Services Unit, which deals with psychological and social support for students, parents, teachers, and guardians.
“What we did is, we have recognized it is not just about dealing with violent behavior at the beginning, but it is also about us giving the necessary support as our students seek to cope… The many layers that education touches means that we must continue to work collaboratively with each other in what I call an ‘all-as-one’ effort,” she said.
She said less than one percent of the total school population in a school system with 37,000 students is giving trouble, and while this percentage may seem relatively small, it is still too much.
McConney said that school principals will be offered training during the Mental Health Literacy event in November, which will be organized by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Pan-American Health Organization.
“This training for principals comes after we trained, in 2023, … 25 primary school teachers as mental health advocates to be there to support children. And earlier this year, we trained approximately 60 support workers, social workers, counselors, safety officers, and school attendance officers in mental health literacy.”
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