Tranquil start to school reopening

After being closed for approximately one week, the Tranquillity Government Secondary School yesterday reopened to both students and teachers.

The decision, which was arrived at last week, occurred as a result of urgent meetings between parents, teachers and officials of the Ministry of Education, where it was agreed that some short term measures would be implemented to try to control the type and amount of violence by students. When Newsday contacted the school, principal Dr Mervyn Sandy was unavailable for comment, but a source in the administrative department confirmed that the day’s proceedings ran “smoothly.” Adding that all teachers had reported for work, the source claimed all classes were conducted as scheduled and that Sandy had addressed the students following morning devotions.

However, they refused to disclose what had been said by Sandy, but admitted that everything appeared to be back to normal. A release from the Ministry of Education later confirmed that students had been addressed by Sandy and president of the past students body. Communications specialist Hilton Braveboy said he was reliably informed that formal teaching began after break-period, with a full complement of 70 teachers, including the principal and vice principal. There was an increase in MTS Security on the school’s compound, as well as three uniformed police officers — one female and two males. Braveboy stated that there had been no untoward incidents at yesterday’s re-opening.