Gopeesingh blames Garcia for ‘crisis’ at Ste Madeleine

“Some of the student skirmishes have been captured on camera and remain posted on social media - a dark illustration of the serious challenges facing the school.” Gopeesingh said that for months Garcia would have known of the school’s problems but did nothing to avert Monday’s incident.

“The minister’s indifference to the agitation and upheaval at (the school) is replicated with respect to other institutions of learning where there are similar disciplinary crises. Mr Garcia’s apathy contrasts sharply with the response to schools’ violence of the People’s Partnership administration which had increased the number of professionals in the Student Support Services Division.

“Additional guidance counsellors, social workers, clinical, behavioural and educational psychologists were employed. Many teachers were trained in Alternative Dispute Resolution. Learning Enhancement Centres were established to provide counselling to suspended students. There was collaboration with the Minister of National Security.” Saying the PP government had begun several targeted initiatives, he said under Garcia many of these were dismantled or starved of resources.

“Mr Garcia’s ineptitude on this urgent and crucial issue compounds the sharp decline in the education sector under his leadership.

There has been a reversal in the historic academic achievements in SE A and CAPE and the schools and Early Childhood Care and Education Centres construction programme has been discontinued.