Wardens will make students behave like criminals

CHAGUANAS Mayor Surujrattan Rambachan has criticised the Education Ministry’s plan to assign wardens to high risk schools. He said the system would introduce a jail-type mentality in schools and cause students to behave like criminals. “With rampant violence in schools, the present administration wants to introduce wardens at our nation’s schools. If this is done, we would be introducing a jail-type atmosphere and this would only cause students to behave in a criminal manner. The violence will not stop, but spread throughout the country,” Mayor Rambachan said. The Mayor dealt with the matter in the keynote address at an awards ceremony at the Upper Level Education Institute in Chaguanas on Wednesday. He said what was needed, was a different approach to teaching by teachers. “Teaching with a heart makes all the difference. Teachers must win the hearts of their students. They must be the students friends and then, and only then, will the education system achieve the kind of success that is currently lacking.”

Following outbreaks of violence in schools, which left students hospitalised and others facing criminal charges before the lower courts, Education Minister Hazel Manning announced plans for a wardens system at high-risk schools. The wardens would be mainly retired police officers who would liaise with school officials and security guards on measures to deal with violence and indiscipline among students. Rambachan reminded the gathering that character was the factor that guaranteed success. “If you have 1,000 passes, that will not matter if you lack character, for it is your character that you will be judged by,” he said. Upper level student Ross Ramlakhan, 16, received an award for topping the country in Principles of Business at the last CXC exams. Ramlakhan also received a Proclamation Certificate from the Chaguanas Borough Corporation. Ramlakhan said the secret to his educational success was hard work. “I worked real hard and studied for long hours. The support of my parents and teachers also played a major part in my success and I owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude,” he said.