Augustus: School boards must work with principals

During the last few weeks, there have been several violent incidents at some of the nation’s schools, including two fires at the Arima and Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive schools.

The motion was presented by Education Minister Hazel Manning, who said that by the end of the year all 86 Government secondary schools should have school boards. She said the need arose to amend the regulations after several issues came about, including conflicts between the principals and the boards. However, Augustus advised the minister that some of those conflicts resulted because of the political appointees on the boards, who attempted to override the duties of the principal. He said he was hoping to hear from the minister how the boards would really improve the delivery of education and the reasons used for selecting some of the board members.

He wanted to know when boards are appointed at the Arima Senior Comprehensive, Chaguanas Senior Comprehensive, Marabella Junior Secondary or the Morvant Laventille Senior Comprehensive, if any consideration was given to the problems at those schools, namely the violence and drug selling. Pointing out that it was said recently that some of our schools are a "breeding ground for criminal activities," Augustus wondered if the variety of skills and the behaviours in communities were being taken into account to address the problems.

He said the school boards must assist principals in developing district visions, insisting they must help to develop "settings for success oriented and better citizens we are producing today."

Augustus said, "We must know five years down the road there is no fire at the Arima Senior Comprehensive, there are no disciplinary procedures against a principal who we blame and who is still there but we create a situation that is best for the country." He said the boards must be able to go into the school and help the "principal and staff to ensure that drugs being sold outside the schools are no longer a problem, to cut off the rampant absenteeism and unpunctuality in schools, to convince the administration that structure and manning of the schools have been outgrown by the expansion of the education population, to increase the supervisory posts, to have enough human resource skills to ensure enough attention is provided for the population to be comfortable, and for the boards to be pro-active and develop creative ways in raising funds."

Augustus also suggested that boards not only be established in secondary schools, but also in primary schools "or we waste time because by 11 years they are gone."

Augustus said a good school improvement plan must be developed to instill a sense of values in schools, so that when children leave the institution they can improve society.

Independent Senator Prof Ken Ramchand supported Augustus in his call for the boards to be introduced in primary schools.