Meanwhile, a source close to the school told Stabroek News yesterday, that it was a shock when the teen was found with the weapon as he is not known to be a troublemaker.
The source confirmed that it was another student who found the unloaded weapon in the teen’s bag and promptly informed teachers.
From all indications this is the first time a student was found with this type of weapon at the school but in the past, ice picks and knives have being found. The source pointed out that these sharp weapons were never found under violent circumstances.
“Teachers in no school cannot deal with crime. They are not trained for that,” the source said further stating that this is a situation that needs to be urgently addressed as it is becoming a regular occurrence in the school system. This newspaper was told that teachers of the school the teen attends have been subjected to threats from students.
After the discovery was made, the teen’s mother was contacted and when she learnt of what had happened, she was in disbelief. The teen’s father lives abroad.
Contacted, Education Minister Shaik Baksh said the police are now involved in the matter and he awaits a written report. He added that the incident is of great concern to him as is any violent one that occurs within the school system.
He mentioned a recent incident that occurred at a city school where a student was hit with a piece of wood resulting in him being hospitalized. He stated that in the years he has been minister he is unaware of a gun being found in the possession of a student.
According to Baksh, a team of education officials visited the teen’s school yesterday and that the matter will be dealt with by the Schools Welfare Department.
From reports, during morning classes a female student lost her pencil and thinking that the teen had hidden it, went into his bag. There she saw the weapon and informed senior school officials.
The police were later informed and the weapon – a hand gun – was handed over.
A senior police officer had told this newspaper that while being questioned the fifth former said he had found the firearm by the roadside and picked it up.
