Strangers are returning to ‘hang out’ at the Patentia Secondary School but now teachers are fearful of saying anything to them following threats, according to sources at the school.
Despite a three-week old promise by the Ministry of Education that a security guard would be provided during school hours, one has yet to be placed there, teachers told Stabroek News.
The promise was made following the shooting to death of schoolboy Kelvin Fraser. Referring to the death of Fraser, one teacher said they do not know “what it would take” to have a security guard placed there.
Break-ins at the school have continued up to his week and recently the home of the Headmistress was broken into and items scattered about. Speaking with Stabroek News, one teacher related that there is usually a security guard but he reports in at 3pm, when classes are out and he leaves at 5:30 in the morning. The teacher said after the promise by the Ministry they have heard nothing further.
On June 7, Kelvin, a fourth form student at the school, was fatally shot during what police said was a scuffle with a rank who was attempting to arrest him. However, two youths who were present at the scene have since told Stabroek News that they heard no sounds of a scuffle. Further, one of them said that Kelvin was complying with the order of the policeman when he was shot at close range. The policeman, Quancy John, has since been charged with murder.
The police had said ranks were responding to a report that a group of males were harassing girls at the school when Kelvin was shot. Following the shooting, sources at the school told this newspaper that strangers enter the school’s compound at will and were promoting a gang culture.
The police had been called to the school several times in the past to chase them away. Despite appeals to the Ministry of Education to provide a security guard to man the gates, nothing has been done, they said. Had the calls been answered, the incidents that led up to the fatal shooting of Kelvin could have been avoided, some believe.
On Thursday, three weeks after, they have yet to see the promised guard, the teachers said. This newspaper was told that persons who do not belong in school are beginning to return to hang out there. But now teachers are afraid to tell them anything, according to the sources. They pointed out that the headmistress was threatened and the teachers are also affected. They said that the strangers are “walking up and down in the school.” Some students have also said that they are afraid of pointing out that anyone can enter the compound, including those with malicious intentions. The teachers have said that “over and over” they have had cause to complain to the Ministry of Education and the police about strangers in the school.
Additionally, thieves are beginning to break into the school building. Last Monday, thieves broke into the Art Department and the previous Monday, the very department was broken into, this newspaper was informed. The previous week, break-ins also occurred, the sources said. This week various classrooms were broken into and items were taken, this newspaper was informed. “We don’t know what it would take” to have some form of security, one teacher said while again appealing for the Ministry to keep its promise. “We do not feel safe.”
Meanwhile, following the shooting of Fraser, although it was recommended that students receive counselling, this has also not been done. According to the teachers, they have sought advice and the social worker wanted the students to be moved out of the environment for the sessions since it was felt that the would be more relaxed and open in a different environment but the Education Ministry disagreed so nothing came out of it. However, teachers are of the opinion that counselling is still needed.
