After two months of promises of protection for teachers at the Lodge Secondary School, barbed wire is currently being installed on the school’s perimeter fence.
Stabroek News visited the school on Wednesday and spoke with Deputy Head Master, Khemraj Sawh, who said that there are still outstanding works but nevertheless the process has commenced. Barbed wire was evident on parts of the fence whereas similar structures are yet to be installed on other parts. An additional security hut was also constructed and positioned to the back of the school. There are other works being executed within the school and these are expected to be completed before the re-opening of the new term.
Two months ago, teachers of Lodge Secondary protested over the infiltration of gangs. They were targeted after they reported on the deteriorating security situation. The teachers were also subjected to threats from some students and resorted to protests to highlight the untenable security situation in the school.
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Guyana Teachers’ Union, met and outlined some resolutions to the problems. GTU Vice President (Demerara), Collis Nicholson, had said that some of the resolutions included erecting barbed wire on the school’s fence, increased Guyana Police Force’s patrols in the proximity of the school, as per instruction by the Division’s commander, the placing of a guard hut to the rear of the school and three additional male guards who would be tasked with conducting daily checks on students entering the school’s compound.