In the wake of concerns about the safety of schoolchildren, the Ministry of Education yesterday issued a circular to regional education officers and others on best practices.
The circular was issued by the Assistant Chief Education Officer – School Support Services. It reminded teachers, students and parents of the importance of staying vigilant and for students to make safe decisions when interacting with others, particularly outside of school.
For students, the circular admonished that they should never go anywhere with a stranger, they should trust their instincts, know their routes, wherever possible travel with friends or classmates and always inform a trusted adult if strangers try to approach them.
The circular urged parents to discuss this important issue with their children and to emphasize the importance of being cautious and aware of their surroundings. Parents were also urged to ensure that their children know how to contact them or another trusted individual in the event of an emergency.
Teachers were called upon to reinforce safety measures as part of classroom discussions and daily interactions with students.
The Ministry’s circular followed a report in yesterday’s Stabroek News that the Guyana Police Force was investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle that approached two students of Marian Academy on Friday, November 1.
According to a letter from the school’s principal, Sr. Shelly Jhetoo shared with parents and guardians, the incident occurred just before 4 p.m. when two Form 2 students were walking toward the Primary waiting area. The students reported that a heavily tinted silver car pulled up beside them, and a male driver, who was alone in the vehicle, offered them candy and invited them to get into the car. The left back seat window was rolled down, and the students could see the candy inside.
One of the students, feeling uneasy about the situation, quickly urged the other to decline the offer, and they both hurried to the Primary waiting area. The students took note of the car’s licence plate and immediately reported the incident to Ms. Duff, the Vice Principal of the Secondary Department.
In response to the incident, the principal contacted the Alberttown Police Station and was advised that the students’ parents would need to file a formal report. The following day, the father of one of the boys accompanied his son to the Alberttown Police Station to provide a statement. Constable Ferguson, who took the report, assured the family that the Guyana Revenue Authority would be contacted to trace the car’s owner, and an update would be provided soon.
In light of the incident, Principal Jhetoo emphasized the importance of safety measures at the school, including supervision for students half an hour before and after school hours. She also appealed to parents to have ongoing discussions with their children about the dangers of interacting with strangers, urging them to be cautious of anyone offering treats or asking them to get into vehicles. The principal also addressed concerns about misinformation circulating in the community, urging parents to confirm any information with the school before sharing it on social media or chat groups. She reassured parents that the school’s security system, including surveillance cameras and security guards, is in place to protect the students at all times.
Parents have been reminded that students should only leave the school compound with designated individuals, and any emergency pickups must be done through the main office with a gate pass for the security guard.
The measures taken by Marian Academy are similar to communications from other institutions, including Christ Church Secondary School which also issued a statement on Wednesday to parents and guardians addressing the need for heightened safety protocols in response to rising concerns over the safety of students.
