| RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT - This is how the Education Ministry described the use of school children in illegal & unconstitutional protests |  |  |  |
| Monday, 30 September 2013 23:43 |
THE Ministry of Education has denounced the recent actions by some small pockets of persons to disrupt the functioning of schools by illegally protesting and behaving in other unhealthy and unwholesome ways.
 Education Minister Priya Manickchand According to the release, the ministry embraces and encourages the principle that children must be seen and heard, and recognises the right of every citizen, young or old, not to be hindered in the enjoyment of his or her freedom of assembly, association, and freedom to demonstrate peacefully. However, the ministry said it wishes to remind all persons, including political activists and their bosses, that in exercising these rights, they must not interfere with public order and/or hinder the rights and freedoms of other persons. “The Ministry of Education has assured that it will continue to teach Guyana’s children and others about these sacred rights and responsibilities that are enshrined in Guyana’s Supreme Law, the Constitution of Guyana,” the release stated. Education Minister, Priya Manickchand said her ministry will continue to teach that the rights of all, those who wish to protest and those who do not, must always be preserved; and indeed, that the people of Guyana have a duty to preserve same. Manickchand also stated that it may seem trite to indicate that the best and right thing for persons who wish to complain about, or are concerned with, any issue is to first seek to resolve same in an organised manner. She noted that if one were truly interested in a solution (as distinct from being seen and/or being politically antagonistic), before one takes to placards, it would be wise to first seek an intervention or solution from the appropriate authority. “Best practice dictates that protest must be used as a last resort, rather than as the first way to bring attention to a problem, whether real or perceived,” she argued. Minister Manickchand said her ministry was astonished and deeply concerned when it was told by the executive body of the Parent Teacher’s Association (PTA) of the Parika/Salem Primary School, that it never even attempted to meet the regional officials, Ministry officials, or anyone else about any of the issues that they (PTA) thought affected their children prior to mounting the protest. “There are numerous established ways and means existing to allow for healthy engagements in order to address issues that touch and concern our schools and school children. The first place to begin would be the school’s administration; that is to say, the head teacher, deputy head teacher, etc, the local Education Departments, the Ministry of Education, the Chief Education Officer, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, and the Minister of Education,” the release stated. The ministry noted that it has established hotlines, open social media, such as Facebook and twitter, and soon a website that would allow for persons to engage on issues of concern to them, and specifically for persons to lodge complaints and to receive feedback. “Interested and relevant persons have a responsibility to inform themselves of these various means of engaging,” the release stated. ACTION THAT WILL BE TAKEN The Education Ministry is working with the Guyana Police Force to ensure that any school compound that is locked will be opened immediately, and those responsible for locking same will be dealt with condignly by the law. |