GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Guyana's government says it is moving to implement standard anti-bullying and anti-violence procedures in schools across the country.
Education Minister, Sonia Parag.Education Minister Sonia Parag said the initiative is part of the ministry’s wider efforts to improve student behaviour, and strengthen discipline while creating safer learning environments.
She said that consultations are continuing with stakeholders and members of the public to gather recommendations that will help shape the national framework.
“When I thought of having that consultation with the public, it was to get from the public and different stakeholders their recommendations on solutions,” she said, adding that the ministry plans to establish standard operating procedures that will be applied in schools.
She said that the measures are intended to guide behaviour across the school environment, including during assemblies and in classrooms.
She encouraged the daily reinforcement of positive conduct, highlighting also the importance of moral education, explaining that it must move beyond theory and focus on practical behavioural development among students.
“Moral education is teaching you how to have a good or better behavioural pattern. Therefore, it shouldn’t just be theory. It should be practical as well,” she said, adding that the ministry aims to compile the recommendations and policies into a national document that will serve as a guide for schools.
Parag said the long-term objective is to have anti-bullying and anti-violence measures formally enacted into law.
“At the very highest, I would like to have legislation in relation to the anti-bullying and anti-violence policies.”
In January, Parag, speaking at an anti-bullying consultation, reaffirmed the government’s commitment in maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to bullying in all its forms, whether between students, teacher-to-student, or among staff. She noted then that tackling the issue requires both accountability and compassion.
“Bullying cannot be treated as a passing issue or glossed over. We must have frank conversations and practical solutions that take into account the social environments from which children come. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.”
