President: 353 schools report cases of misbehaviour linked to gang violence, cyber bullying, other problems

President Dr Irfaan Ali Friday afternoon said 353 schools countrywide have been reporting cases of misbehaviour by students, citing rising gang activity, cyber bullying, substance use and vaping; he said consultations will soon be underway to determine the way forward in addressing these issues.

The President Ali said cyber bullying was often the trigger for wider incidents among students.

“A lot of these things start with cyber bullying,” he stated.

He said the scale of the issues has become alarming, with Region Four accounting for the highest share of reported cases.

“This is a big problem,” Dr Ali told a press conference in Georgetown.

Ali said 41% of reported cases were in Region Four, followed by Regions Six, Three, Five and Ten, though he noted population size was a contributing factor.

Among schools identified as facing higher levels of behavioural challenges were Diamond Secondary, Soesdyke Secondary, East Ruimveldt Secondary, Linden Foundation Secondary, Canje Secondary and Bartica Secondary.

The president said authorities were launching a public consultation focused in part on cyber bullying, particularly through social media.

He said the effects were spilling beyond school compounds and contributing to wider emotional harm among students.

“What we’ve also seen, and based on the reports and analysis, you have a lot of copycat behavior. You have…humiliation and trauma.”

He said authorities were responding with greater inter-agency coordination, expanded counselling services, confidential reporting mechanisms, stronger parental and community involvement, and policy reforms.

Ali also pointed to a broader social dimension, including the underrepresentation of male teachers and the need for stronger mentoring programmes involving fathers and community leaders.

“Now this of course has become a very complex issue,” he said.