Shawn Clarke, chief executive officer of Supreme Counselling
for Personal Development (SCPD), and Roger Husbands, chairman of Drug Education
and Counselling Services (DECS), urged immediate and systemic changes to
address the issue.
Recent incidents ranging from stabbings to conflicts driven
by gang influence have alarmed communities and raised concerns about children's
safety.
Clarke warned that the current wave of school violence has
escalated beyond the norm.
"To say it is nothing new almost sounds to me like you
have accepted what is happening and that you're saying this is the norm,"
he told Barbados TODAY. He cautioned that the situation has "escalated
into something even more" and could fester for years if not tackled
swiftly.
Husbands echoed Clarke's concerns, attributing the violence
in schools to deeper societal tensions.
"There is war in our school system and our
communities," he said, pointing to the infiltration of gang culture and
territorial disputes into the school environment.
One particularly troubling development is the increasing
number of students carrying weapons to school. Clarke recounted an intervention
at a secondary school where a majority of the second-form students admitted to
bringing weapons for protection.
"I asked the question, 'How many of you bring to school
a weapon?' And the majority of the hands in that classroom went in the
air," he revealed. When asked why, the students responded: "Sir, just
in case." Clarke said this mindset reflects a growing perception among
young people that they need to defend themselves at all times.
Husbands also noted that students carry weapons out of fear
for their safety.
"They carry these weapons so that they can protect
themselves within the school system," he explained, adding that even those
who are not gang-affiliated feel compelled to arm themselves because
"anytime somebody could interfere with them, or anytime somebody could
threaten them".
The crisis, according to both experts, is exacerbated by a
lack of trust between students and school authorities. Clarke described the
frustration felt by students who see little response from school staff when
they report being bullied or threatened.
"I go in and I'm complaining to my teachers; I'm not
getting any satisfaction," he said, recounting the experiences of
students.
Husbands agreed, saying students hesitate to speak out for
fear of being labelled "snitches" and facing retaliation.
The growing influence of gang culture in schools is also a
major concern. Clarke noted that gang-related conflicts are spilling over into
school grounds, leading some students to arm themselves not just for
protection, but because they are caught up in rivalries between different
groups.
"It is as though gang culture that exists on the
outside has permeated the school culture," he said.
Husbands said the issue has become "hot" among
young people who harbour animosity towards each other and are eager to fight.
"We need to fix these problems before it is too
late," the DECS head urged.
Clarke believes that part of the solution lies in equipping
students with better life skills: "We need to get these programmes in the
schools in a meaningful way... teaching our young people anger management,
conflict resolution, and alternatives to problem behaviours."
Stressing that short-term measures will not be effective, he
added: "I also know that a six-week or a four-week or eight-week kind of
management programme is not effective. I know that it has to be
long-term."
Clarke therefore advocated for a five-year approach,
starting from the first year of secondary school.
Husbands called for more immediate security measures, such
as deploying Barbados Defence Force soldiers to patrol school premises. He
suggested that army personnel could also serve as mentors and positive role
models for students.
"They can come to be friends, to be mentors, to be
support systems for children," he said.
The anxiety and fear felt by students are palpable, with
some opting to stay away from school altogether, Husbands noted.
"I have young people telling me they are scared to go
to school," he revealed, warning that these fears could lead to longterm
disruptions in students' education.
Clarke added that students are not only fearful of what
happens in school but also of what might occur on their way home. He
underscored the importance of community involvement in tackling these issues,
noting that "the reality is that the persons who work in NGOs are on the
ground. We feel the pulse of the people."
Both Clarke and Husbands believe that collaboration between
the government, schools, and community organisations is essential to curbing
the rising violence.
"There needs to be a serious government and third
sector relationship," Clarke said, highlighting the vital role of
nongovernmental organisations in reaching vulnerable youth.
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