Mandatory counselling, suspension & transfers for girls who bullied Queenstown student

Two days after the Ministry of Education said it would seriously probe reports of assault meted out to a Venezuelan student from Queenstown Secondary School, it announced on Tuesday the conclusion of the investigation.

Following the circulation of a video recording of the assault last Friday, the Ministry of Education immediately launched an investigation into the matter.

On Monday morning, officers in the ministry’s Secondary Sector Department met with the parents and children involved in the incident and several actions were taken after a probe.

Scheduled and mandatory counselling, suspension and transfers were some of the actions taken for the short and medium term.

The incident occurred in the vicinity of the Bank of Guyana on the Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown.

In a video that was posted on the Facebook group: ‘Venezuelans in Guyana’, the schoolgirl is seen being slapped around and tugged on by other schoolgirls. Other students from the same school could be heard cheering the bullies.

The Ministry of Education said in a statement it remains committed to safe and supportive learning spaces for all students.

“It’s imperative that schools continue to prioritize the well-being and safety of their students, fostering an inclusive and respectful community where every individual feels valued and protected.

“It is equally important that these values be taught and enforced in homes across the country,” the statement added.