By: Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News|
The Ministry of Education is taking decisive steps to promote safer and more compassionate learning environments across Guyana, with the introduction of a Moral and Civic Education component to the national school curriculum and the launch of a dedicated website for reporting bullying.
Education Minister Sonia Parag, announcing the initiative over the weekend, said it forms part of a zero-tolerance policy toward bullying in schools.
“We will have a zero-tolerance approach — not only as the Ministry of Education but as the Government of Guyana — in relation to bullying,” Minister Parag emphasized.
The Minister explained that the Moral and Civic Education programme aims to nurture values such as respect, empathy, responsibility, and good citizenship among students. The initiative will be complemented by a secure online reporting platform, allowing students, parents, and teachers to report incidents of bullying or harassment confidentially.
“It has to be that we are all playing an active part, with a sense of community and contribution, to be the guardians of every single child in this country,” Parag stated.
Home Affairs Minister Oneidge Walrond, in her remarks, underscored that school safety is also a national security issue that requires multi-agency cooperation.
“The goal is to come up with a solid, actionable plan and policy to tackle this scourge. We view school safety as central to our mandate. School safety is public safety,” she said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr. Vindia Persaud reaffirmed her ministry’s support for the initiative, stressing the importance of community involvement and the development of responsible educators and youth advocates.
“We also have to build a cadre of educators, community and religious leaders who are not only accountable but who can be part of this engagement, because bullying also happens outside of schools,” Dr. Persaud added.
The initiative represents a whole-of-government approach to tackling bullying, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring that schools remain safe spaces where all children can learn and thrive.
