BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE St. Kitts Teachers Union (SKTU) has expressed deep concern over the surge in fights at schools across the island, as more videos of incidents continue to circulate via social media.
In recent weeks, a number of fights involving children, both in and out of schools, and clad in school uniforms, continue to be of major concern for education officials.
To this end, the SKTU in a media statement noted that the “unacceptable display of violence among our children is not only disheartening, but demands immediate attention and action from all stakeholders involved in shaping the future of our youth”.
The statement comes against the backdrop of a circulating video that shows a male striking a female student to the face within a classroom at the Basseterre High School (BHS).
The incident has not yet received much condemnation publicly from stakeholders within the education sector, but is of major concern as acts of violence are on the rise within the Federation.
“These disturbing incidents of school violence have reverberated throughout our educational institutions, posing a serious threat to the safety, well-being, and conducive learning environments that are fundamental to our children’s growth and development,” the SKTU warned.
The body noted that such behaviour is indicative of underlying symptoms that “require multifaceted approaches and collaborative efforts to address”.
In staunchly condemning the ongoing violence, the Union called for the Ministry of Education to provide “transparent and decisive measures aimed at supporting school administrations in addressing and mitigating these behaviours effectively”.
The body reaffirmed its commitment to working with stakeholders to address the concerning behaviour affecting students to ensure the well-being of all.
