T&T's Persad-Bissessar Issues Tough Warning to Disruptive
As schools reopen across the region, Trinidad and Tobago leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has issued a stern message demanding student accountability and parental responsibility. She urged educators to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against persistent disruption and called on parents to instil discipline at home.
As schools prepare to welcome students back to the classroom, a stark message on school discipline, student accountability, and parental responsibility has been issued by Trinidad and Tobago leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, sparking discussions on classroom management across the Caribbean.
In a statement shared ahead of the new academic term, Persad-Bissessar delivered an uncompromising assessment of the long-term hardships awaiting youth who choose to reject education. Warning students against bullying, chronic disruption, and neglecting their studies, she cautioned that such choices carry severe consequences well into adulthood, noting that life without an education will grind people down until they are merely surviving day to day rather than living a fulfilling life.
Persad-Bissessar also rejected common claims that academic failure is inconsequential, asserting that a solid education remains one of the most dependable tools for young people to overcome adversity and build sustainable livelihoods. She stressed that while obstacles in life are inevitable, strong academic foundations provide the necessary options to navigate future challenges successfully.
Addressing educators directly, she advocated for a zero-tolerance policy regarding uncooperative guardians and habitual troublemakers. School leaders were advised not to exhaust their energy attempting to assist those who actively resist learning. Instead, she urged principals to send disruptive students straight home to let families resolve behavioural matters privately, emphasizing that teachers are employed to educate and mentor willing learners rather than endure abuse, harassment, or intimidation.
She also advised school officials to contact law enforcement immediately if threats occur. Parental accountability formed a central pillar of the message. Persad-Bissessar cautioned parents against offloading their basic caretaking and disciplinary duties onto teachers, stressing that character development must begin in the household.
Failing to guide children during their formative years, she warned, substantially increases the likelihood of serious encounters with the criminal justice system later in life. The remarks reflect ongoing discussions across the British Virgin Islands and the wider Caribbean regarding classroom safety, teacher retention, and youth development.
While well wishes were extended to students and educators entering the new school year, the central focus remains firmly on fostering personal accountability and protecting productive learning environments.
Primary source: VINO