Education Minister Sonia Parag has pledged firm action to address bullying in Guyana’s schools, after several cases were reported since the reopening of the new school term.
Parag said the matter will be treated as a priority and that the ministry will launch national consultations with parents, teachers, and other stakeholders to shape solutions.
She explained that a clear framework is needed—one that punishes misconduct but also supports behavioural change. While the Juvenile Justice Act outlines disciplinary measures, she said schools require specific anti-bullying policies, with the possibility of legislation in the future.
The Minister noted that bullying is often rooted in wider social and family issues, but insisted that no child should be allowed to harm another. She added that suspensions or expulsions alone are not always effective, since some students may welcome leaving school while victims are left feeling unprotected.
Parag has already reviewed policies from the Guyana Police Force and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, and intends to build on them. A key part of her strategy is to introduce moral education from nursery level, teaching respect and discipline from an early age.
She also emphasized the need for daily reinforcement of positive behaviour in classrooms and assured that new measures will not be imposed without public input.
Earlier this year, then-Minister of Education Priya Manickchand had announced a draft plan to combat bullying, which included parents signing contracts as part of accountability efforts.
