1. 1 “The diagnosis of the current situation in the formal education sector with emphasis on how education processes are being used to foment and promote a democratic culture in basic education.” Action Plan for School Discipline Senator Hazel Manning Minister of Education Trinidad and Tobago April 12, 2004

2. 2 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education A School Discipline Initiative. Background A Ministry of Education initiative Project Peace A School Intervention Strategies Project was launched in March 25, 2003

3. 3 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education A School Discipline Initiative. Project formulation informed by: Reports Newspaper articles Feedback from students Teachers Parents Teachers union.

4. 4 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education A School Discipline Initiative. It was decided that there needed to be better coordination of all contributing programmes deemed to be suitable for reducing violence and indiscipline in schools.

5. 5 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education Violence and Indiscipline Incidents in which there is verbal or physical abuse, threats, attacks, or harassment by a pupil, parent, member of the public or any other person. Any statement or action that causes fear for ones safety, the safety of another, the school or personal property

6. 6 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education Violence and Indiscipline Manifestations :  Disruptive behaviour  Smoking  Fighting  Extortion  Obscene language  Drug use  Gambling  vandalism,  Possession of weapons  Explosive devices

7. 7 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTING PROGRAMMES IN PROJECT PEACE STUDENTS  Crisis reduction intervention strategies programme (14 schools)  Pre-Carnival programme  Out of school suspension  Peer mediation (24 schools)  Homework centres  Mock trials  School time-out programme (12 schools)  Driver responsibility education (Ministry of Works and Transport)  Student Councils

8. 8 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education SUMMARY OF CONTRIBUTING PROGRAMMES IN PROJECT PEACE TEACHERS, PARENTS AND COMMUNITY  Peace, Love and Understanding for Students (PLUS)  Reclaiming the Classroom (Dep’t of Gender Affairs, UWI)  Parent education  Together We Light the Way (Self-Esteem programme)  Ancillary staff training  Public Awareness programmes

9. 9 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT PEACE To establish the practice of peer mediation To acquaint students with the consequences of undesirable behaviour To provide reflective and rehabilitative education for suspended students To promote responsibility in young drivers To give students a voice in the life of the school To enhance the spiritual growth of students To develop teachers personally and professionally To enhance the social and emotional development of students To develop a program based on meritocracy for students and teachers

10. 10 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT PEACE To develop a code of conduct for teachers and students To assist in the development of a system of substitute teachers To educate parents about their responsibilities regarding their children To develop the skills of ancillary staff of schools and other personnel like Community Police and bus and Maxi taxi drivers To ensure that the public is aware of all programs and projects associated with Project Peace To conduct research to determine the causes of violence and indiscipline in schools To develop curriculum to stem violence and indiscipline in schools

11. 11 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education RESULT: COORDINATION OF CONTRIBUTING PROGRAMMES WITH ADDITIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES The implementation of the School Discipline Initiative, a joint project of the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Education.

12. 12 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education A School Discipline Initiative. Structure JANUARY 2004  A Strategic Committee was established to: − Oversee and advise on School Intervention Programs to curb violence and indiscipline in schools.  An Operations Team was established with a mandate to: − Formulate a Joint Action Plan for implementation

13. 13 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education The Action Plan for School Discipline is a joint partnership It is a coordinated approach, and involves the pooling of key resources from:  The Ministry of Education, and  The Ministry of National Security − Police Services − Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force − Prisons

14. 14 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education The Mission is to Improve the Climate and Discipline in our Schools by Creating a Culture of Peace through planned interventions. This will provide our students with a comfortable and achievement-oriented environment so that the focus can be on teaching and learning The partnership will intensify work in schools towards creating a Values Promoting school environment that is:  Peaceful  Disciplined and  Safe

15. 15 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education A fundamental tenet is that there is Shared Responsibility in achieving this Mission Improving the climate and discipline in our schools directly serves the interests of students, teachers, parents and the community. Shared Responsibility requires the commitment and participation of all stakeholders Working Together Community

16. 16 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education “ The last freedom is to choose ones attitude in the face of any given circumstances.” From Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

17. 17 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education The Action Plan seeks to provide measurability, accountability and awareness to the initiative Goals are to:  Develop a current profile of the level of discipline in schools that will enable future comparisons  Increase awareness of the initiative within schools and in the wider community  Promote community involvement for social interactions and to take care of law enforcement issues  Contribute to the safety and security in schools including the use of technology  Increase quality of service provided by Security Firms

18. 18 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education Coordinators will be used to facilitate the execution of the Action Plan The Coordinators are specifically responsible for:  Monitoring and evaluating the progress of the plan, document best practices and successes and propose modification where necessary  Coordinating the implementation of strategies between the two principal agencies as identified in the plan  Providing reports to the Strategic Team  Managing the collaborative efforts to ensure compliance and that procedures are fair and reasonable to both side

19. 19 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education Success requires the support of a multi- disciplinary team working towards clear objectives for promoting good citizenship. Objectives include:  Fostering parent involvement in the education process  Facilitating education for parents on their rights and responsibilities  Increasing Community Policing  Promoting a comprehensive, school-wide anti-drug campaign  Developing and implementing techniques in Conflict Resolution and Problem Solving  Strengthening and enhancing the security systems in and around schools  Achieving quality service from Security Firms  Facilitating the nurturing of good citizenship

20. 20 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education We are currently reviewing a number of specific programmes to begin this transformation Parents/NPTA/PTAs. Establishing:  Mechanisms to provide regular information to parents  Partnership programmes with parents including Parent Education  Homework centers Teachers/Security Teams. Training:  Deans: Laws pertaining to Violence, Drugs and Sexual Abuse  Principals and Security Team: ADR, Mediation and Conflict Resolution Students/Student Councils. Expanding:  Junior Achievement in Secondary Schools  Youth Training Centre Mentoring Programme  Military led academic training programmes and Youth Programme of Apprentiship

21. 21 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education An end result should be an increase in the quality of interactions within the school environment Students who are:  Independent  Innovative  Inventive  Creative Teachers who are:  Committed  Willing to engage  Caring  Respectful and Trustworthy Parents and other stakeholders who are:  Involved  Problem solvers  Communicators  Supportive  Encouraging  Participative  Spiritual We envision a Values Promoting school environment with -

22. 22 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education In creating a Values Promoting School, we are reminded that we should: 1. Create who we are 2. Involve parents 3. Promote fitness 4. Support clubs and service groups 5. Foster peer support 6. Discuss our plans 7. Stimulate community participation 8. Encourage reading 9. Promote spirituality 10. Model virtues

23. 23 Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Education The Last Freedom “Facilitating students to choose attitudes and to display appropriate behaviours in the face of any given circumstances”

24. 24 End of Presentation