Siparia Senior Comprehensive School

25/05/2018

TTUTA President expresses concern with bullying incident at Siparia West Secondary School; says don’t blame teachers for school violence

The Education Ministry has also indicated that it may assign students involved in the extortion and assault at the School to alternative placements at the military led Academic Training Academy, Youth Programme of Apprenticeship and the Civilian Conservation Corp.

This is in addition to their immediate suspensions.

Chief Education Officer, Harrilal Seecharan gave the update while speaking with reporters at the school Monday.

News Power Now understands that a decision on the necessary action will be determined following a report from School Supervisor Three, Zabida Hosein Abid.

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Meanwhile, the teachers union is expressing concern with the bullying incident.

Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association President, Lindsay Doodhai

Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association President, Lindsay Doodhai, speaking in an interview on the topic said send supervisor of students is an area that cannot be treated lightly.

He said he is aware that police are continuing its probe into the development.

The TTUTA Head also said that teachers should not be blamed for school violence.

And he made it clear teachers were not required to supervise pupils during their lunch breaks, before or after school.

Doodhai said he was disappointed that Education Minister Anthony Garcia moved so quickly to condemn teachers following an incident at the Siparia West Secondary School.

20/02/2018

Since there are so much more child abuse happening,I thought I would like to post some information on the topic of Child abuse.
What is child abuse? Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. There are many forms of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation and emotional abuse.

Physical abuse of a child is when a parent or caregiver causes any non-accidental physical injury to a child. There are many signs of physical abuse. If you see any of the following signs, please get help right away.

28.3% of adults report being physically abused as a child.

Sexual abuse occurs when an adult uses a child for sexual purposes or involves a child in sexual acts. It also includes when a child who is older or more powerful uses another child for sexual gratification or excitement.

20.7% of adults report being sexually abused as a child.
Emotional Abuse
When a parent or caregiver harms a child’s mental and social development, or causes severe emotional harm, it is considered emotional abuse. While a single incident may be abuse, most often emotional abuse is a pattern of behavior that causes damage over time.

10.6% of adults report being emotionally abused as a child

Child neglect is when a parent or caregiver does not give the care, supervision, affection and support needed for a child’s health, safety and well-being. Child neglect includes:

Physical neglect and inadequate supervision
Emotional neglect
Medical neglect
Educational neglect

Get Help
If you see any signs of abuse in someone you know, or if you yourself are involved in an abusive relationship, get help right away.

01/01/2018

Have a safe and prosperous New Year 2018 everyone!

26/10/2017

Alumni,you will need to contact the school directly if you need any information or documents .
Phone: +1 868-649-2352

26/10/2017

Garcia: Bullying in school is just one per cent
YVONNE WEBB

In spite of countless viral videos showing students of all ages engaged in acts of violence against their peers, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said on Tuesday only one per cent of students in the nation’s schools are involved in such acts of violence and indiscipline. The media, Garcia said, must take the blame for making bullying look widespread.

Addressing the National Primary Schools Principals Association (NPSPA) annual general meeting at Petrotrin Sports Club, Pointe a Pierre, Garcia, who is being sued by the principal of the Siparia West Secondary school arising out of one such violent incident, said violence and indiscipline in schools have been drastically reduced.

He told the principals, “Sometimes we hear claims of violence and indiscipline in schools.

Information coming to us from principals, is that these incidents of indiscipline and violence have been drastically reduced.”

Statistical evidence produced by the the ministry’s Chief Executive Officer Harrilal Seecharan suggests that incidents of indiscipline and violence resides in only about one per cent of the school’s population. “Sometimes I blame the media for trying to sensationalise one or two isolated incidents,” the minister said.

The theme of the NPSPA was, “A nation in crisis, the principal’s response”. Garcia said he was taken aback by the nation in crisis perspective, but was heartened by the principals response. Pledging support for all principals, Garcia congratulated them for being in the forefront to ensure changes in the education system, to ensure this nation comes out of the crisis the school systems and the surmounting the challenges and problems. He recalled a suggestion by the association to reduce the lunch hour as one way of reducing violence and indiscipline in schools. Garcia said that although it was a positive intervention, it was met by criticisms from various sources and he expressed the right of principals to be the mouthpiece for teachers in this country. “Whether you agree or disagree, respect the right of principals to speak out on major issues,” Garcia said.

Garcia noted that principals who had a duty of care to ensure the safety and security of their charges, were involved in so much more than supervision and ensuring the integrity of the curriculum.

Again he lashed out at the media, saying the job of a principal was a difficult one and it was easy for the public and media to criticise them for what they were doing.

He encourage the principals to highlight their achievements so people would know what they are doing.

Education Minister Anthony Garcia speaking at the National Primary Schools Principal Association at Petrotrin’s Sports Club on Tuesday.

26/10/2017

Principal returns to Siparia West Sec
Derek Achong
Published:
Thursday, October 26, 2017

Siparia West Secondary School principal Sookoo Sonnylal says he is resolute in his stance of confronting indiscipline in his school.

Sonnylal made the statement while speaking to reporters outside the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, yesterday, moments after High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad ordered he be allowed to resume duties at the school after he was removed earlier this month following a verbal confrontation with a group of students.

Sonnylal said: “That situation occurs all the time in the school and if I have to deal with the students and discipline the student I will do it again, because it is my job to make sure that the physical safety of every child lies in my hand as the principal of that school.”

However, he admitted he may take a fresh approach to disciplining students in the future.

“The Education Act gives me the authority to be the protector of all the students in terms of safety and security so I will do it again but maybe a little different this time,” he said.

Sonnylal, a former student of the school where he has been employed for the past 25 years, said he was elated by the outcome, but flabbergasted by the action taken against him in the first place.

“I am passionate about that school and I need to go back to work and that is what the judge has ordered, that I go back to work from tomorrow morning,” he said.

Yesterday’s hearing stemmed from Sonnylal’s judicial review lawsuit which he filed against the Ministry of Education. His lawyers contended that the ministry acted outside its remit when it instructed him to report to the St Patrick District Education Office in San Fernando pending its investigation after a video of the incident was circulated on social media earlier this month. They claimed that such power was vested in the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).

When the case came up for hearing before Rampersad yesterday, State attorney Monica Smith indicated that Sonnylal was never removed or transferred by the ministry as claimed by his lawyers.

Sonnylal’s lawyer Anand Ramlogan, SC, objected as he pointed out his client was constructively suspended by the ministry as it effectively removed him from the school and relieved him of duties.

Rampersad agreed.

“You have taken away his power and left him with just a name,” Rampersad said as he pointed out the school’s vice principal was ordered to assume Sonnylal’s duties.

Ramlogan agreed to withdraw the case as Smith conceded that Sonnylal may return to the school.

“All we really wanted is for him to go to work in the morning. They could have done this and saved us the trouble of coming here,” Ramlogan said.

Smith claimed the ministry should not be made to pay Sonnylal’s legal costs as his lawsuit was premature. Rampersad disagreed and granted the order for costs.

Sonnylal was also represented by Jiyanti Lutchmedial, Douglas Bayley and Ganesh Saroop.

Siparia West Secondary School principal Sookoo Sonnylal, leftSiparia West Secondary School principal Sookoo Sonnylal, left, chats with his lawyer Anand Ramlogan, SC, outside the Hall of Justice, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. PICTURE ABRAHAM DIAZ, chats with his lawyer Anand Ramlogan, SC, outside the Hall of Justice, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. PICTURE ABRAHAM DIAZ

21/10/2017

The walk by at siparia west

21/10/2017

The areobothon at siparia west

21/10/2017

Schoolgirl Scared To Attend Classes At Siparia West After Attack By Classmates

Swollen tissue around her ribs, bruises to her head, and excruciating pain as a result of three girls bullying another at the Siparia West High School.

21/10/2017

Students In Fight At Siparia West Suspended, Minister Promises Full Brunt Of The Law On Offending St

A police investigation has been initiated into the incidents that went viral on social media at the Siparia West Secondary School.

21/10/2017

TTUTA Not Surprised By Bullying At Siparia West, But Insists Teachers Not To Blame

The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) says it is not surprised by the recent bullying incident at the Siparia West Secondary School. H...

21/10/2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfyoFeoEr5E

The Minister of Education, Anthony Garcia, has been sent a Pre-Action Protocol letter by lawyers acting on behalf Sookoo Sonnylal – the Principal of the Sipa...