Senior Reporter
andrea.perez-sobers@guardian.co.tt
National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds says the Siparia East Secondary Form Three student who was expelled for verbally abusing a teacher can still become a productive citizen, but she must make use of the programmes available in order to achieve that goal.
Hinds made the comment as he said he understood the decision made by the Education Ministry in the matter for a thousand reasons.
Speaking to Guardian Media on the issue, Hinds said the State has many programmes for teenager Trevieann Raymond to utilise her time and not fall through the cracks.
“The formal education is still open because you can go on your own and sign up to do Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) subjects through the Ministry of Education. All is not lost for the young lady. I can understand the disappointment that her childish behaviour might have generated. She must be assured this is not the end of the world and there are a myriad of opportunities for her to pull herself together. She has a lot of time ahead of her,” Hinds said.
He said now is the time for Raymond to make something of herself and be ambitious. He noted that all the programmes which have been created by the Government to help youths, especially those who have fallen through the cracks, have in some way impacted families and communities.
He said he was listening to a radio programme over the weekend where a young lady described that she was not following the straight and narrow path but with the intervention of the Military-Led Academic Training Programme (MiLAT), she was able to be rescued.
“That is just one of many stories coming out of this programme which was developed under the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service,” Hinds added.
Also commenting on the matter, Children’s Authority director and CEO Sheldon Cyrus said while Raymond’s situation is unfortunate, the authority is hopeful she makes the best use of the interventions offered to her through the various ministries and takes the opportunity to turn things around.
Last Thursday, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said the expulsion was a measure of last resort after all efforts at rehabilitation of the student within the education system failed to result in positive behavioural changes.
The situation developed after a video showing the student’s behaviour towards her teacher went viral on social media.
The teen told Guardian media in an interview last Friday that she had never been suspended before but admitted she was called to the office previously for discussions about her behaviour. While admitting that she did not expect to be expelled, Raymond said she had devised a plan to ensure her time away from organised schooling does not affect her learning and future.
She said she plans to write CXC subjects privately, since she hopes to become a nurse one day.
Minister of Social Development and Family Services Donna Cox told Guardian media last Friday that a social worker has already been assigned to the case. Cox said they reached out to the family and a meeting was scheduled for today.