Photo: Police search bags of college students in Apia Photo (Image: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia)

By Nanai Laveitiga Tuiletufuga

Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio has hit the ground running as the new Education Minister, with the first order of business being his handling of ongoing interschool student violence.

Loau was immediately appointed by Cabinet to chair a Ministerial Committee to recommend possible solutions to the problem of interschool violence.  The Committee includes Police Minister Sala Fata Pinati, Minister of Women, Community and Social Development Faimalotoa Kika Iemaima Stowers and their respective chief executives.

But be warned, the new Education Minister is ready to take a hard line when it comes to putting a stop to the violence.

“Government with the support of mission schools have tolerated the irresponsible actions of a few which have become a thorn and a nuisance to our country,” said Loau.

“And it’s high time we tackled the problem head-on by instituting zero tolerance reforms to eliminate the problem from the streets of Apia.

“The problem is not new and stakeholders with the Ministry of Education’s guidance have implemented every available avenue to alleviate the problem to no avail,” says Loau.

“MESC are still enforcing the ban of mobile phones in school for all students.

“Severe disciplinary actions starting from hard labour, to suspension and in rare cases expulsion from school have also been imposed not only by government but our partners in the mission and private school sectors.

“And some schools have also adopted the zero tolerance policy, with any student expelled, as a result of street violence, banned from attending any other college.

“I fully support the need for regular public consultations with students, school principals and even parents with education officials and police.

“But it appears that talking is not helping the situation.

“To that end, rest assured that government is now working to ensure that those responsible will be dealt with to the full extent of the law.”

He added that after the Committee’s first meeting it was discovered that the contributing cause to the latest resurgence of violence is from the internet and mobile phones.

“Mobile phones and the internet, especially social media like facebook have been abused by certain students to provoke trouble.

“It is paramount that parents must step up their role to monitor whether their son or daughter is using his or her mobile phone for educational purposes.

“We are all accountable for our actions and parents should play a leading role by becoming part of the solution and not the problem.

“As Committee Chairman, I am also happy to note that Cabinet without reservation has put their weight behind the Committee with their unconditional endorsement for a policy review to consider restrictions of internet use and mobile phones explicitly for students.

“It’s a delicate and sensitive task but we are determined to set regulations to ensure the safety of students and the general public,” continued Loau.

“If you recall, a few years back a young innocent student and a by-stander was scarred for life after she sustained third degree burns from a kerosene home bomb used as a weapon during one of the school brawls at the Flea Market.

“No parent would want to see that happen to his or her son or daughter.”

Loau noted that after the first meeting, the Committee has given its full endorsement for police to take the no nonsense approach by prosecuting any student involved in public brawls.

“The Ministry of Women will liaise with Village Councils for their valuable input to reinstate cultural punishment to any student found guilty.

“The Committee and stakeholders are taking the no nonsense line of attack by eliminating any second chances to trouble makers and disobedient students.”

So far, police have prosecuted 19 students for disturbing the peace and other serious offenses and for fighting in public places.

A number of government and mission schools have also adopted the following resolutions to minimise public brawls.

These include;

• Positive use of sport, which is important in the development of students – Healthy body-healthy mind.
• Ensure that there is no tension between the teachers.
• No more opportunity will be given to any student who is involved in a fight – to attend any other school in the country.
• Parents, as first teachers, should be involved in disciplining their children.
• There will be a review of the School Sports Committee.  Principals and teachers should not be included in this committee.
• If a student is involved in a fight in a public place, the school will bow out and the law will take over. Teachers will not waste time trying to bail them out as in past incidents.
• Awareness programmes and instilling bible values in students to continue.

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