The Education Ministry has sent a clear message to all school heads on how to deal with students attending Early Childhood Centres and lower primary schools following reports of kindergarten students going with people other than their parents or designated guardians.
There were two cases in Suva last month.
One occurred at Holy Trinity kindergarten where a 5-year-old got out of the school compound after they had finished and caught the bus to Cunningham with his friends although he is staying in Vatuwaqa.
Fortunately the bus driver noticed the boy sitting alone in the bus after everyone had gotten off in Cunningham.
He then took the boy to the Market Police Post.
He was then taken to Totogo Police Station and the mother then picked up her son from the station.
In another incident, a father had raised serious concern that his son was allowed to go with another family early last month.
The boy who attends a kindergarten in Samabula was missing when the father went to pick him up.
The father was later informed that his son was dropped off at Suva Bus Stand.
Fortunately, the father managed to find his 5-year-old son.
The big question here is whether the teachers responsible are monitoring who is picking each child.
The Education Ministry has now taken swift action and told the school heads that the students are under their care as soon as they enter the school gates, thus, their safety and security is the priority of the school.
Education Minister Doctor Mahendra Reddy states that it is the responsibility of the teachers and School Heads to ensure that all children are safe at all times and proper care is taken while releasing them from the school premises.
Doctor Reddy says there have been few cases recently whereby students were released from school but did not reach home on time, especially, Kindergarten and Lower Primary school students.
Doctor Reddy says for all Early Childhood Education Centres, the parents must specify clearly, in writing, on who will be the designated person to drop and pick up the child from school, they must provide the photos of these people, the teachers must ensure that the child is only released to the parents or the legal guardian or guardian as authorized by the parent in writing during enrolment, the School Heads and teachers must provide the parents with clear guidelines on a time frame for the drop and pick up of children, a teacher should be present to receive and release the child, for drop off and pick up, a register can be maintained whereby parents can sign off while dropping and picking up the child and no child should be allowed to leave the school premises on their own.
The Education Minister says any visitor who wishes to meet the child during school hours should have written consent from the parent and must seek prior approval from the Head of school.
