Acting Director of Substance Abuse Advisory Council on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan

With increasing concerns regarding student misbehaviour in class where there have been incidents of students swearing at teachers in class and some even walking out as and when they like, National Substance Abuse Advisory Council Acting Director Josua Naisele says the students should be counselled and removing them from school should be the last option.

Naisele highlighted this while responding to questions on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan regarding student misbehaviour, corporal punishment and expelling students.

He says if students are unruly, then the principal can intervene and bring in the parents but if students do not change, then they have to be referred for counselling.

Naisele says they no longer expel students but have a Find Another School Policy, and if a student is not changing, then a change of environment can be considered to relocate the child to another school but they will first try and address the issue instead of shifting it to another school.

He says the Permanent Secretary will need to approve the relocation of the student.

The Acting Director further says if a student is continuously misbehaving, then in the counselling term, that child is crying out for help and the type of help needed has to be provided to them.

While responding to a question by teachers and parents on why corporal punishment cannot be inflicted, Naisele stresses that inflicting corporal punishment is not allowed and is unconstitutional.

He says behaviour management skills must be taught to the teachers so that they can address the issue with the students and counselling and mentoring support can be provided to the students.