Students Reminded To Maintain Discipline

Northern Divisional Police Commander (DPC) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Eparama Waqa has reminded Labasa College students never to allow ill-discipline to tarnish the good work that they do.

During the launch of the scholastic crime stoppers programme at the school yesterday, SSP Waqa said reports of truancy and the lack of respect towards their teachers was a concern because small issues could grow and become a major problem if not controlled now. “The scholastic crime stoppers programme is a way of helping your teachers and most importantly yourselves to create a learning environment that is incident free and free of distractions often brought about by ill-discipline or unruly behaviour,” SSP Waqa said. “I have often heard some students complain that adults don’t understand what children of today are going through because there are so many social factors like peer pressure.

“Students, we do understand and that is why your teachers have agreed to allow the programme here, so that you will have a safe and secure platform to report crime or cases of ill-discipline. “Don’t ever think that you are doing the wrong thing by reporting crime or if you are telling on your friends.

“In fact you are doing them a favour because we will be able to counsel the student and keep them from getting into trouble with the law.”

Meanwhile, the headgirl, Shivika Chand and headboy Hritik Chand were inducted along with 34 students as leaders of this programme. Their role is to maintain a crime free and safe learning school environment.

Hritik said being the eyes and ears of the Fiji Police Force while being in school would be challenging, but he was ready for the responsibility.

Shivika, 18, said the school had a student roll of 626 from Year Nine to 13 and 46 teachers.

Edited by Percy Kean