Challenges facing our boarding schools need to be addressed immediately

The death of a new-born baby at Adi Cakobau School and a Queen Victoria School incident where four students were allegedly stripped naked and had chillies rubbed on their genitals for allegedly taking leave without permission are disturbing.

There is a lot of public interest in these cases but the responses differ. Some are more interested in the protection of the image and reputation of the schools than the welfare of the affected students. These are two popular public schools and it is also in the public interest that they are identified. When the schools excel in sports they are placed on the pedestal and enjoy all the accolades.

When things go wrong they should get the same kind of scrutiny, and as they say, it comes with the territory.

In the case of ACS it boggles the mind that an 18-year-old student boarder was able to conceal her pregnancy for nine months, gave birth at the school and the baby died.

Because she is an adult at 18, she is legally responsible for her decisions in life including becoming sexually active which might have started before she turned 18.

It is surprising that no one knew what was happening and the changes she was going through in her life.

Stakeholders who stand accountable in this case are the parents/guardians, teachers, her faith group and the supposedly support network at school. They all failed her.

She needs all the help she can get now to rebuild her life otherwise she will end up as another statistic in our growing list of young in the morass of dependency. We must have structures in place to ensure early detection and intervention to prevent the situation getting worse.

In the QVS case, the Police are investigating the alleged cruel form of punishment.

If it is true, it’s barbaric and inexcusable in this day and age. Those responsible should be brought to justice.

Any form of corporal punishment is unlawful and teachers have been adequately warned against it. Those who ignore the Ministry of Education directive deserve no sympathy.

In these two cases at ACS and QVS, the interest and welfare of students are paramount.

That should be the ultimate goal of finding solutions to the problems plaguing the two schools.