More RKS Woe
These incidents are manifestations of a breakdown in discipline and lack of control by those in charge.
Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) in Tailevu is in the spotlight again over allegations of assault.
The Fiji Sun has gathered that at least 20 students from the school have been expelled from boarding. It is alleged that senior boarders had assaulted their junior boarders.
When Minister for Education Rosy Akbar was contacted yesterday, she referred all questions to her Permanent
Secretary, Angela Jokhan. Ms Jokhan said: “It is hard to gather information at the moment because it is a Sunday.”
Fiji Police Force spokesperson Savaira Tabua has confirmed that they were investigating two different cases over allegations of assault from RKS. Calls made to the principal of RKS were unanswered. Recently, RKS students are believed to have been banned from the swimming pool at the Aquatic Centre in Laucala Bay, Suva. It is alleged that the RKS students had verbally harassed female students from International Secondary School (ISS).
Also, as RKS students were making their way to the Tailevu zone athletics competition, a bus driver had to make two stops at two different Police Stations for assistance after the students became rowdy.
Ratu Kadavulevu School has hit the headlines again for the wrong reason. This time it’s about two alleged incidents of serious assaults on junior students by the seniors. In one case, three students needed medical treatment. Now, 20 students have been expelled and Police are investigating.
Recently, rowdy RKS students were seen rocking a bus, sitting dangerously on the edge of the windows, with their bodies exposed to potential accidents.
And, RKS students are believed to have been banned from the swimming pool at the Aquatic Centre in Laucala Bay, Suva. It is alleged that the RKS students had verbally harassed female students from International Secondary School (ISS).
These incidents are manifestations of a breakdown in discipline and lack of control by those in charge.
More serious is the possibility that they could be part of a growing culture that needs to be uprooted and thrown out of the school system.
RKS is one of the well-known Government boarding schools. Enrolling at the school is competitive and many parents sacrifice a lot to send their children there, with high hopes and expectations.
If junior students are being assaulted as part of the culture, then parents will be fearful to send their children there. Assault is a crime and therefore unacceptable. It involves physical abuse and violence.
Corporal punishment is also outlawed. There should be zero tolerance on any form of violence.
In the school environment, the buck stops with the principal. He has the support of the teachers and student body leaders.
Collectively, they should put out a specific instruction that any violence will not be tolerated. Any form of discipline will be administered under the direction of the principal only.
Students have no right to assault fellow students on whatever grounds because it is a criminal offence. It must be clearly spelt out to students during the enrolment process their obligations when it comes to relationships with fellow students.
Victims of physical abuse must be encouraged to report incidents to the principal. It appears that the assault claims were only made after three students underwent medical treatment. It is possible that victims were being intimidated not to tell anyone?
A full inquiry will determine whether these incidents were isolated and not part of an unwritten school ritual.
The expulsion was warranted given the seriousness of the situation. It showed that the school was serious in stamping out the problem.
This hard-line approach will send out the right signal that assault, bullying and corporal punishment are unacceptable and have no place in education. And that those found guilty of committing them will be dealt with severely by the law.