The Minister for Education, Hon. Shawn Edward, is calling for a multi-pronged approach to curb the perennial issue of student loitering. He remarked that the neither the Ministry of Education nor the minister can singlehandedly solve the problem.

“This calls for a multipronged approach. Principals have a role, ministry officials have a role, the police they too have a role, and ultimately the parents have a role,” he said.

The minister urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children’s whereabouts.

“If school is dismissed at 3, the student needs to be home by 4:30; and accountable to the parent if they are not,” he said. “There are too many students loitering the streets and you see some at 7 at night still wearing their school uniforms. This is what happens when the social fabric of society begins to disintegrate.”

The minister’s statement came following a stabbing incident involving students in the city’s center.