STUDENTS' RIGHTS, harsh disciplinary measures and the quality of secondary education are among the issues that the National Secondary Students Council (NSSC) intend to pay close attention to during 2004.
The Council, which represents more than 150,000 students within the high school system, wants greater emphasis placed on the students' right to an education as well as on improving the quality of education available to them.
In terms of discipline, Nicole Witter, NSSC treasurer, said:
"Students do misbehave from time to time, and yes, they should be punished but we are trying to ensure that their rights aren't abused."
The NSSC said it would be paying particular attention to expulsion as this is an area which needs urgent attention. In 2003, a number of students were expelled from several prominent high schools for various offences.
According to Ms. Witter, students are requesting greater emphasis on their rights to education which is deemed to be poor at the moment.
The NSSC will also be focusing its energies at establishing some form of regulation for extra classes. This also resulted from students' concerns about how the classes are organised and structured.
"Some students believe that extra lessons are overpriced, while others just believe there needs to be more order in the system," Ms. Witter explained.
She said that the council had designed a questionnaire to determine the feelings of the public and the wider student population on the subject. The findings will be published.
The issues of concern will also be discussed at the NSSC's regional meeting on January 13, where all stakeholders including guidance counsellors, educators and representatives of the media are expected to attend.
Diego Morris, president of the NSSC, is advocating better education standards for students during the year.
"The NSSC will be working re-lentlessly to advocate for improvement in quality and delivery of education received for all secondary students," he said in his message. "I look forward to the day when students will take a stand for improved service delivery and use organisations such as the NSSC as an instrument of change. I hope that one day, students will recognise the power that they hold within their hands to effect change, not just in our schools but in our nation."
