Bottles of urine, rotten fruit and eggs have been found to be effective weapons by school children as they take their vendettas to the streets.
A rather serious incident, which fortunately did not degenerate into a more dangerous confrontation, occurred after the junction to the La Misere road last Friday afternoon. An SPTC bus was going up La Misere with secondary school pupils from Mont Fleuri, when it was pelted with eggs as plastic bottles containing urine were hurled inside.
Amid the cries of anguish, the driver stopped the bus and ran off, presumably to phone and raise the alert. The traffic flow was seriously affected for half an hour or so, as only one vehicle at a time could pass through. Traffic police directed traffic until the SPTC bus was moved. The “Weekly” has learnt that police have made several arrests.
The “ Weekly” has learnt that the attack was retaliation for an incident that same morning when projectiles had been thrown by the Mont Fleuri pupils at their Plaisance counterparts walking to school. It appears that Friday’s incident is not an isolated one as school children often fight teachers or each other in the schools. Education Minister Bernard Sham Laye went to great lengths a couple of months ago to hush up an attack on an expatriate teacher at Plaisance, who received 7 stitches after a beating.
All these point to a breakdown in school discipline, where students can do whatever they like without fear of punishment.
Earlier in the week another school bus traveling to Anse Etoile had to stop by that district’s police station after a confrontation on board. Motorists heard screams as they drove past.
Such shocking happenings could have been unimaginable a few decades ago. President Michel and his ministers know that very well.