CSEC
SOCIAL STUDIES PROJECT
SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT (S.B.A)
(YEAR 2023)
NAME OF CANDIDATE:
SCHOOL: POINT FORTIN EAST SECONDARY
SCHOOL
CENTRE#:160040
CANDIDATE#:
TEACHER: MR. RAGOO
TITLE: THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE ANOUNG
STUDENTS AT MY SCHOOL SINCE THE FULL
RESUMPTION OF PHYSICAL FACE TO FACE
CLASSES IN FEBRUARY 2021.
1
Topic
Page #
Acknowledgements……………………………………………….……………… 2
Introduction………………………………………………………………….…… 3
Statement of Problem…………………………………..…………….……….…...4
Reason for Research………………………………………….………….….…….5
Method of Investigation………………………………………………….……….6
Instrument Used to Collect Data…………………………………….……….…...7
Procedures Used to Collect Data……………………………….……..…….……12
Presentation of Data………………………………..……………………….…....13
Analysis and Interpretation of Data………………………………………...……19
Statement of Findings…………………………………………..………………..21
Recommendations……………………………………………………….……....22
Bibliography/References………………………….…………………. …..….....23
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The successful completion of this study would not have been possible without the assistance
and cooperation, of my group members and as a result I would like to convey my
appreciation to them, who assisted me in creating this S.B.A. I would also like to thank my
teacher for guiding me through the process of completing my SBA. These persons were very
co-operative in answering the questionnaire for me to get the necessary information I needed
to successfully accomplish what was required of this assignment.
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The members of this group have been students of Point Fortin East for the past five years. It
has had outstanding academic performance and an acceptable behavioural reputation. During
our time at this school, we witnessed the closure in March of 2020 due to the Covid-19
pandemic and its physical re-opening in February of 2021. Since its reopening, we have
observed that the incidents of school violence have been increased within our school
environment.
We also noticed that gender involvement in the active participation of school violence has
changed from being male dominated to a considerable rise in female involvement. It was also
observed that these acts of violences occurred during times of little to no supervision from
authoritative figures at school within school hours. Additionally, the underlying causes of
student involvement was also observed to be those who emerged from problematic home
environments. This was also highlighted in the Newsday on October 27th, 2022, in an article
entitled “School violence- merely a symptom” by Paolo Kernathan.
Addressed in this article, the reporter conducted numerous interviews which concluded that
causes of school violence stems from students (both male and female) who live in “pressure
cooker environments” as they to become unstable and emulate destructive behaviours which
affects themselves, the school’s learning environment and the society at large.
4
How severe has the problem of school violence been among students of my school, since the
full physical reopening.
5
Since the physical reopening of school in February of 2021, there has seemed to be an
increased in incidents of school violence. Due to this awareness, our group had decided to
investigate if in fact, there was an increase and if so, why? We also wanted to investigate the
main contributing factors or causes of school violence and we believe once the source in
known, recommendations can be composed and a plan can be set in motion. In doing so, a
safer school environment can be established, individuals can get a fair opportunity to obtain a
better education, creating a better life for themselves and the society at large. Most
importantly the cycle of violence can come to an end.
6
To investigate the problem, we have selected to assemble printed questionnaires, to collect
information to compose a survey.
This questionnaire, as a tool for collecting data, has several advantages:
1. It can be done at the accessibility of the persons required to have it completed.
2. It is confidential as persons are not obliged to write their names.
3. It requires little time to be completed.
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Dear Students,
I have prepared a survey which is being carried out in school, to find out
about the use of drugs in school by students. This survey is being conducted as an assignment
for my Social Studies SBA. I have decided to use a questionnaire, which requires no personal
information from students. You are advised to answer the following questions honestly, since
you are not required to write your names, no one will ever know what your answers are. All
of the questions can be answered by a simple tick in the box, or if you don’t know the answer
to the question or you have not done so accordingly, you can just leave it out and move on to
the other questions.
Your Respectfully,
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1. Sex M( ) F( )
2. What form level do you belong to?
1() 2()
3() 4()
5() 6()
3. How far do you believe that school violence among students has increased
or decreased since the re-opening of face-to-face classes on a full time
basis?
-
It is less than before ( )
It has NOT increased ( )
It has slightly increased ( )
It has significantly increased ( )
4. In your opinion, which level of students has mostly been engaged in such
violence?
- Primary school students ( )
- Secondary school students ( )
- Tertiary level students ( )
5. In your opinion, the violence committed has mostly involved students of
what gender?
- Males ( )
- Females ( )
- It is the same for both ( )
6. Where have you been getting you information from on school violence
among students?
Tick as many as applicable.
9
-
Social media (facebook, whatsapp, Instagram, tik tok etc) ( )
Mainstream media (television, newspapers, radio) ( )
Word of mouth ( )
Witnessed it first hand ( )
7. How many incidents of school violence have there been at your school
since its full re-opening, as far as you are aware?
- None ( )
- Some/Not many ( )
- Many ( )
8. What form level/s are the students in who have been involved in violence at
your school?
Tick as many as applicable.
- 1( ) 2 ( ) 3( ) 4 ( ) 5 ( )
6()
9. In your opinion, to what extent do you believe that the student population
appears settled since the full re-opening of schools?
-
Settled at first, but unsettled now ( )
Settled throughout ( )
Not settled even from the start ( )
Not settled at the start, but settled now ( )
10. In your opinion, what are some reasons for the school violence since the
full re-opening of school?
Tick as many as applicable
-
Pent up energy after being at home for so long ( )
Frustration at having to return to school ( )
Relationship issues ( )
Long-standing feuds (conflicts) between students ( )
Uncomfortable physical environment (hot and crowded classrooms etc) ( )
Music promoting violence ( )
10
11. How far do you agree that poor parenting contributes to students engaging
in violence at school?
- Disagree ( )
- Not sure ( )
- Agree ( )
12. In your opinion, at what time/s of the day do students engage in violent
behaviour?
Tick as many as applicable.
-
Before school is called ( )
During the morning period ( )
During lunch time ( )
In the afternoon after lunch ( )
After school has been dismissed ( )
13. In your opinion, where does MOST school violence take place?
- On the school compound ( )
- Outside the school compound ( )
14. For any violence that takes place on the school compound during school
hours, how far do you agree that a lack of adult supervision contributes to
this violence?
- Disagree ( )
- Not sure ( )
- Agree ( )
15. For any violence that takes place after school hours, how far do you agree
that a lack of police presence contributes to this violence?
- Disagree ( )
- Not sure ( )
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- Agree ( )
16. To what extent do you agree that greater parental involvement in children’s
school lives is the MAIN solution to this problem?
- Disagree ( )
- Not sure ( )
- Agree ( )
17. How satisfied are you that the Ministry of Education is taking this problem
of school violence seriously?
- Not satisfied ( )
- Somewhat satisfied ( )
- Satisfied ( )
18. How satisfied are you that your school is taking this problem seriously?
- Not satisfied ( )
- Somewhat satisfied ( )
- Satisfied ( )
19. What are some of the things that your school has in place to prevent/tackle
school violence?
Tick as many as applicable.
-
Supervision of all students for all periods of the school day ( )
Adult supervision of students during break and lunch time ( )
Constant monitoring of corridors by Deans, Security and Safety Officers ( )
Strict rules which are consistently enforced for those who are involved in
issues ( )
- A Guidance Counsellor stationed at the school on a regular basis ( -
12
A total of 30 questionnaires were prepared for distribution among students at Point Fortin
East Secondary School. Using a combination of random selection systems, 5 questionnaires
were distributed among each form level from forms one to six. Each respondent was
interviewed by the researcher and their responses recorded immediately. This prevented
questionnaires from being un-answered/ un-returned and protected data from being secured
making it reliable and valid. As a result, all 30 questionnaires were completed.
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1. HOW FAR DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SCHOOL VIOLENCE AMONG STUDENTS HAS
INCREASED OR DECREASED SINCE THE RE-OPENING OF FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES ON
A FULL TIME BASIS?
Fig 1: Table showing the changes in school violence since re-opening of face-to-face classes
full time.
It is less than before
# Of
Average
Students
%
2
7%
It has NOT increased
0
0%
It has slightly increased
9
30%
It has significantly increased
19
63%
Type of Increase
This table represents the increase or decrease of violence since he re-opening of schools.
Since the opening of schools and the introductory of new the student’s violence in schools
have increased. Therefore, the new students are the main cause of school violence.
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2. IN YOUR OPINION, THE VIOLENCE COMMITED HAS MOSTLY INVOLVED STUDENTS
OF WHAT GENDER?
Fig 2 : Table showing gender involvement in physical violence committed by students
Gender of Offenders
25
23
0
20
15
10
5
4
0
3
0
0
0
Male
Female
Both M/F
Column1
The line chart above shows than 4 students believe that physical violence in male
dominated while 3 thinks it is female leaving 24 students agreeing that both male and
female have equally participated in such acts.
3. IN YOUR OPINION, AT WHAT TIME OF THE DAY DO STUDENTS ENGAGE IN VIOLENT
BEHAVIOUR?
Before school is called: 2
During the morning period: 5
During lunch: 18
In the afternoon after lunch: 7
After school is dismissed: 17
15
Fig 3: Column graph showing times of day students engage in violent behaviors.
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Before school is called:
During the morning
period:
During lunch:
In the afternoon after
lunch:
After school is
dismissed:
The bar graph above displays that most violent acts are carried out during the unsupervised
times of the day. This means that violent behaviors happen with the lack of an authority
figure.
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4. HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE THAT POOR PARENTING CONTRIBUTES TO STUDENTS’
ENGAGEMENT IN VIOLENCE AT SCHOOL?
Fig 4: Bar graph showing the agreement of students and the impact of poor parenting
toward physical violence.
Poor parental involvment contibutions to physical violence
Agree
Not Sure
Disagree
0
5
10
15
20
25
The above chart reflects the number of students and their beliefs on the impact of poor parenting.
21 students responded in agreement that poor parenting techniques does have a negative impact
on student behaviour in relation to violence. On the other hand, 9 students were unsure as to the
relationship between the two elements and no students disagreed.
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5. IN YOUR OPINION WHAT ARE SOME REASONS FOR THE SCHOOL VIOLENCE SINCE
THE FULL REOPENING OF SCHOOL?
Fig 5: Pie chart showing the reasons for physical school violence since the physical reopening of
school.
Pie chart showing reasons for school violence
A
22%
24%
B
C
8%
8%
E
6%
32%
Key
Pent up energy after being at
home for so long ( )
Frustration of having to return to
school
Relationship issues
Long-standing feuds (conflicts)
between students
Uncomfortable physical
environment (hot and crowded
classrooms etc)
Music promoting violence
A
B
C
D
D
F
The pie chart indicates that out of 87 combinative
responses, relationship issues carried the weight of 32%
with musical influence and pent up energy also having a
major influence with 24.1% and 22%. Among the lesser
influences are Frustration of having to return to school 8%,
Long standing feuds between students 6% and
uncomfortable physical environment also carrying a weight
of 8%.
E
F
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6. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING YOUR INFORMATION FROM ON SCHOOL
VIOLENCE AMONG STUDENTS?
Social media: 13
Mainstream: 15
Word of mouth: 16
Witnessed it firsthand: 22
FIG 6: Pie chart showing how students get their information on school violence
13
22
16
15
The pie chart above displays how students get their information on school violence that happened.
Most students seem to get their information from witnessing it first hand during the school day.
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The survey examined how severe the problem of school violence has been among students of
Point Fortin East Secondary School in relation to the physical reopening of school after the
Covid-19 pandemic. An even distribution of five students per form ranging from forms 1 to 6
were interviewed to accumulate information presented. The data revealed the following.
Question number 5 (How far do you believe that school violence among students has
increased or decreased since the re-opening of face-to-face classes on a full-time basis?)
indicates that 93 % of students agreed that there has been an increase in school violence
while, 7% indicated that these acts of violence has occurred less prior to the Covid-19 closure
of school. This data revealed there has been an increase in the number of acts of physical
violence amongst the student population since the physical reopening of school.
Question 5 (In your opinion, the violence committed has mostly involved students of what
gender?) indicates that 76.6% of interviewees felt that it is the same for both genders. This
data showed that there is no discrimination when it comes to gender involvement in physical
violence at school. This may be caused due to the lack of female role models at schools.
Question number 4 (In your opinion, at what time/s of the day do students engage in violent
behaviour?) revealed that “during the lunch break” was the most chosen response reflecting
that it was included in choice selection 60% of the time. Additionally, question 6 (Where
have you been getting you information from on school violence among students?) also
depicts that 73.3% of students receive their information on school violence by witnessing it
first-hand. The data reflected that physical violence occurs during times of little supervision
on the school compound , due to deans and teachers being on lunch break. This gives the
students approximately an hour of no super vision to do as they please or fight without any
intervening.
Question 11 (How far do you agree that poor parenting contributes to students engaging in
violence at school?) indicates that 70% agrees that the main cause for school violence stems
from the home while 30% was undecisive. Question 10(In your opinion, what are some
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reasons for the school violence since the full re-opening of school?) also contributes to
solidifying that relationships can impact upon physical violence at schools as 0% agrees.
This data indicated poor patenting and relationship problems in fact affected school violence.
21
Based on the information collected in this survey the following findings were revealed:

School violence has increased since the physical reopening of school during the
Covid-19 pandemic.

Both genders were equally involved in physical violence at school.

Most physical violence occurred within the school day, during the lunch break and on
the school compound.

The cause of physical violence at schools stems from poor parenting and relationship
building.
22
The research project that was conducted to investigate violence among students since the
physical reopening of school has highlighted numerous areas of concerns. It was concluded
that school violence has increased considerably since the reopening of school. As a result we
propose the following recommendations.

Make parents of offending students more accountable for their children’s actions.
Example, the payment of medical bills should be done by the parents and parents
should be lawfully fined.

Educate parents on the actions and behaviours of what poor parenting styles will
include and find ways to curb those actions. For example, parents who work long
hours to provide financial support for students can be given book and uniform grants
with free public transportation to lesson the financial burden, creating more
opportunity for parent child bonding as parents will now have to work many hours to
provide necessities for their children’s education.

Adopt stringent repercussions against offended students to deter them from
committing these actions in the future as well as, to discourage others from
committing acts of physical violence. For example, suspension with prepared
activities to be done at home both academically and socially (community service).
This strategy can be implemented by making a proposal to the Ministry of Education
requesting the organization to implement this strategy nationwide in the school
system. The lobbing for such implementations should also be done at a national level.
Additionally, a relationship between the private sector and the schools should be
established to assist in the creation and implementation of the community service
programme.
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Kernathan Paolo, (2022, October 27) School Violence-merely a symptom
https://newsday.co.tt/2022/10/27/school-violence-merely-a-symptom/
https://www.wikipedia.org/
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