Prime Minister Issues Statement Ahead of Re-Opening of Schools On Monday

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“Study diligently because life will grind you down into survival mode without an education.” This from Prime Minister the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, to students on the eve of the re-opening of schools across the country on Monday (7th September, 2026).

In a lengthy statement issued via social media a short while ago this afternoon (Sunday 6th September, 2026), the Prime Minister said, “As the new academic year begins, I extend my best wishes to every student, teacher, principal and parent. To our students, ensure you return to school ready to learn and work. Be disciplined, attend classes, respect your teachers and staff and take responsibility for your progress. Most of you will accept this advice, go to school to learn, make lasting friendships and build your foundation for a successful future. A minority of you will not heed this advice, go to school to bully others, not study, create chaos in classrooms and hinder other students from learning and having a pleasant school experience.”

Mrs. Persad-Bissessar continued, “This bad behaviour will result in failure and you will doom yourself to a difficult life ahead full of low paying jobs, struggles and misery. Many persons will give you glib reassurances that if you fail at school your life is not over but trust me they are not telling their own children the same thing. These same persons while publicly giving you that advice are privately giving their own children and grandchildren the same warnings about a difficult future without an education as I am giving you today. None of these glib people are going to lift a finger to help you when you complete schooling without an education and are struggling to earn a living.”

She added, “Life is tough without an education, it will grind you down until you end up just surviving day to day and not actually living a satisfying wholesome life. There will always be difficult days in life but a good education gives you many options to navigate difficulty and overcome challenges to have a wonderful life. To our teachers and principals, your work demands patience, authority and sound judgment. You carry an immense responsibility, and I thank you for maintaining standards while guiding and encouraging our children. However, I strongly urge you to adopt a zero tolerance policy to disrespectful and misbehaved students and parents. Don’t stress out yourselves trying to help persons who don’t want to be helped, if students refuse to behave properly and parents are ignoring your concerns, send them straight home and let them and their parents battle it out in their house. You are there to teach, mentor and protect those students willing to learn, you are not there to be abused, intimidated and harassed by any student or parent. If any threat or abuse is made towards you, contact the TTPS immediately and let law enforcement officers deal with these errant individuals.”

The Prime Minister’s statement concluded by saying, “To parents, ensure that your children are properly cared for, prepared for school and taught discipline, respect and responsibility at home. Know what they are learning, monitor their behaviour and progress, listen to their concerns and work closely with their teachers. Do not dump your parental responsibilities onto teachers, that is your job, you made your children, it is not the teachers or anyone else’s responsibility to mind them. Do your part now with your children so that in years to come when they become adults, you won’t have to be at the courthouse in your old age trying to secure bail to get them released from incarceration. May God guide and protect each of you and may you make the best decisions for a great future for yourself and the nation.”

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