Education Minister Paula Cox is to meet with parents and teachers from trouble-hit Cedarbridge today but she said violence in school was something the whole community had to address.

She said the meeting had already been scheduled before teachers walked out on Friday, leaving children to roam the streets.

But she said the issue of violence in schools would have to be thrashed out between the school and the teachers before the ministry stepped in and took an active role.

Ms. Cox said: “If they need any additional assistance we will liaise with them.”

“We as a government have to provide support to teachers and tell them unacceptable behaviour will not be condoned and the same time we expect teachers to manage. There's a quid pro quo.”

She said a clear message would be sent to children that unacceptable behaviour would not be condoned.

“It's something the community as a whole has to work towards. Unacceptable behaviour is something not just teachers should look at but parents also.” She said the issue of violence in schools was already being looked at in meetings with education stakeholders.

“Teachers have identified matters they can look at in terms of improvement.”

Teachers say the situation is so bad they dread going into work and the Bermuda Union of Teachers claims teachers are being verbally and physically abused on daily basis.

Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said Friday's strike was a cry for help from teachers.

“I get the distinct impression that the actions by teachers on Friday represented a final desperate attempt. There problems have been ignored.”

He said the decision to ban expulsions and out of school suspensions had given the upper hand to students and although the Ministry had subsequently held off on the ban on out of school suspensions Principals might be fearful of going down that path because they knew the Ministry didn't approve.

Mr. Smith also said schools should be give more freedom to make their own policies and act quickly rather than have to go back to the ministry.

He said: “As a priority, to restore public confidence in the public education system, Paula Cox should give principals the power to expel pupils and have out-of-school suspensions.”

He said expulsions were appropriate for physical assaults and out-of-school suspensions would be appropriate for verbal abuse.