The Trinidad and Tobago National Council of Parent Teacher Associations (NPTA) has called on parents seeking school transfers for their children to adhere to the established procedures, despite the lengthy and bureaucratic nature of the process. NPTA President Walter Stewart expressed empathy for parents frustrated by the system, which has disrupted students’ education. This issue was spotlighted in a recent Newsday article, which detailed the case of a 14-year-old Arima teenager who had been out of school for two years due to transfer delays. The girl had been bullied by classmates in 2023, and her mother withdrew her from school after officials allegedly failed to intervene. Stewart emphasized that such cases are not isolated, citing another instance in September where a parent waited weeks for a transfer response. He urged parents to ensure their children remain in school while awaiting transfers, warning of potential legal consequences if they do not. Stewart advised parents to follow the proper channels, starting with the school supervisor, and escalating the matter to the Ministry of Education if necessary. He attributed delays to the manual processing of applications, which must physically move from district offices to the Ministry in Port of Spain. Stewart expressed hope that the Ministry’s ongoing digitization efforts would expedite the process. Addressing the persistent issue of bullying, Stewart cautioned parents against taking matters into their own hands, as such actions often exacerbate the situation. He recommended addressing concerns with school principals and following the chain of command. While acknowledging that the presence of police officers in schools has had some positive impact, Stewart stressed the need for stricter implementation of national discipline policies and codes of conduct to reduce violence and disorder. Meanwhile, former president of the TT Association of Psychologists, Kelly Mc Farlane, urged parents to remain attentive to their children’s emotional well-being. She highlighted that many bullying victims may conceal their experiences due to fear of parental reactions. Mc Farlane advised parents to listen to their children, validate their feelings, and collaborate with school officials to address bullying effectively. She also emphasized the importance of providing psychological support to both victims and bullies to tackle the root causes of such behavior.