But what was an attempt at engaging the teenage audience, turned into a very conflicting message when Coordinator of the School Discipline Implementing Division of the Ministry of Education, Gabriel Cumbermark described Vybz Kartel as a "good singer, with good lyrics if only students could separate the two".

Cumbermark added his comment after a candid presentation by one student from Tunapuna Government Secondary who spoke about the danger youths face by basing their actions on song lyrics. Students from seven schools from the St George East District were invited to make five-minute presentations on violence and indiscipline.

As chairperson of the first half Cumbermark had made several attempts to lighten the atmosphere for students who sacrificed their class parties in favour of an afternoon with the Education Minister Esther Le Gendre, teachers, other education officials and surrounded by media cameras.

Le Gendre, also the PNM representative for the Tunapuna constituency, said the schools invited from the Tunapuna, St Augustine and St Joseph areas were representative all of the schools in the East-West Corridor. Four of the seven schools, including the El Dorado East and West Secondary, came into the spotlight after recent reports of violence involving students.

According to Le Gendre these "bad eggs" were in the minority.

"I am more than concerned, but I have faith in the schools that better days are coming," Le Gendre said. She added that while healthy rivalry in sport and culture is a good thing, it becomes dangerous when taken to unhealthy excesses.

Steve Williams, Manager of Student Support Services referred to statistics from three independent reports on school violence saying, "Schools are safer than communities and homes where they (students) come from." He said most common among incidents of indiscipline were unsupervised class time and empty classrooms.

Rondel Kellen, new student council president at El Dorado East Secondary agreed saying the double standard of authority figures within the school have contributed to indiscipline among students.

"Members of authority need to step up to the plate and be the standard bearers of productivity," he said. His passionate call for the reinstatement of suspended principal Michael Thomas and for teaching staff to recognise their role "beyond chalk and blackboard" brought rousing applause from his schoolmates.

Rondel also appealed to the Minister to return El Dorado East to original school hours as it negatively affects students.

Ana Maria Mora, a counselling psychologist at Families in Action, who facilitated a closed-door interactive session with the students later in the afternoon, said she hoped the Ministry would look at the source of the unhappiness and disconnectedness experienced by young people.

"There's a lot to be done here. This is a start. This whole thing about the music that they listen to, the Gaza and the Gully, the separation, the wars that they have internalised and taken unto themselves without understanding where this is from. They have to learn that Beenie Man, and Vybz Kartel, Mavado and Bounty Killa, they're making money."

Out of the meeting, the ministry expects to develop an Action Plan to be adopted by schools across the country.