On behalf of teachers and education workers around the world, Education International extends sincere condolences to the families and school community of the victims of the tragic shooting that took place on 7 April in Tasso da Silveira primary school in the Realengo district of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A 24-year-old former student of the school killed 11 children and wounded 18 other people with shots from a handgun. He then took his own life.
"EI condemns all forms of violence in schools, which should be safe and secure havens in which students may develop and learn and teachers work in comfort and security," said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen. With such attacks becoming increasingly common, EI reiterates its call on the international intergovernmental agencies to develop, as a matter of urgency, a regulatory framework for the protection of students and teachers from such violence and attacks against education.
EI 's affiliate in Brazil, Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Educação (CNTE) also denounced the violence in schools and complained about the lack of safety that allows armed individuals to enter education premises.
EI Vice President and member of CNTE, Juçara Maria Dutra Vieira, stated: “It is necessary that the authorities learn from this tragedy and that the entire community gets mobilised to put an end to violence in schools. Such violence doesn't have a place in Brazil and should never occur again.”