Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams is reiterating her call for students and parents to use the reporting channels to advise of acts of indiscipline or aggression so that the established disciplinary framework can be activated to address disputes.

According to Williams, this should be pursued in the best interest of students and the whole school community.

The minister’s comments followed an incident at Oberlin High School that occurred prior to the start of classes on October 4.

AGGRESSOR SUSPENDED AND REFERRED FOR COUNSELLING

In a statement, the Education Ministry said the school indicated that children were playing a game using rubber-bands and balls made of crumpled paper when an argument developed.

According to the school, one child reportedly took a page from the book of another student without permission and the latter slapped the first child for having torn out the page.

“One student identified as the aggressor has been suspended for seven days and referred for counselling, which will continue upon return to school,” the ministry said.

“He will also be placed on a strict conduct management programme and will be monitored by a senior teacher throughout the school day for three weeks. Additionally, he is required to issue a written public apology to the student who was slapped and also to the school population.”

The ministry noted that the child who was slapped will also enter into a counselling programme “to deal with the trauma of the situation”.

Said the ministry: “Efforts will be made to provide counselling to the parents who are understandably angry about the situation. The matter was discussed with the parents on October 5 and the steps outlined as to how the school would manage the aftermath of the situation.”

PARENT MEETS WITH SCHOOL

On October 6, the father of the child who slapped the other student had a meeting with the school and the steps were outlined consistent with the school rules.

The ministry stressed that, through its school boards and principals, it remained resolute in promoting safety and security and discipline in the nation’s schools.

“The ministry is calling on all stakeholders to use the appropriate channels to report acts of indiscipline or aggression.”