St James High School board to receive report regarding expelled students in a week - Jamaica Observer

Source: Jamaica Observer

ST JAMES, Jamaica - The board of the St James High School is expected to know within a week the outcome of an investigation undertaken by the personnel committee of the board surrounding two female students who were reportedly expelled without proper process being followed.

The saga surrounding the girls who were expelled in January all started following a kiss by the two which was posted on one of the girl's WhatsApp status.

READ: Education minister awaiting report from St James High School board in regards to student expulsion

The students were reportedly expelled by the principal without the sanctioning of the board.

The board met Thursday afternoon and the matter was referred to the personnel committee.

"The nature of the meeting was to refer the situation to the personnel committee for them to do an investigation to see what the nature of the situation is," board chairman Christopher McCurdy told Observer Online following the meeting.

One of the girls was enrolled in a private school earlier this month, while the other remains out of school.

Earlier today, Jamaicans For Justice in a press release said if what was reported in the media is true, JFJ finds no merit in the grounds for the disciplinary action.

"What it raised was the need for ongoing age-appropriate comprehensive sexual education for students without shame and moral judgment. Secondly, the decision to bar the students from school, effectively expelling them, breached their right to education as well as the fundamental principles of due process as outlined in the Constitution of Jamaica. The Education Regulations 1980, which were effected pursuant to Section 43 of the Education Act sets clear framework regarding how expulsion in schools are to be done. Reports that the principal's decision was reportedly based on moral judgment rather than established guidelines is of grave concern and ought to be condemned. By circumventing the board, despite the Education regulations, there was no transparent consultative decision-making process and the students were also denied their right to appeal any disciplinary actions imposed," stated the release.

JFJ urged the leadership of the Ministry of Education to address the situation with haste.

"While we understand an investigation is ongoing and the ministry awaits a report from the institution, it is imperative that the child unable to enrol in school as a result of this incident is assisted expeditiously to mitigate their disenfranchisement," the release stated.

McCurdy told Observer Online that he asked the Ministry of Education to provide support to the girls and their parents.

"We are in dialogue with the parents of both kids. We are doing everything that we can to ensure that they are taken care of in terms of their well-being. I have written to the regional office of the Ministry of Education just today requesting that immediate intervention be carried out for both kids to ensure their mental health... because when a child is displaced from school for an extended period, it can take it all on their mental ability. So, that is one of the things I requested of the ministry for them to move quickly in assisting these students and parents as well with some level of counselling and we hope that they can be placed in an institution for learning as quickly as possible," stated McCurdy, who is hoping that the remaining child will be in an institution by Monday.