Minister of Education Dr Nicolette Henry today met with the student population of Richard Ishmael Secondary along with the teachers following a widely publicised beating of a schoolgirl by a schoolboy on the premises.
The meeting also followed social media outrage at what was seen as a flippant response to the fight by Henry.
When she was asked about the incident on the sidelines of another event yesterday, Henry said “students usually fight.”
She went on to say that in these instances, the Welfare Department would have to intervene following the Standard Operating Procedures.
Henry told reporters that the Welfare Department would have already started the process. “If need be, for there to be any feedback to you (reporters) and to the public based on the fight, I’m certain my officers would be more than happy to provide that feedback,” the minister said.
A video of the incident went viral on social media yesterday. A severe beating was inflicted on the girl while other children stood by.
A release from the Ministry of Education today said that at a special assembly, the Education Minister encouraged the children to find other ways apart from violence to deal with differing views and conflicts.
She told the children that there is a certain behaviour that is set out in the school policy that they should at all times comply with. Henry told the students that any deviation from what is expected will be dealt with firmly.
Henry further told the children that they should be their brother’s keeper and the next time she visits the school she wants to hear good things about the institution.
The release said that the Minister also met separately with the teaching staff and had discussions with the teachers who gave feedback and shared suggestions. She reminded the teachers that they are the mainstay of the Education sector and she will ensure that their welfare and safety are always of paramount importance.
She further told the teachers that the School’s Welfare Department will be utilizing the services of one of the Mobile Psychosocial Units to address issues affecting both students and teachers at that school.
In addition, the students that were involved in the fight met with the Minister of Education and were made to apologize to each other. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
