Education minister summons Cumberland High Board chair
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Education Minister, Senator Ruel Reid has summoned a meeting with the Board chairman of the Cumberland High School in St Catherine over ongoing problems at the institution.
Today’s announcement follows a visit to the school by a team from the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, following reports of an incident between a student and the school’s principal.
The ministry in a release today said it received a preliminary report on the incident from Principal Michael Brydson on Monday.
“The preliminary report indicates that among other things, the principal used a piece of stick to hit one female Grade 9 student as well as the throwing of a stone allegedly by the student, which damaged the rear windshield of the principal’s vehicle,” the ministry said.
The ministry also advised today that a thorough investigation is being done by several entities including the police and the Office of the Children’s Advocate to determine the facts of the case and to ensure that the rule of law is upheld.
Meanwhile, an immediate increase of security personnel at the high school has been approved by the ministry, which said it is fully aware of the lack of perimeter fencing at a section of the school.
The ministry noted that a commitment was given to the school from 2016 for the erecting of the fencing. The meeting with the Board chair is to determine a way forward, the ministry said.