A St Ann high school is in turmoil as violent clashes have erupted between students and staff and between student gangs, the Observer has been reliably informed.

Last week Thursday, a teacher who caught a male student with ganja bagged and ready to sell on the school grounds was physically assaulted by a female student friend of the boy, more than one source with knowledge of the incident, but who declined to be named, said.

The child allegedly slapped the male teacher in his face when he tried to prevent her from leaving before school was dismissed.

There was a tussle between the two and the student’s friends jumped in. That resulted in teachers calling the police who quelled the disturbance and detained five students for questioning.

According to our sources, the students could be charged with extortion and assault. However, attempts to contact the police station nearest to the school to confirm that information were unsuccessful.

The sources also said that there is a clear problem enforcing the disciplinary codes at the high school.

During Thursday’s incident, a teacher told a grade 9 student to get off the grade 10 block and go to her class. She responded with a string of expletives.

On Monday, two female student gangs engaged in a machete-wielding clash on the school compound, another source said. Teachers were able to bring an end to the fight before anyone got injured.

“When a fight or anything is going down, the three heads disappear… “The principal doesn’t seem to care,” said another source at the school who requested anonymity and who alleged that the principal and the school board have had a long-standing dispute.

The principal, the source said, has been accused of neglecting discipline at the school and allowing unruly gangs of students to gain the upper hand. He is also said to have disrespected the board. “He has been saying stuff like he doesn’t answer to the board; that he’s going to get the board fired; and that the board was taken [from] off the street. We have been trying to address the problems, but the principal has escalated his behaviour by not attending meetings, cancelling meetings,” said the source.

Yesterday, disgruntled teachers reportedly held an emergency meeting with the board to discuss the worsening situation. According to our source, the teachers told the board that they were no longer prepared to work with the principal.

Resulting from that meeting, the board is to meet with the Ministry of Education on March 19 to address the problems.