KINGSTON, Jamaica — Education minister, Ronald Thwaites, has strongly condemned the actions of parents who reportedly took their children out of the Prickly Pole Primary School in Claremont, St Ann to participate in a political demonstration today.

Thwaites said if reports received confirm that a high officer of the school board participated in disturbing the school in pursuing the demonstration, “such person is unworthy of continuing in office”.

Citing support from Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, Thwaites deplored the actions of school and community officials who reportedly participated in and condoned such action. He said the behaviour of the adults set a “very bad example” of how problems are to be resolved.

He, however, commended the principal and teachers who he said refused to allow themselves and students to get involved in the demonstration. The education minister said that whatever problem might exist in relation to the operation of any school there are efficient channels to deal with this.

Nothing, he said, could justify the disruption of students’ attendance in school and their involvement in a political dispute.

Thwaites also noted that this “squalid occasion” is rendered tragic since due to the excitement around the supposed “free field trip” a student from the school collapsed and died. He has expressed condolence to the child’s father.