KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Ruel Reid will tomorrow visit the Little London High School in Westmoreland, where a 13-year-old boy was suspended for an undetermined period over his alleged use of expletives in the presence of a teacher.

The education ministry disclosed in a statement this morning that it had intervened in the matter and, after dialogue with the school’s principal, it was agreed that the teen would return to school today.

The ministry further outlined that its Guidance Unit, led by senior education officers, will meet with the teen, his mother and the principal along with the school’s guidance counsellor to resolve and devise intervention strategies for behaviour modification.

“Senior education officers will make plans for the school’s next Professional Development Day to focus on behaviour modification interventions, along with effectively communicating with teenagers and disgruntled parents.

“Representatives from Region 4 will ensure that the teen is back in school and help in seeing that that the interventions yield successful results,” the statement continued.

See the ministry’s full statement below:

The Ministry of Education Youth and Information has intervened in the issue concerning a 13- year-old male student who was allegedly suspended for an undetermined period from the Little London High School in Westmoreland.

The Ministry had dialogue with the school’s principal and the teen will return to school on Monday January 7, 2019.

Education, Youth and Information Minister Senator Ruel Reid is also expected to visit the school on Tuesday January 8, 2019.

The ministry is of the view that discipline is an integral part of the personal development of students, in ensuring that boys and girls are adequately prepared to make a positive contribution to the society.

We do, however, firmly support efforts to engage in full dialogue when issues arise with our youth and in our educational institutions, to facilitate better governance.

Having had the discussion with the principal, certain decisions have been taken that will be beneficial for all parties involved. The ministry’s Guidance Unit led by senior education officers will meet with the teen, his mother and the principal along with the school’s guidance counsellor to resolve and devise intervention strategies for behaviour modification.

Senior education officers will make plans for the school’s next Professional Development Day to focus on behaviour modification interventions, along with effectively communicating with teenagers and disgruntled parents.

Representatives from Region 4 will ensure that the teen is back in school and help in seeing that that the interventions yield successful results.

In an effort to better manage and monitor the reports to the Regional Office, an electronic system is being implemented to track cases as they come into the office for a more timely resolution.

It must be noted that schools are governed by a Code of Regulations from (The Education Regulations 1980), which dictates the grounds on which suspensions are issued and how they should be handled (see below).

29.41) A student shall obey the rules of the school he is attending. (2) Where a student considers that he has been victimized or otherwise unfairly treated he may appeal to the principal and, if necessary, the Board. (3) Without prejudice to the powers of a principal under regulation 30, where a student breaches the rules of a school and if, after normal disciplinary actions and counselling have been taken, his behaviour continues to be disruptive and wasteful of time and resources, the matter may be referred by the principal to the student council for their study and recommendation.

 30.41) The principal of a public educational institution may suspend from the institution, for a period not exceeding ten days. any student- (a) whose conduct in his opinion is of such a nature that his presence in that institution is having or is likely to have a detrimental effect on the discipline of the institution; (b) who commits any act which causes injury to any member of staff or to any other student in that institution. (2) Where a principal suspends a student he shall forthwith- (a) give notice of the suspension to the student council and the parent or guardian of that student; and (b) make a report to the board, stating the reasons for the suspension. (3) On receipt of the report referred to in paragraph (2) (b), the Board of a public educational institution shall, during the period of the suspension, investigate the matter and may, after investigation- (a) reinstate the student with or without a reprimand or a warning to the student and, where appropriate, to his parent or guardian; (b) suspend the student for a further period not exceeding five school days beyond the period of suspension already given; or (c) instruct the principal to exclude permanently the student from attending that institution and shall inform the Minister of such action. (4) At any hearing by the Board into the conduct of a student who has been suspended, the student and parent or guardian shall THE EDUCATION REGULATIONS, I980 have the right to be present, and, if the student is aggrieved by a decision of the Board, he may appeal to the Minister.