WATCH: ‘No mass devotions’ – Fayval Williams tells Oberlin High admin to keep worship in classrooms
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams, on Monday encouraged school administrators at Oberlin High School to put mass devotions on pause.
The Minister was speaking to parents at the institution after concerns were raised about the future of devotions at the school following a bizarre incident at the St Andrew-based school last Wednesday.
According to reports, a female teacher was talking to the students about their behaviour and decided to pray for them because she said “she got a message” from God. Shortly after the teacher started praying, the staff member said students started shaking and “dropping”.
READ: Scores of students collapse at Oberlin High
Minister Williams stated that while students and school administrators try to sort through emotions stemming from the incident , devotions should be kept in classrooms.
“I fully understand that we are a nation of persons who pray, but I also understand that we have a number of different religions in the society and what is practiced one way for either religion is not necessarily the same way for another. In light of what took place on Wednesday, I believe at least for the next month, that we ought to be simple in what we do,” she said.
“Simple devotions, no mass devotions. I have encouraged devotions to be in the classrooms rather than in a mass way because children are still going through things that they are not yet understanding and we don’t want to layer on top of them – any other situation in which anything can happen.”
“So at least for the rest of the term for the school, I am advocating for us to take things simple. Simple devotions, simple prayers, simple exhortations,” she continued. “Let us not do anything in mass, because big crowds are hard to control and we have no idea what will happen.”
Students at the school have reportedly stayed home since last Wednesday’s series of events. The Minister of Education says her biggest hope for the institution now is to “bring calm” back to the facility.
“Situation is still quite fragile but let us bring back sustainable calm to the children and get into the rhythm again for classes.”
