FREEPORT, St James –— Minister of Education Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon has argued that despite the negative information reported about a school in Hanover, it is a very special institution that is excelling.

Morris Dixon refused to name the school, which is believed to be one of those she visited in the parish last week, but it is widely assumed that she was referring to Hopewell High which has been theatre for several disciplinary issues in recent years.

Two weeks ago, Hopewell High was back in the news after a video surfaced showing several male students assaulting another male student in a nearby community.

The case is currently before the Hanover Family Court.

According to Morris Dixon, students entering the school are among those who get the lowest Primary Exit Profile (PEP) results in the country but the school is doing its best to harness the talents it has.

“It’s a special school where they built a new block of classrooms. Every single bit of the electrical work was done by the students. Every bit of the welding work was done by the students. All of the fixing of the desks and chairs was done by the students,” she said.

“And these are students who, in certain circles, you say, ‘Oh, these are the ones that are not academically inclined and they have behavioural issues.’ Yes, they may have behavioural issues, but they also have a lot of talent,”” argued Morris Dixon as she addressed the final day of a TechBeach Retreat (TBR) in St James last Friday.

She pointed out that, despite learning challenges faced by many of the students they have excelled and accomplished a lot more than others thought possible.

“I want to tell the two sides of the story for that school, because there are many young men and young women that are at that school that I think can be really great contributors to the development of our country. But, we obviously have to do more in order to instil discipline and to give them the kind of socialisation that they’re not getting in their homes and in the communities,”” added Morris Dixon.

With TBR using the session to focus on technology, the education minister said the leadership of the school have indicated that they want to introduce an automotive programme and she has given her blessings for a new facility to be constructed for automotive arts.

Morris Dixon said she was also shown a computer lab that will facilitate students “who want a chance in that direction.”

She argued that students attending the school come from challenged homes and communities and that is an issue.

“The nurse at that school said to me, ‘Many of the children come to school and they have illnesses and their parents don’t take them to the doctor’,” Morris Dixon told her audience.

She said the responsibility to help the ill children then falls on the school, and every month the nurse has to take them to hospital or adolescent clinic to access medical care.

“Our schools have people who are committed. Our schools are not just places where children come to do exams. Our teachers are taking on different kinds of roles.

“Of course, we can do more and we are going to do more. But even that school has a lot of talent,” declared Morris Dixon who refused to comment extensively on the reported bullying incident at Hopewell High.