ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Police have charged four St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) students with assaulting occasioning bodily harm reportedly committed against their 15-year-old schoolmate last Wednesday.

The assault occurred during a series of fights which resulted in the school being shuttered for two days last week.

Police said the incidents happened between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm last Wednesday at STETHS.

Police said two of the schoolgirls charged are both aged 14 while the others are ages 16 and 13.

On Monday STETHS Principal Keith Wellington told the Observer Online that several reports are to be provided to oversight bodies before a decision is made about action against those involved in the schoolyard brawls.

Last Wednesday, Wellington told parents and guardians that classes had to be suspended at the school due to a series of incidents on campus.

He said then that the action had been taken to protect the safety of all members of the school community and ensure that provisions were made to maintain discipline.

At that time sources told the Observer Online that the decision to shutter the campus to only students sitting external exams and some preparing for sporting competitions, stemmed from the multiple fights — one of which allegedly involved a student with a knife — on Wednesday.

Reports are that mid-morning Wednesday a student was injured during a confrontation which required the intervention of the police.

The sources say, following that incident, several other fights broke out at the school including some in the presence of senior administrators.

READ: Administrators hopeful as classes resume at STETHS after two-day shutdown

— Kasey Williams