TROUBLE is brewing at Ascot Primary School in Portmore, St Catherine, following a decision by the school’s administrators to split this year’s graduating class on the basis of students’ performance in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination results.

Reports reaching the Jamaica Observer are that during the recent graduation ceremony, some grade six students were barred from donning caps and gowns because they did not meet the required academic qualifications, based on their PEP scores.

The controversy erupted during the graduation ceremony when some students were instructed to wear their standard school uniforms while classmates who reportedly attained higher PEP results participated in full regalia.

Parents also allege that the affected students were made to march behind their gown-clad peers, and were seated at the back of the graduating class.

The situation sparked heated exchanges between parents and school administrators, with several parents confronting Principal Mark Jackson in his office following the ceremony.

A WhatsApp message circulated to parents, which was leaked to the Observer, outlined a $26,000 graduation package but stated that, “students who did not meet the requirements to attend graduation” were instead to pay $16,000 for a package. The message did not specify what those requirements were.

In an audio recording reportedly captured during the protest by parents, a male voice purported to be that of Jackson indicated that parents had previously been informed of the school’s decision stating that only students meeting certain academic qualifications would participate in the graduation ceremony while others would be recognised at a prize-giving function.

One parent, who chose not to send her child to the ceremony after learning of the arrangement, said parents were told during a meeting that only the “crème de la crème” of students would be permitted to graduate in gowns.

“I’m not supporting the slackness,” the parent said as she declared that, “graduation is graduation.”

She argued that completing primary school – not academic qualification – should determine whether a child is allowed to participate in a graduation ceremony.

The parent said she paid $16,000 for her child’s graduation photographs and school-leaving certificate but opted not to send the child to the ceremony because she disagreed with the school’s policy.

Several parents are now demanding refunds, arguing that they paid with the expectation that their child would participate fully in the ceremony.

“I think that principal should go,” the parent said, accusing the school of sending the wrong message to students. “You can’t give up on your children.”

She further alleged that during a parent-teacher association (PTA) meeting it was announced that students who did not meet the requirements to graduate would be given vocational activities such as sewing to do, and on the graduation day would dress according to the occupation of the skill that they did.

“When the student up a UWI [The University of the West Indies] a graduate, you see no doctor in a doctor clothes? You see no nurse in a nurse clothes? You see no mechanic or whatever in their clothes? You see them in a gown and a cap. That is graduation,” she lamented.

When contacted by the Observer, Jackson declined to comment, saying he had not seen the allegations and could not comment on them.

President of the school’s PTA Mark Bernard also declined to comment, stating that he had not seen the allegations.

The Observer visited the school on Friday seeking a response from the administrators, but was told Jackson was in a meeting and unavailable to speak with the media.