KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF) has expressed deep concern over reports that grade six students at Ascot Primary School in Portmore, St Catherine, were allegedly treated differently during their graduation ceremony based on their Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination results.

According to media reports, some students who did not achieve certain PEP scores were reportedly denied the opportunity to wear graduation caps and gowns. Instead, they were allegedly required to attend the ceremony in their regular school uniforms, march behind their classmates and sit at the back of the graduating class.

READ: Graduation apartheid

FWCF said that if the reports are accurate, the treatment of the affected students is unacceptable and contrary to the principles of dignity, equality, inclusion and the best interests of the child.

The foundation also said the reported actions may raise serious constitutional issues, including possible violations of the rights to equality before the law, freedom from discrimination and every child’s right to special protection by virtue of being a minor, as guaranteed under Sections 13(3)(g), 13(3)(i) and 13(3)(k)(i) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.

FWCF is encouraging parents and guardians of affected students to report the matter immediately to the Ministry of Education, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) and any other appropriate oversight body.

The organisation also advised families to seek independent legal advice or contact the Legal Aid Council to determine whether they qualify for legal representation. Where appropriate, parents may pursue legal action on behalf of their children as next friends, similar to the approach taken in Virgo (Dale) and Another v Board of Management of Kensington Primary School.

In addition, FWCF urged parents, guardians and witnesses to preserve any evidence related to the incident, including photographs, videos, emails, text messages and other correspondence connected to the graduation ceremony.

“A graduation ceremony should celebrate every child who has successfully completed primary education not publicly rank, shame or exclude children because of examination results,” said FWCF Youth Policy Committee Chair, Sabrina Barnes. “Every child deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and equal worth.”

The foundation reiterated that schools must remain places of inclusion where academic achievement is celebrated without diminishing the dignity of any child.

“Every student who completes primary school deserves to cross the graduation stage with pride,” it said.