Public school leaders are being reminded that blocking students from entering the school complex due to non-compliance with the rules should not be the first disciplinary measure.
This is in line with the efforts of the Ministry of Education and Youth to reduce discriminatory practices in schools by addressing the need for discipline among students.
Portfolio Minister Fayval Williams spoke about the issue during the first consultation on the Ministry’s draft dress and grooming policy for public educational institutions with heads of schools and deans of discipline at Jamaica College in Kingston recently.
“We are saying that in our schools it is never acceptable to go first to lock a child up. never. There have to be other ways of dealing with it other than using the draconian way of locking them out of school because that has all kinds of issues attached to it,” she said.
“We have to be more creative than that when there are violations of the rule,” she stressed.
Minister Williams noted that while the ministry recognizes that schools operate in different contexts, banning students from entering contravenes Article 28 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as the Care and Protection of Children Act. Children of 2004.
“We are also aware that there are cultural dynamics and differences of opinion regarding what may be considered appropriate and important for a child’s education,” she said.
In this background, she further disclosed that the proposed policy will create a comprehensive framework for dressing and grooming for public schools taking into account cultural identity, climatic situations, socio-economic conditions of parents and the aims of educational institutions.
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She is therefore asking school leaders and board members to have their “documented student dress and grooming [rules]”, in accordance with the mandate of the ministry, to prevent further conflicts on this issue.
Discussions on the draft policy are to inform, educate and gather feedback from key stakeholders and increase their participation in its development.
This is the first in a series of consultations that will also involve students and parents.
