Jones: Ministry not going against the law
MINISTER OF Education, Ronald Jones, says it appears as though his Ministry is being pressured to act contrary to the laws of Barbados.
During a recently held press conference, the Minister said the Ministry does not disseminate information to the public about matters related to schools unless absolutely necessary, neither does it act until investigations have taken place.
His comments came as the Barbados Union of Teachers drew a line in the sand, demanding a meeting with the Minister to discuss the way forward for teachers, including matters of security.
Minister Jones told the media that the Education Act of Barbados also contains regulations related to process of suspensions and expulsion.
“The Administration of Justice Act obviously prescribes how you have to behave in all circumstances involving any citizen of Barbados and children are citizens of Barbados, and they enjoy sometimes even more enhanced rights than adults, because Barbados has signed off on conventions, including the Rights of the Child Convention, which we have to observe.
“We therefore cannot gallop without due process, without thorough investigation of all matters to initiate action, when complaints are in fact made.
“When there is an incident at any school, the principal acting in is right under law, and is able to initiate suspension in relation to a pupil.
“A teacher who might run afoul of the law under the Public Service Act and all the appropriate regulations, can be interdicted, and is in most cases interdicted, and would have to go through the process pending investigation and the relevant findings, to see if there are any reprimands that has to follow”
“Therefore, we are forced by Law to behave in a particular manner. And therefore, the public space engulfed with the various calls, in whatever form or manner, is contrary to the dictates of law.”
He said, in the past, the Ministry has been able to deal with matters in the school following the principles laid down by law.
“‘What is quite unfortunate is that before the commencement of the investigation process, there were calls on both sides of the coin for punishment, expulsion and all other manner of things. The Ministry cannot behave in that manner, neither can it respond to those particular calls.
“This Ministry has dealt with expulsions over so many decades. But if you want to take the departure from the 1982 Education Act... 32 years we have been dealing with issues of expulsion, suspension , interdiction, counselling, psychological evaluation, referrals to the Edna Nicholls Centre; we have been transferring students from one school to the other school. We continue to monitor them over time,” he said, revealing that internal and external professionals are also utilised.
“But we seem now to be under severe pressure to act contrary to law. That is not something the Ministry of Education is going to do,” Minister Jones stated. (JH)