The waiting game – Jamaica Observer

The Department for Education, Skills, Youth and Information is delaying its guidance to the John Mills Primary School board until a formal court decision is made to dismiss recent pornographic charges against the school’s suspended headteacher.

Bradly Robinson was arrested and charged in 2015 following allegations that he shared sexually explicit photos. WhatsApp with a student of the school. He was suspended from his position as manager until the outcome of the case.

When the matter went to court in October, Robinson’s lawyer, Hugh Wildman, argued that his client should be released because the nine-year delay in hearing the case violated his constitutional rights. The case was dismissed and a verbal verdict of not guilty was given. An official decision is expected soon.

But tensions are rising between the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) president, Mark Trought, and the school board over progress and whether Robinson should be allowed to return.

He gave written answers to the questions posed by him. Jamaica ObserverThe ministry said it was waiting for the official decision.

“We learned the results of the courts’ decisions from the press. Per protocol, we are awaiting the official decision to ensure appropriate guidance is provided to the school board. The court decision was requested by the head of the ministry’s legal services unit. In the meantime, the principal will be suspended until he or she is formally contacted by the school board,” the education ministry wrote.

Trought said he was happy that the ministry requested the court decision and hoped that the decision would be made soon. But he said the question remains whether Robinson will return.

“What is the procedure after the written decision is issued?” he asked.

Trought was firm in his stance that Robinson should not be allowed to return to school, given the circumstances in which his case was dismissed.

“We do not want him to return as a principal. We say, ‘Yes, the court released him, but we are in a position for him not to return to the school.'”
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The education ministry has outlined the general approach when allegations of inappropriate actions between a teacher and a student are reported in the public education system, saying protocol requires the matter to be investigated.

“The Child Protection and Family Services Agency and the Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse Investigation Center step in, evaluate the situation, make the necessary checks, talk to the child and open all kinds of criminal investigations. If the school is notified, the school must take the necessary steps to notify the relevant authorities. Moreover, in the event of disciplinary action, Article 55 of the Education Regulations remains in force to guide the school,” the ministry wrote in its response.

Under Article 55 of the Education Regulations, a teacher in a public school may have disciplinary action taken against him for misbehavior in school, dereliction of duty, inefficiency, irregular attendance, constant unpunctuality, lack of discipline and other such conduct. amounts to professional misconduct.

The regulation also states that if a teacher is suspended, the minister may, upon the recommendation of the institution’s board of directors, deduct a portion of his salary not exceeding one quarter. If the investigation decides that the accusations that led to the teacher’s suspension are not proven, payment will be made at the rate deducted from their salaries.

Education Minister Dana Morris-Dixon noted that the ministry has a zero-tolerance approach to all acts of sexual abuse and takes any allegations seriously.

“All reports will be thoroughly investigated and we will work closely with law enforcement and our child protection agency to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. The safety and well-being of our students is paramount and we ask our stakeholders to join us in protecting our schools from unacceptable behaviour,” Morris-Dixon said.