Parents protest at St. Elizabeth and St. Thomas schools

The school year in St. Elizabeth got off to a fairly smooth start with the exception of one incident at the Parrottee All Age School in Black River.

Parents protested over the refusal to appoint a teacher who had taught at the institution for one year. 

The protest led to the suspension of classes for the day.

Over 100 parents and guardians of students attending the Parrottee All Age School on Monday morning staged a demonstration to protest the refusal to appoint a male teacher at the institution. 

The protestors have accused the school's administration of failing to appoint Ewart Gayle to continue working at the institution.

The protest led to the suspension of classes at the Parrottee All Age School for the day. 

Not qualified

According to the Chairman of the school Board, Mrs. Gwendolyn McRae, the teacher in question was employed to the institution for the 2008/09 school year after attending the Bethlehem Moravian College between 2005/2008.

However in a letter from the Bethlehem Moravian College dated July 27, 2010, it stated that Mr. Gayle had not completed one course study and as such was not awarded a teacher's diploma.  

The letter further stated that upon completing of the study and handing in of the work, a recommendation would be made to the Joint Board of Teacher education for him to be awarded a teacher's diploma in primary education. 

The board chairman further stated that following a meeting with the Ministry of Education Region 5 Director, an understanding was reached for both the chairman and the principal to meet and reach a solution on the matter. 

Parents object

On Monday morning parents and guardians voiced strong objection to the way the situation was handled, pointing out that during Mr. Gayle's tenure at the school attendance grew.

They also pointed out that he was influential in improving the sporting image of the institution as well as having a good relationship with the youths in the area.

In the meantime, Ministry of Education Region 5 director, Vincent Guthrie, said he will be meeting with the principal and the board later today in an effort to resolve the situation.

Teacher dismissed

And residents of Botany Bay in St. Thomas demonstrated outside the gates of the Harvest Hill Christian Basic and Preparatory School in that community.

The protest was halted when a meeting has been scheduled for 3 o'clock Monday afternoon with the school's board.

The residents are upset over the dismissal of a senior teacher, Vivia McLean, who they claim is a foundation teacher at the school.

They have also taken issue with the alleged manner in which Ms McLean's service was terminated.

“When she walked to the school on Thursday morning for the teachers’ meeting and she approached the principal’s office, she was handed a paper saying as of October 31 her service is no longer required. We the citizens do not like what they did. The school was built for the community, to help the community and so far this teacher is the only teacher that is from the community,” Mr. McDuffus said.

Forced retirement

However, Principal of the school, Mrs. Berry-Harding says Ms McLean's service was terminated due to the financial position at the school which makes it impossible to keep her on staff, and the fact that she has reached retirement age.

The residents have vowed to take the matter to the Ministry of Education if Monday's meeting is not satisfactory.

Classes were not disrupted as a result of the protest.