The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training has expressed grave concerns regarding videos circulating online that depict inappropriate behaviours by primary school students on their final day of school.
It is reported that the school’s principal has initiated measures to address the issue, including contacting parents and scheduling a meeting on July 16, with those involved.
Prior to this, the Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, will meet with the school’s leadership on July 15, to discuss the circumstances leading up to the incident.
In response to the situation, Dr. Archer-Bradshaw emphasized the importance of handling the matter with sensitivity and responsibility, focusing on the well-being and development of the children involved. She stated:
“While the images were deeply disturbing, we will not embark on a campaign of shaming minors. Rather, as we go into the summer vacation period, we are appealing to parents and other adults involved in the lives of children to not only increase the vigilance in our children’s activities, but also increase their engagement with them. As parents, we need to continue open and honest discussions with our children about good decision-making and setting standards of excellence for themselves. We also need to help them set the necessary boundaries to protect themselves. Peer pressure is certainly not new, but in a digital world where there exists the illusion of reward for the most extreme exhibitions of behaviour, our efforts to help our children to become more resilient must be significantly increased.”
While the Ministry is very disturbed by the recent occurrence, it respects that minors are involved and, as such, the outcomes of this meeting will be treated confidentially.
The Ministry remains committed to supporting the educational needs of children and encourages the public to refrain from sharing the video to protect the minors involved.
