Burchell says zero tolerance policy not implemented consistently

There has been a zero tolerance policy on corporal punishment in schools since 2002, but it has not always been implemented consistently. Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education, Heritage and Arts, Alison Burchell also said that the ministry also had a Behaviour Management Policy that guided teachers on how to deal with behavioural problems in schools.

“All corporal punishment complaints are attended to with utmost priority and a panel is formed to carry out the investigations,” she said.

“Based on the investigation report, if there is a case to answer the employee is given an opportunity to respond to the allegations presented and a decision is made accordingly.

“The ministry has included discussions on positive behaviour management in the programme for student free days, issued circulars to school heads to eliminate corporal punishment.”

Ms Burchell said this yesterday when asked by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education on how the ministry was dealing with issues of corporal punishment. On how the ministry was dealing with bullying cases, she said cases were addressed at the school and district level.

However, she said, if the issues were brought to the ministry, then the ministry coordinated with the district officers or went directly to the schools.

Ms Burchell said the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council provided counselling to students involved.