President of the Jamaica Association of Chairmen of Secondary Institutions, JACSI, Courtney Wynter, says based on the regulations of the Education Act, only the board of a school can consent to the expulsion of any student.
Daina Davy reports.
According to Courtney Wynter, Section 30 of the regulations says school boards have full authority to expel a student from a public institution.
He was speaking against the backdrop of at least three students being summarily dismissed from St. James High School since the start of the year by principal Joseph Williams.
The most recent incident brought to public attention involved two girls who were expelled from the institution in January after a video of them briefly kissing was posted on WhatsApp.
One of the girls, a 16-year-old, posted the two-second video on her WhatsApp status. The mother of the 16-year-old girl says it took three months before her daughter was placed in another school.
It’s understood that another St. James High student was also expelled in March without being subject to a disciplinary hearing.
Mr. Wynter explained that the regulations outline that the principal must make a report to the board on any infraction by a student that may require suspension.
He says the decision is then up to the board on what punishment is meted out to the student.
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