Fayval Williams, Jamaica’s Minister of Education, has denounced the behavior of a teacher who was seen in a viral video verbally attacking, chasing, and making death threats to a student.
Reports are that the teacher is from Newell High School in St Elizabeth.
The video has since been referred to the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) and the Commissioner of Police for investigation.
Williams said in a statement on Thursday that such behavior undermines the professionalism of the teaching profession.
She also said the school’s board chairman, who is also concerned about the verbal attack on the student and the death threats made, has set an emergency meeting for Friday to address the teacher’s behavior.
The education minister said such behavior on the part of a teacher must be strongly denounced, noting that it is not the first time that the teacher has acted in that manner towards students.
“This inexcusable act on the part of the teacher cannot be defended,” Williams said.
Fayval Williams also noted the importance of psychotherapy sessions for teachers, adding that the students will receive therapy as well as counseling sessions amid the trauma.
“The students will be given counselling and psychotherapy to treat with the trauma caused by the verbal abuse and violent threat to which they were exposed. School should be a place where students feel protected and safe and trusting of the adults in charge of their well-being,” she said.
