The Ministry of Education has launched an investigation into a complaint made by the mother of a primary school student, who alleges that a school principal cut her child’s hair without her consent while attempting to remove beads.
Chief Education Officer Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw said the Ministry has requested a full report from the principal involved and will meet with both the school official and the child’s parents. While acknowledging the seriousness of the complaint, she urged the public not to rush to judgment until the facts are fully examined.
Below is the full statement issued by Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw:
The following is a statement from the Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, on the issue involving a principal and the alleged cutting of a child’s hair during the process of removing beads:
Yesterday afternoon, I became aware of a complaint by the mother of a primary school student, alleging that the principal of his school cut his hair without her permission.
The matter is now under investigation, and the Principal has been directed to provide the Ministry with a full report. That report is due this morning, and already the Ministry has scheduled a meeting with the principal for later in the day. A similar opportunity will be given to the parents of the child.
While the Ministry regards the complaint as a serious one and is determined to treat it with the seriousness it demands, until the investigation is completed, it would be imprudent to make any statement of facts that it cannot substantiate, since to do so may result in one side or the other being prejudiced.
Concerned Barbadians can rest assured, however, that as soon as all relevant details have been collected and assessed, a substantive public statement will be made. In the meantime, the Ministry of Educational Transformation asks all persons who are inclined to make any pronouncements on the matter to consider the interest and welfare of the child as paramount. (PR)