Jamaica Teachers Union Defends Staff Where Two Students Died As A Result Of Floods

KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) is defending the staff at the Green Pond Primary School amid allegations that teachers had allowed students to leave the compound during heavy rains resulting in the deaths of two students.

“Our information states that it was time for school to be dismissed and at the point at which the students were released from school the rains were not falling at that time.” said JTA president Dr. Mark Nicely.

Principal of the Green Pond Primary, Millicent Hall Clarke, said the teachers were not at fault and that parents are responsible for picking up their children from school.

“It could not have been the school’s fault, because where it happened , it happened in the community and so the children left school by then and we knew then that it (the rain) had eased up, that ‘s why the children left school.

“I must remind parents that they have a responsibility to pick up their children, teachers can’t be here until night to wait on parents to come for their children because teachers have responsibilities at their homes too,” she said.

The Ministry of Education said it would be looking into the claims against the teachers at the school in the western parish of St. James following the deaths of twins, Brandon and Brayden Jones.

“I really do not know if there was any inaction on the part of teachers but the responsibility is really with the school and I just do not know… at another stage we will hear more,” said Education Minister, Ronald Thwaites.

Police said the bodies of the two Grade Three students had been recovered at Dump Up Beach along Howard Cooke Boulevard.

Media reports said that the boys were on their way home from the Green Pond Primary School on Monday when one reportedly climbed on a rail and then fell off into the gully. His brother, who reportedly tried to help, also fell into the gully.