EDUCATION MINISTER, the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald is pictured, centre, speaking about the physical attack on the Principal of the Jack Hayward High School on Grand Bahama. Pictured Left to right: Melvin Seymour, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Grand Bahama; Ms. Dorothy Kemp, District Superintendent for East Grand Bahama; Mrs. Sandra Edgecombe,  Deputy Director for Education; Mr. Fitzgerald; Hon. Dr. Michael Darville, Minister for Grand Bahama; and Mr. Alfred Sears, Chairman, College of The Bahamas.

FREEPORT, G.B. – The physical attack of a Grand Bahama high school principal has angered Education Minister the Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald and he is calling for swift justice in the matter.  Mr. Fitzgerald, who holds the portfolio as Minister for Education, Science and Technology was in Grand Bahama, September 18, dealing with matters relating to the expansion of the College of The Bahamas Northern Region campus and addressed the incident which happened September 17 at the Jack Hayward High School.  Principal of that institute, Mrs. Yvonne Ward, was reportedly attacked by a female parent.

The matter has been turned over to the Police and the parent has been arrested.  Mr. Fitzgerald met with Mrs. Ward and other senior executives from his Ministry on Grand Bahama, prior to holding a press conference.  “I want to make it clear that as Minister for Education, one of my first and most paramount responsibilities, really, is the safety and protection of our teachers, administrators and students on all of our campuses,” he told the media. 

“It is a responsibility and obligation that I take very seriously and one that I have tried on every occasion I have had an opportunity to make it clear not only to those persons on campus but also the general public, that when it comes to matters of the security and safety on our campuses, there will be no compromise from myself or from the Ministry of Education. 

“Having said that, I was very alarmed yesterday (Tuesday) to receive a report that an incident took place at Sir Jack Hayward High involving a parent of a student, in fact, a past parent of a student and the principal, where an assault took place. 

“Upon receiving that report, I made contact with the Minister of State for National Security and made it clear to him that it is my desire as Minister to ensure that the full weight of the court and the police system is brought to bear to ensure that matter is expedited before the courts and that swift justice takes place,” the Education Minister said.  Mr. Fitzgerald said  he is “totally disgusted” at the situation and feel for all administrators and educators who on a day to day basis sacrifice so much for the children. He said to come to a point where a parent would find it in themselves to go and physically attack a teacher or administrator “really is beyond what we can tolerate in the Ministry and beyond what I will tolerate as Minister.” 

The Education Minister again stated that he expects the matter to be dealt with expeditiously saying that a complaint has been made and he expects the individual to be charged very soon. 

“Moving forward, I want to say that parents who take the liberty or think that they can come on to campus and interfere with or physically interfere with any teacher or administrator, they will find at the end of the day that I will utilise my discretion to ensure that that child does not have a place in any public school in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. 

“I want all parents to understand clearly moving forward that they have to understand and appreciate that not only will they be brought before the court, but they are also in fact jeopardising the future education of their children in the public school system. 

“It is something that we will not tolerate in the Ministry of Education and I will not tolerate as Minister of Education.  I expect anyone on campus to behave in a reasonable, civilised and mature manner.  That includes the kids, the teachers and administration, and that includes the parents,” he said.