The mentally ill teacher of St. George's Girls and Infant School in Kingston, who was removed from the institution on Wednesday for her disruptive behaviour, has been sent on sick leave, according to Andrew Holness, Minister of Education.

However, Mr. Holness said the ministry was in the process of contacting her next of kin, as he was informed that the teacher returned to the school yesterday

"I have met with the chief education officer and we have discussed the issue. It was agreed that the teacher should proceed on sick leave," Mr. Holness told reporters yesterday at the launch of the 2007 Lasco/Ministry of Education Principal and Teacher of the Year awards, held at the ministry's Heroes Circle head offices.

He added: "That is a way to get the teacher off the school premises where she could become a potential threat to the safety of the students, but that does in no way infringe her right to employment."

Classes disrupted

Classes were disrupted at the school on Wednesday after parents staged a small protest demanding the removal of the teacher. The police were later called in and the teacher was removed.

Mr. Holness said the first priority of the ministry was to protect the children in the school. "We also have an obligation to make sure that the teachers' rights are also protected and we have a sensitivity towards persons that have mental disability," he noted.

Mr. Holness said he has sought the intervention of the Jamaica Teachers' Association to establish a protocol for teachers who may develop or have mental challenges, as this does not reflect well on the teachers or the ministry.