SPANISH TOWN, ST CATHERINE:Minister of Education, Andrew Holness says the anger and conflict displayed by society, especially among young people, are affecting the education system and national productivity.
Holness was delivering the main address to a group of principals from the West St Catherine Principals' Association at a forum held at the Friendship Primary School in Spanish Town earlier this month.
Society of fairness
He spoke of the need for a society of fairness and equity, one that would give people a good feeling about themselves.
The minister bemoaned the state of the family structure in the nation, asking what happened to family values over the last 40 years.
Even the culture was in regression, Holness pointed out, using the glorification of crime and violence as an example.
The education minister was introduced by Dr Kenneth Baugh, deputy prime minister and member of parliament for West Central St Catherine.
Education minister calls for more 'principal power'
SPANISH TOWN, ST CATHERINE:
Principals may soon be given greater jurisdiction over the children in their care, if Education Minister, Andrew Holness has his way.
Speaking at a recent forum at Friendship Primary School in Spanish Town, St Catherine, Holness said the time had come for principals to have a greater input in the affairs of the students attending their schools.
According to Holness, a principal does not urgently have the legal authority to demand the presence of a parent in addressing the behaviour of his or her child.
He is proposing that legis-lation be enacted to make it incumbent on parents to take a greater interest in their chil-dren's education.
He said that, where there is non-compliance, authorised agents of the state would step in.
Holness also said the 28-year-old code of regulations, the legal instrument governing the teaching profession, would be amended.
- Stories by Elgin Taylor
