The Tribune

IRATE teachers protested outside Carlton E Francis Primary School again yesterday morning amid a continued standoff with the school’s principal.

Teachers are calling for the removal of the school official and have engaged in sit outs and protests since school reopened last week, forcing substitute teachers to be called in.

Barricades were erected outside the institution yesterday and police were at the school.

“We’re not fighting with the parents, we’re not fighting with the students, we love our classrooms, we love our students, we just want our minister to do what he is paid to do,” one teacher told Our News yesterday.

Some parents expressed anger that the disagreement between faculty and the school official was affecting the student body. Parents said the situation is traumatising students, who have been left shaken by the emotional scenes outside the school.

Teachers have promised to continue their protest until the school’s principal, Olivia Daxon, is removed from the school.

In a statement released last night, the Ministry of Education said it is “disheartened” by the fact that a number of teachers at the school have withdrawn from their duties over the last few days.

“This defiant behaviour places our students at a grave disadvantage, depriving them of the quality time and education which they rightfully deserve,” the ministry said. “As such, the ministry’s paramount objective is to ensure that the education and safety of our students are not compromised. Accordingly, the public can be assured that ministry officials are working in earnest to resolve the matter.”

Last week, Minister of Education Jeff Lloyd said he was disappointed by the situation at Carlton E Francis, considering the fact that the nation was still reeling from the devastation brought by Hurricane Dorian.