Education Ministry to Review Safety Protocols for School Sports Equipment
By: , October 31, 2024
Photo: Donald De La Haye
Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon (right), listens to Campion College Principal, Dr. David Henry (centre), during a visit to the institution on Thursday (October 31). Sharing in the conversation is Region 1 Director of Regional Educational Services in the Ministry, Otis Brown.The Full Story
The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information will be undertaking a review of the safety protocols for sports equipment in schools.
The development comes in the wake of the tragic death of second-form Campion College student, Rashad Richards, on Tuesday (October 29), after a goalpost reportedly fell on him.
Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, who participated in the school’s general assembly on Thursday (October 31), said that all efforts will be made to prevent a repeat of the incident.
“We had a similar incident like this before and the Ministry issued instructions in terms of how to secure some of these equipment that you find in schools across Jamaica. So, it is important that we look back at the protocol as a Ministry – look at any way that we can tighten it up, any support that we can give to our schools, because we never want to have this ever happen again to another child,” she said.
Senator Morris Dixon commended the response of students after the incident on Tuesday.
“The students were not taking videos when their classmate was hurt. They were all rallying around to support that classmate, and that’s what we want to teach our children; the importance of supporting each other and not having situations become a spectacle,” she shared.
Meanwhile, Senator Morris Dixon said the Ministry and the school have been supporting the parents of the late student.
She advised that a memorial is planned, and some students have given tributes in the form of art and poetry.
Senator Morris Dixon added that students are being given the space to grieve and the school will wait for the family to indicate how best they can celebrate Rashad’s life.
“I’m told Rashad was a star student with 4.0 grade point average (GPA). He’s brilliant, a brilliant child and a sports person too. This was a child that had a lot to offer this world, and so we know the grieving is big on the part of his family and we will support them as best as we can,” she said.