Restorative Practices Training Making a Difference in Schools

Conflict is an inevitability that everyone, despite the very best efforts, must face at one point or another.

However, learning positive behaviour, such as how to appropriately handle conflict from an early age, can make all the difference in a person’s development.

The Ministry of Justice, through its Restorative Justice (RJ) Branch, has, for years, delivered restorative practices training to school administrators, namely guidance counsellors, deans of discipline, and senior teachers.

This has since been expanded to include students in conflict resolution practices training, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministries of Justice, and Education and Youth in May 2022.

Restorative practices is a social science that studies how to improve and repair relationships between people and communities.

The purpose is to build healthy communities, increase social capital, decrease crime and antisocial behaviour, repair harm and restore relationships.

Addressing the recent certificate ceremony for more than 8,000 beneficiaries across 200 schools islandwide at Campion College in St. Andrew, Principal Director for the Justice Ministry’s Social Justice Division, Jamie-Ann Chevannes, noted that the high number of trainees is a positive step towards normalising justice through peace and harmony.

“The willingness of each trainee to engage in this transformative process reflects a shared vision. There is a high demand for skills and resources to assist the Jamaican public to resolve their conflicts, and the Ministry of Justice is actively engaging citizens to ensure a corrective balance to the justice system and the possible prevention of a perpetuation of violence. We are building a Jamaica where justice heals,” Ms. Chevannes pointed out.

For her part, Permanent Secretary, Grace Ann Stewart McFarlane, emphasised that through the RJ Branch, a transformative approach to addressing harm and fostering healing in communities is offered.

“By using a set of principles, working from a preventative perspective on how to repair and build trust and respectful relationships among participants, the two-day restorative practices training workshops empower individuals to take ownership of their actions and remain a viable move to ensuring conflict resolution,” she said.

The beneficiaries participated in approximately 200 restorative practices two-day training workshops, held from March to December 2023.

Over the course of the two-day workshops, restorative justice professionals deliver training and corresponding materials to participants, who are certified at the end of the exercise.

To date, over 12,000 persons have benefited from these trainings, with a second MOU being signed by the Ministries in February this year to continue their delivery.

Mrs. Stewart McFarlane noted that this is intended to engage young minds, curb maladaptive behaviour and provide students with the tools to resolve conflicts and foster harmony in the school environment.

“This will take effect in the new financial year, starting in April, and will continue until 2026. The objective of the MOU is to minimise conflict in schools, raise awareness about restorative approaches and support the development of trusting and sustainable relationships between school administrators, students and parents,” Mrs. Stewart McFarlane said.

She added that continued use of restorative practices assists, not only with resolving conflicts as they occur, but serves to boost participants morale, develop a shared understanding between individuals and cultivate a culture of positivity and team spirit.

Restorative practices training also serves to establish points of entry into the Ministry’s wider RJ programme for matters that may arise within the school environs.

Coordinator and Advisor to Student Leaders at Norman Manley High School in Kingston, Tabitha James-Christian, said training in restorative practices has had a great impact on her students and the wider school community.

“Instead of focusing on solely punitive measures, we are now prioritising understanding, empathy, and building meaningful relationships among students, staff, and the wider school community. One of the most powerful aspects is the way conflicts are addressed; rather than simply assigning consequences, as a school, we bring affected parties together in a circle to engage in open dialogue,” she outlined.

Mrs. James-Christians highlighted that a positive change in the dynamic of students in the classroom has been noted, pointing out that they play a more active role in their own development using restorative practices.

“They are picking up important life lessons, including how to resolve conflicts, communicating well, and value community. A more positive school culture has been facilitated by the notable increase in students’ sense of trust and connection with each other. This approach is not only an improvement over traditional discipline but also an essential development [component] in our educational practices. It has the power to shape students into responsible, caring individuals who can and will make valuable contributions to both their local community and society at large,” she expressed.

Improvements such as these in schools are important for interpersonal relationships in the wider community and society.

For his part, Justice Minister, Hon. Delroy Chuck, stressed how powerful a tool training in restorative practices can be in relation to de-escalating and resolving minor squabbles, many of which have the potential of ending in violent confrontation.

“Jamaica suffers from the inability of our people to engage in meaningful and sustainable relationships. Too often we find that the simplest of misunderstandings creates squabbles and escalates conflicts and violence. We must talk it out, and that is what restorative justice is all about. Parties must learn to get together in a circle with others and examine what the cause of the disagreement is,” he said.

Minister Chuck added that, similar to the change from punitive justice in the school disciplinary system, restorative practices, when applied in everyday life, can potentially have the same effect.

“That is why the Ministry of Justice is determined to get RJ right across every nook and cranny of Jamaica… in the business places, in the schools, in the churches, but more so in the homes. We are hoping at the Ministry of Justice to get more trained RJ advocates to go out and speak about conflict resolution,” he said.

To learn more about the Restorative Justice programme, training in restorative practices or to locate the RJ centre closest to you, contact the Ministry of Justice by calling their toll-free number – 888-JUSTICE (587-8423), or visit their website at www.moj.gov.jm.