Those Calabar lockouts

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The report that over 30 students were locked out of Calabar High School on the first day of the academic year over infractions like tight pants, black hair dye, or incorrect belt buckles is deeply disturbing. These boys were left outside the school gates – some from as early as 8 a.m. – while the principal declared simply, “They are not ready for school.”

This is more than an issue of uniform policy. The Ministry of Education has been absolutely clear: schools are not to lock out students, even for dress code violations. Former Minister Fayval Williams put it plainly in 2022: “There should not be any locking out, whatsoever, of our students from school.” Yet, here we are – again. Another egregious denial of Jamaican students’ right to their taxpayer-funded education. What message does it send when a school publicly defies the ministry’s directive? Is the ministry now a paper tiger, unable or unwilling to enforce its own policies?

Lockouts pose real risks – students left unsupervised are exposed to danger, stigma, and academic disruption. Worse, it signals to young people that school is too often a place of rejection, not inclusion.

This approach is also out of step with Calabar’s current reality. As noted in recent news, the school’s academic performance has declined in recent years. In 2024, however, 64 per cent of the 11th-grade cohort passed five or more CSEC subjects, including English and math – a significant jump from 58 per cent in 2023. This encouraging improvement deserves reinforcement through engagement and support, not exclusion. Once considered one of Jamaica’s top-tier institutions, Calabar now ranks 25th nationally and 40th on the value-added scale. Again, these are not numbers that justify exclusion – they demand engagement.

DISPROPORTIONATE PUNISHMENTS

And we must acknowledge the disproportionate punishment being meted out to Jamaican boys in general who are already struggling to successfully complete school. We must do better by our young men. We must stop failing them. Calabar’s very capable administration knows that there are better disciplinary tools available, which include:

In-school consequences (e.g., detention or demerits), counselling to understand and change behaviour, parental involvement, or even supervised separation inside the school – not outside on the pavement.

This latest incident unfolds against a backdrop of wider concerns about leadership at Calabar. The appointment of Principal Sian-Mahay Wilson was met with vocal opposition from both the Old Boys’ Association and the PTA, reflecting deep divisions about the school’s direction. If she is to lead Calabar out of decline, she must embody transparent, student-centred, and compassionate leadership – not resort to public displays of discipline that humiliate rather than educate. This is a moment for Calabar – and the ministry – to decide what kind of institution Jamaicans want this historic school to be. Leadership and discipline aren’t about who you keep out, but how well you reach those who may need you most.

DALE BRITTON, PHD

Educator and Academic