Barbados: Dujon urges Education Ministry for mental health support in schools

Barbados: Shadow Minister for Education, Felicia Dujon expressed deep concerns about the Ministry of Education not taking action to improve mental health support for students and teachers alike following an incident at a Primary School.

On February 16^th, 2024, an incident took place at the Good Shepherd Primary School in Fitts Village. While explicit details have not been shared with the public, it has been established that two educators got into a conflict which escalated to hostility and death threats. The situation had escalated to the extent that the police had to be called to the premises and the school closed prematurely that day to better deal with the situation, equally, the Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw deployed an education officer to offer the necessary support. The counselling services and other means of support were provided for the principal and teaching staff on Monday, February 19^th; the school resumed its regular classes on the same day. However, the school also closed early on Monday with the teachers being “unhappy” with how the staff crisis was being handled prompting 18 teachers to call in sick.

The ministry stated “Due to the inadequate number of teachers present to effectively manage the student body and class loads today, Good Shepherd Primary School had to be closed”

The Vice President of the Barbados Union of Teachers, Julian Pierre stated “I was uncomfortable because of what had transpired . . . I was not completely satisfied. I relayed that information to the Chief Education Officer on Friday. I saw a report that spoke to certain things, everything was not correct. Classes did not start on Friday. The police service was here just about a quarter to nine in the morning, persons were assembling on the pasture from a quarter to nine as advised by the police.”

This incident is what elicited Dujon to state "This demonstrates a failure to prioritize the mental well-being of educators and underscores the need for urgent attention to this issue."

She goes on to express her concern about the long-term implications that such traumatic events can have on a student or educator's life. Dujon stressed the importance of ensuring effective recourses and strategies are in place so that the emotional needs of the students can be catered to.

While counselling services were provided to those involved, Dujon felt dissatisfied with the current response, calling for proactive measures in place of reactive ones.

Dujon listed three immediate solutions including

• The implementation of a comprehensive mental health support plan tailored for educators and students affected by recent traumatic events, including additional counselling sessions, group therapy sessions, mental health education, and collaboration with mental health professionals and organizations.

• Addressing staffing concerns by immediately hiring additional education officers, teaching assistants, and counsellors, expediting recruitment processes, allocating funds and resources specifically for mental health support services, and implementing a flexible scheduling system.

• The incorporation of trauma-informed practices into the school curriculum and daily routines, including training teachers and school staff, implementing restorative justice practices, and creating designated safe spaces within schools.

Dujon goes on to emphasize the importance and need for timely communication with the parents when a school disruption has taken place.

Dujon encouraged the president of the Barbados Parent-Teacher Association to step forward and give a statement on behalf of her observations.