Fifth form students to lead phased return to Frederick Smith school

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Students and teachers are expected to return to the Frederick Smith Secondary School (FSSS) at Trents, St James, on Thursday.

Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Santia Bradshaw, said at a press briefing last night, that the return to school for students would be done in a phased manner.

Fifth form students only will return to school on that day, third and fourth formers will resume classes the following day, Friday. First and Second Form students will return to school on Monday.

Bradshaw also asked parents/guardians to accompany their children/wards on the days they are expected to return to school.

The Education Minister spoke to media at the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, following meetings with guidance counsellors, principals, chairmen of the boards of management of several secondary schools, members of the Royal Barbados Police Force and teachers from the Frederick Smith Secondary School, throughout the day. Members of the FSSS teaching faculty also met at Erdiston yesterday, to receive counselling following a fatal stabbing of one student by another, last Friday.

Students also received counselling at the Ministry of Education’s headquarters and Bradshaw said that counselling support would continue for teachers, students and ancillary staff of the school who were impacted by the incident “until such time that it is deemed that it is no longer required”.

A hotline has been set up by the Ministry for students who wish to take advantage of the counselling services. Persons may contact the following numbers 535-0849 or 535-0853 for counselling help.

“It is hoped this level of counselling will continue to allow students and teachers to be able to address a number of the difficulties they are having in dealing with what has transpired at the school.

“My sympathies continue to go out the family of the victim as well as to all persons who have been impacted in any way. This is a tragedy of the highest order for our country and certainly for our educational system and we are asking for an understanding from the public as we seek to bring some normalcy back to Frederick Smith,” Bradshaw added. (BGIS)