The Ministry of Education and the police have launched an investigation at a high school in Kingston after it was revealed that a male teacher was allegedly involved in what is being labelled an 'improper exchange' with a group of female students.

Jasper Lawrence, chief education officer in the education ministry, said the teacher invited a group of grade-nine girls into his office and queried whether they were virgins or if they had boyfriends.

He noted that one of the students who was offended by the incident reported the matter to her mother. The mother then contacted the institution and the school board and principal investigated the matter.

Lawrence said the teacher has since resigned. He noted that the regional office is to fully inves-tigate the matter and provide him with a report.

Contacted on Monday, the principal said he did not want to divulge too much information as the matter was being investigated by the ministry.

Serious actions

He, however, admitted that an 'improper exchange' took place.

"If these allegations are true, then very serious actions will have to be taken," Lawrence told The Gleaner Monday night.

He said the incident was the first of such a nature he had heard of since the start of the school year.

"We do not know of many teachers being implicated in these incidents and it is something that we definitely would not like to know is happening," said Lawrence.