Education Minister Ronald Thwaites is calling on parents to support school administrations in upholding discipline in educational institutions.
Thwaites, who was addressing the annual conference of principals and vice-principals in St Ann recently, said the ministry was solidly behind the enforcement and maintenance of discipline in schools.
"The ministry supports you establishing school rules, hopefully, with the agreement of your Parent-Teacher Associations, and enforcing them, and we call on parents to cooperate with the school administrators to maintain discipline," he said.
As it relates to addressing breaches of dress codes, Thwaites urged the school leaders to ensure that reasonable standards of modesty are set and maintained, and to use discretion when sanctions are being applied.
He advised them against sending students home. "Sending them back to the streets is a very dangerous prospect, which I strongly advise against," he said, noting that parents should be brought into the matter.
Thwaites encouraged the principals and vice-principals to continue to meet as a group and share best practices for the enforcement of wholesome and sustainable discipline.