A persistent traffic management problem at the Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School is expected to attract police attention, as the Ministry of Educational Transformation moves to curb mounting safety risks and tensions at the busy Government Hill school.
Police officers are to be stationed at the school on Wednesday morning as it reopens following a day’s closure, Deputy Chief Education Officer with responsibility for schools, Julia Beckles, told Barbados TODAY late Tuesday evening.
“At least two officers will be present,” she confirmed, adding that the ministry was committed to finding solutions to the long-standing traffic challenge. Asked whether the matter had become a police investigation, she replied: “I can’t say that… I know they will have a conversation with the principal.”
The ministry launched an urgent review of safety and traffic management at the school amid reports of chronic congestion leading to verbal abuse and tense exchanges between parents and staff.
Officials met for two-and-a-half-hours on Tuesday with teachers, non-teaching staff, and representatives of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) to address the situation that led to the school’s sudden early closure on Monday.
The meeting, held from 9 to 11.30 am, was led by Beckles, who said the ministry was examining both immediate and long-term measures.
“We met with staff, both teaching and non-teaching, and after the meeting we did a walkthrough of the school premises to see some of the concerns as it relates to traffic management,” Beckles said. “The major concern is traffic congestion in the mornings and evenings. Staff reported that they have difficulty getting into work and leaving because other vehicles block the entrance to the school and the pavements.”
She added that a formal report was being prepared for the ministry’s internal review.
“I will be sharing the information from the meeting with my team to discuss short-term and long-term solutions,” Beckles said, noting that the reopening on Wednesday would depend on further discussions.
Parents were caught off guard on Monday when they were asked to collect their children immediately due to “unforeseen circumstances”. No details were provided at the time.
BUT Vice-President Julian Pierre, who chairs the union’s health and safety committee, said the school had been short-staffed on Monday and that a separate verbal confrontation between a parent and a teacher had further escalated tensions.
“We were informed yesterday that the school had a shortage of staff who fell ill and the school was subsequently closed,” Pierre explained. “On Friday, we were informed by the shop steward that there was an incident that took place between a teacher and a parent, which we had to investigate.”
He said Tuesday’s meeting allowed staff to speak candidly about their concerns, including the daily gridlock that often traps teachers and parents for up to 20 minutes.
“The staff were able to voice their concerns, their opinions, relay their fears,” he said. “The Ministry of Educational Transformation has sought to further investigate the issues surrounding the school, one of the main ones being traffic flow.”
Pierre urged parents to exercise patience and mutual respect during drop-off and pick-up times.
“We are impressing upon the parents and those who collect their children and wards — let us all be respectful of each other,” he appealed. “It is a public road. It is a high-traffic area based on the roll at Charles F. Broome, and we are asking for peaceful co-operation in how parents come to collect and drop off their children.”
Teachers have reported being verbally abused by frustrated parents and obstructed from entering or leaving the compound.
“It is not something that anyone would be comfortable coming to work or leaving work and having to deal with on a daily basis,” Pierre said.
He confirmed that there was no physical altercation, but that verbal exchanges between a teacher and a parent were under investigation.
“We had alleged reports that the teacher was verbally abused, and there was something about an approach by a parent to the teacher’s vehicle,” Pierre noted. “The details are still a little sketchy, but we are not aware of any physical attack. We did, however, hear some words that were quite undesirable.”
Pierre added that teachers appreciated the ministry’s swift engagement and were hopeful for prompt action.
“The teachers were appreciative of the ministry’s quick response in seeking to meet with them to hear their concerns,” he said. “They are hopeful that the ministry will keep its word in seeking a swift resolution to this problem.” (SZB)
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