Anglican High School

A war of attrition is taking place between the Anglican High School (AHS) and officials of the Ministry of Education headed by Claris Charles over a pregnant fifth form student.

Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that the Ministry has rescinded a decision taken by School Principal, Magdeline Baptiste to suspend the student from attending classes in light of the situation. The student is said to be six to seven months pregnant and is expected to give birth in March.

According to a well-placed source, a senior official in the ministry despatched a letter to Baptiste demanding her to take back the student and allow her to attend classes as any ordinary student. The ministry has reportedly informed AHS that there is nothing in the Education Act that provides for the institution to suspend a pregnant child.

The source who spoke on condition that she was not named said that the child's parents can be seen every morning dropping off the pregnant 5th former in front of the school. She stated that from all indication even the child is uncomfortable attending school in her current state.

The Parent Teachers Association (PTA) of AHS was expected to meet with the Education and Labour Minister on Tuesday afternoon to try and resolve the issue. When contacted by our News Desk, the school principal declined to comment on the issue."I am not willing to give a comment at this point", she remarked.

AHS Students

There are unconfirmed reports that Baptiste is upset over the situation especially a letter allegedly sent to her by the Ministry demanding her to apologise for sending home the pregnant student. The President of the PTA, Louise Grant was a little bit more forthcoming than the AHS principal.

She said that the parents are definitely not in favour with the ministry's decision to allow the pregnant child to remain in school among the other girls and that, "we would be meeting later on today (with Education Minister Charles) to try and settle the matter". An angry parent described the ministry's attitude as nothing but "craziness".

"I find that is bad for all of us. I am very much upset about it. I have a child going to that school and that is a very bad example for my child. It is like telling my child that she could go to school and get pregnant."Yes I am sorry for the (pregnant) child but the child is not more important than the Principal and the rest of the school", she added.

Chief Education Officer, Martin Baptiste could not be reached for comment on the issue. His secretary told our News Desk that he is in a meeting that would be taking up his time "for quite awhile".

Both the PTA and the Old Girls Association of AHS are said to be giving their full backing to the principal on the issue including the possibility of staging protest demonstrations through the streets of St. George's.

Over the years, pregnant students on the island have been allowed to continue their education at the Programme for Adolescent Mothers (PAM) at Mt. Parnassus in St. George's.