The Education Ministry is moving to address reports of a violent incident involving a student and the Principal of the Cumberland High School in St. Catherine last Friday.

Yesterday, teachers at the institution refused to teach, protesting what they say are violent attacks on members of staff by students.

Deputy Chief Education Officer, Dorette Campbell, says the principal and the student got into a ‘fracas’ on Friday afternoon.

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She says the incident happened after school while students were being dismissed.

Ms. Campbell says a stone was later used to smash the windshield of the Principal’s vehicle.

In a statement to the media last evening, the Education Ministry says it’s alarmed at the reports of violent attacks being meted out to the Principal and academic staff of the school.

The Ministry says the safety and security of staff and students at all educational institutions is of paramount importance.

It says it’ll be moving swiftly to curtail what it calls the ‘untenable situation’.

It says it’s sending a high-level team to meet with the Principal and staff of the Cumberland High School this morning.

The team will be led by Acting Regional Director in the Education Ministry, Patrice Supria, and includes Director of Safety and Security in Schools, Assistant Superintendent of Police Coleridge Minto.

Education Minister, Ruel Reid, has been briefed on the matter.

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