Tobago mom sues principal over school entry ban

_{Tobago mom sues principal over school entry ban}

A Tobago woman has filed an application in the high court against the principal of the Scarborough Secondary School and the Tobago House of Assembly after she was banned from entering the school’s premises.

A Tobago woman has filed an application in the high court against the principal of the Scarborough Secondary School and the Tobago House of Assembly after she was banned from entering the school’s premises.

The woman’s daughter is a Form 4 student at the school.

The application filed by her lawyers Martin George and Darrel Bartholomew last Friday

According to the lawsuit, on June 11, 2022 the woman was informed by the supervisor of the security guards assigned to the school that the principal told them that she was not allowed onto the premises.

The application states that while she recognises the authority of the principal and the THA, she did nothing to warrant the “unreasonable” ban.

The lawsuit contends that the woman has an equal right as any other parent, lawfully observing the school’s rules, to enter the school’s compound to see after the business and affairs of her child.

The application identifies that the parent was not informed of any alleged breach which led to the decision to ban her from setting foot on the school’s premises.

Further, she said despite sending letters to the THA and the school’s principal on June 22, 2022 and February 9, 2023 she was not given an opportunity to be heard, and a reason still has not been given for the ban.

“…to date there has been no response thereto and still no reason has been given to the [parent] and no opportunity to be heard has been afforded her and the ban remains in effect up to present,” the application read.

The parent wants a review of the decision, and is seeking the intervention of the court to overturn the debarment. She’s also asking that the school be made to state the specific reasons for the “draconian” ban.

By: Darlisa Ghouralal