With approval from the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries announced that Clare Hall Secondary School (CHSS) students will be dismissed from school for the rest of this week in light of the incident on Tuesday at the school.
Students will remain home today and on Friday to “give staff time to discuss among themselves, engage parents and develop strategies and structures to create a safer school environment”, a statement on the matter disclosed.
Teachers will be required to report for duty.
“On Tuesday 31st January 2023, two armed assailants breached security at the Clare Hall Secondary School and subsequently traumatized students, teachers and ancillary staff with a machete and a golf club.
“While the Ministry of Education is relieved that there were no physical injuries, we are outraged at this reprehensible invasion on the school,” Director of Education, Clare Browne wrote.
A team from the Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries, led by Minister Daryll Matthew and Director Clare Browne, visited CHSS yesterday morning to lend support to the school’s faculty and students.
Psychosocial support is also being provided to those who need it by counsellors within the Ministry of Education, Sports and Creative Industries.