George Griffith, the former head of the Barbados Family Planning Association, has been appointed the new chairman of the Grantley Adams Memorial School.
He was introduced to staff yesterday when the Ministry of Education conducted an all-day meeting with the teachers and ancillary staff at Erdiston Teachers’ Training College. Griffith replaces former chairman Dr Jonathan Lewis.
An official who did not want to be identified because they were not authorised to speak to the media said the meeting was as a result of the investigation of the school which was conducted two weeks ago by Ministry officials and the full inspection which was conducted last year following a stabbing incident at the school.
Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw spent the day involved in the meeting through video conferencing from Miami, where she is receiving medical treatment.
Also in attendance were Chief Education Officer Karen Best and other officials from the Ministry of Education; Mary Redman, president of the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union; a representative of the Barbados Union of Teacher; and former Combermere principal Vere Parris, the representative for the Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools.
The official said the findings of the investigation were shared with the teachers while an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses found at the Blackman’s, St Joseph school was also disclosed.
The investigations involved meetings with teachers, students and ancillary staff, as well as the use of questionnaires.
Both the teachers and ministry officials also gave recommendations for the overall improvement of the school.
Sources said that similar meetings will also be conducted with other schools.
The Weekend Nation was unable to reach the minister for a comment.
However, when contacted about his appointment, Griffith said: “Until such time that there is an instrument in my hand, I cannot comment.”
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