Yesterday, Amandala visited the school, but unable to gain entry into the compound to speak with the principal, Rodrick Cardinez. We were told that there were only 4 teachers on the compound at the time.

Some students we spoke with briefly at around 10:30 a.m., who were seen sitting around a table in the school yard, said that they were being treated as though they were in jail. They were not allowed to speak with us, they said.

This morning, however, Cardinez spoke with us. The action of the Ministry of Education to reinstate the student back into the school, he said, ?demoralized his staff.?

Edward P. Yorke High School has a total of 542 students, and only 4 teachers of a staff of 37, including administration personnel, showed up for what was considered to be a regular school day yesterday, he said.

On Tuesday of this week, the Ministry of Education, after reviewing an appeal letter from the parents of Karl Tulcey, ordered the school to take him back, and on Wednesday, the staff rebelled.

Tulcey had been expelled after receiving his 5th suspension, which came after he broke one of the school?s rules when he and his girlfriend, also a student of the school, went to the Eden Night Club.

Tulcey?s girlfriend was suspended for one week, but he was expelled, having 5 suspensions, two more than the amount allowed.

One of the rules of the institution clearly states, said Cardinez, that whenever a student has accumulated 25 demerits, he is suspended, and three suspensions may lead to an expulsion.

Deputy Chief Education Officer, Allan Genitty, who was once principal of the same school, said that ?The Ministry is very clear about the reinstatement of the child; and to the parents and to the child, what their responsibilities are; and the school rules are clear as to what the responsibilities are of the student and parents.?

In conclusion, Genitty said that, ?The young man only has a few months left in school, and in that time, if he should in any way continue to disrupt classes or to break school rules, it is very clear, the parents know clearly that they are giving him an opportunity for him to complete his education at the institution??

However, Cardinez feels that the Ministry never considered the school?s rules in making their decision, rules known very well by Genitty, who was considered a strict, no-nonsense principal.

Principal Cardinez explains that Tulcey had accumulated 5 suspensions within a five-year school term (he had repeated a term).

In 2004, Tulcey had 28, three more than the allowed amount. However, he was not suspended, because the school considered the fact that it was near the end of the school year. Cardinez said that if Tulcey had to leave the institution and go to another school, he would have had to repeat, because the policy at some schools is that you need to have two years with the institution to qualify to get a diploma.

This led to the school calling in his parents, yet again, and they were informed that he could not afford another suspension.

Tulcey met with the disciplinary board on April 1, 2004, and in a letter to his parents, the school said that Tulcey had three suspensions, and the rules clearly state that 2 suspensions may lead to an expulsion. After a discussion they made recommendations that: he had to be passing at all times – the pass mark was 60 and above; his demerits limit was set at 12 maximum for the school year; if he failed to meet the requirements he would be withdrawn from school; if promoted to a higher level, his demerits limit would be 20. He got 28, and was still promoted to 4thform.

Cardinez said that it was recommended that Tulcey get counseling, which he did.

But Tulcey, said Cardinez, still failed to abide by school rules and went to a nightclub on December 31, which led to his expulsion from the school.

The school, he said, cannot appeal the Ministry?s decision.