An incident at Oberlin High School in St. Andrew has sparked conversations about the need for guidelines for school devotions.
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Pastor Karl Johnson, of the Phillipo Baptist Church in Spanish Town, St. Catherine
There is another call for the Ministry of Education to hold talks with stakeholders in the sector to determine the best way forward for devotions in public schools.
A public discussion has been ongoing since last Wednesday's incident during general devotion at Oberlin High School in St. Andrew.
Education Minister Fayval Williams has announced that the ministry is working on protocols for devotions in schools, while asking administrators to give consideration to the idea.
Some religious leaders and the Jamaica Teachers' Association have said there is no need for protocols that would restrict religious practices.
But Pastor Karl Johnson, of the Phillipo Baptist Church in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, said the incident at Oberlin High has highlighted the need for conversations on the purpose of general assembly in schools.
He suggested that devotions at Calabar High School, at which he is board chairman, are aimed at building values among students.
As such, Pastor Johnson, who was a guest on TVJ's Smile Jamaica on Monday, said he is in favour of guidelines for devotions that will help to strengthen children's character.
He insisted he is "not for protocols" but "more for guidelines", insinuating there is a difference between the two.
"I believe we should repose in our educators the competence to know the difference and how to sensitively, responsibly and maturely create a framework, which even if it is couched in certain church, denominational, religious expressions, it is not there to proselyte, therefore to convert the youngster," Pastor Johnson suggested.
The Ministry of Education said there was a significant fall off in attendance at Oberlin High School last week.
The ministry disclosed that fewer than 100 of the approximately 1500 student body turned up for classes on Thursday and Friday.
It said normality has returned to institution and encouraged parents to send their children out for regular classes, starting today.
The ministry's regional team will be at Oberlin High to meet with board representatives, the principal and student welfare team to chart the way forward and to discuss the events of October 26 that led to the disruption of activities.
Oberlin is operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (UCJCI) and the synod has noted with concern the "unusual occurrence" which took place during devotions at the school.
The UCJCI has been working in close partnership with the Board of Management of Oberlin High School in response to the incident.
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