New Sexual Harassment Policy For Edna Manley College Soon

Minister with Responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, says a new sexual harassment policy will soon be finalized for the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts.

            The Minister, who was responding to questions posed by Opposition Spokesperson on Education, Peter Bunting, on the matter, in the House on December 3, said a committee comprising a wide cross section of stakeholders from the college, revised the institution’s sexual harassment policy.

“The document has benefited from external review and feedback from industrial relations specialists and the Board of Directors. The feedback provided has been used to update the draft. The document will be finalised by January 2020,” Mr. Samuda said.

Meanwhile, the Minister informed that the Board has set up an email address to allow persons affected [by sexual harassment] to submit their complaints.

“This address was independent of the schools management. Numerous complaints have been received via this medium. In addition, several seminars were hosted with staff members to sensitise them to issues concerning sexual harassment,” he said.

Mr. Samuda also informed that he will be appointing an external committee to do a separate investigation on all matters relating to the institution.