[UPDATED] Police: Incident at east primary school greatly exaggerated

POLICE are denying details of claims made in a report circulating on social media which say that a man entered an east primary school on June 2 under the pretence of being a substitute teacher and subsequently locked himself in a classroom as he solicited inappropriate acts from students.

The report also claims the man assaulted a teacher by pushing her to the ground before he escaped.

Police said that report was greatly exaggerated.

Contacted by Newsday on June 17, Snr Supt Sherma Maynard-Wilson of the police's North Eastern Division said, “That (the report) is not correct. There was somebody who was allowed to be on the compound but then they verified that the person did not have permission to be on the compound.

“By the time police officers got there, the person was no longer on the compound.”

Maynard-Wilson said there was no report relating to any improper behaviour towards children or the assault of a teacher.

She said the police were only called to respond to a report of a person's unauthorised presence at the school.

A June 17 statement from the Education Ministry said preliminary information indicated that the individual was seen walking in different areas of the school building on June 10, contrary to the social media report which said June 2. Staff then responded by using established safety protocols and alerting police.

Police are now investigating the matter. The ministry said it was co-operating fully to support the investigation and had initiated a review of the school’s existing security protocols.

“This step is part of our continued commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students, staff and visitors across the national school system. The ministry also takes this opportunity to remind all school administrators and security personnel to remain vigilant and to ensure that all safety protocols are enforced consistently,” the ministry said.

Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath said, “Every child deserves a safe space to learn, free from fear or disruption. The ministry will continue working with all stakeholders to safeguard that right.”

This story has been updated to include additional details. See original post below.

POLICE are denying details of claims made in a report circulating on social media which say that a man entered an east primary school on June 2 under the pretence of being a substitute teacher and subsequently locked himself in a classroom as he solicited inappropriate acts from students.

The report also claims the man assaulted a teacher by pushing her to the ground before he escaped.

Police say that report is greatly exaggerated.

Contacted by Newsday on June 17, Snr Supt Sherma Maynard-Wilson of the police's North Eastern Division said, “That (the report) is not correct. There was somebody who was allowed to be on the compound but then they verified that the person did not have permission to be on the compound.

“By the time police officers got there, the person was no longer on the compound.”

She said there was no report relating to any improper behaviour towards children or the assault of a teacher.

She said the police were only called to respond to a report of a person's unauthorised presence at the school.