MAXINE HENRY-Wilson, opposition spokesperson on education, is warning the Government against any action that would politicise school boards.

In her presentation yesterday during the Sectoral Debate in Gordon House, Henry-Wilson claimed that there have been reports indicating that the members of a number of school boards were being removed.

She called for the education minister, Andrew Holness, to investigate the reports.

"People coming and saying we are the new school board. I just want to be assured that this is not true because school boards are not politically appointed," she said.

Holness told The Gleaner yesterday that while he has not received any specific report of school boards being removed, there seemed to have been some confusion about how these boards were appointed.

He said there might have been persons who thought school boards operated similar to other public sector boards and were required to resign en bloc with a change of government.

Board chairmen resigning

Holness also said some board chairmen had submitted their resignations but were told that this was not required of school boards.

Commenting on the introduction of tuition-free education, Henry-Wilson questioned the impact of this policy shift on school attendance since September.

"What has been the consequence in terms of the attendance at schools? Has it been improved?" she asked.

Holness, however, said with the improvement in the benefits under the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education and the removal of tuition fees, attendance has increased at the primary and secondary levels.

Turning to the Government's proposal to introduce deans of discipline in schools, Henry-Wilson cautioned against this move, saying it might result in teachers becoming targets of assault.

"I do fear that if we were to have deans of discipline conducting what is almost police work, they could be at risk," she said.