Government of Jamaica
For Immediate Release
February 12, 2024
MoJ Signs Second MoU with Education Ministry to continue Restorative Practices Training in Schools
The Ministry of Justice through the Restorative Justice (RJ) Branch of the Social Justice Division, on Monday, February 5, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY), through its Safety and Security in Schools Unit (SSSU), to facilitate the continued delivery of Restorative Practices (RP) training in schools across the Island.
The MoU agreement was first signed on May 3, 2022.
RP training, equips staff, students and parents with conflict resolution skills, using a set of principles working from a preventative perspective, which shows how to repair and build trusting and respectful relationships among students, staff and parents.
Since 2022, over 12,000 participants have benefitted from Restorative Practice Training.
Minister of Justice, Hon. Delroy Chuck, in his address, stated “We have a strong and powerful tool to resolve conflict. Over the last eight years we have been able to not only train 400 facilitators, but we have sensitized thousands of persons on Restorative Justice.”
Minister Chuck also indicated that court referrals to the RJ programme have maintained a high success rate.
“All the courts now refer matters to Restorative Justice. When a matter comes from the court, there is a 90 per cent success rate and when a matter is referred from the community there is over 80 per cent success rate.”
He added, “We want to sensitize as many of the classrooms in Restorative Justice and to urge the children who know of any conflict among the students to inform a RJ Facilitator to get the pending disputes resolved.
Minister of Education and Youth, Hon Fayval Williams, confirmed that over 500 public schools will be targeted under the upcoming programme scheduled for April 2024 to March 2026. This number will account for approximately 50 per cent of the public schools across Jamaica.
Minister Williams added, “We hope to see more stakeholders, including our deans of discipline, guidance counsellors , school nurses , health and family life educators , parents , students and the wider community come together to provide the support needed. The importance of Restorative Justice cannot be overstated and the programme remains necessary given the spate of conflicts among students.”
The RP training includes two-day workshops, delivered by Restorative Justice Professionals with corresponding materials shared with participants, who are subsequently certified.
The Ministry celebrates RJ Week annually. This year the celebrations were held from Feb 4 -11, under the theme, Transformation Peace and Harmony through Restorative Justice.
(L-R – Foreground) Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Grace Ann Stewart McFarlane, Minister of Justice Hon. Delroy Chuck, Minister of Education and Youth (MoEY) , Hon Fayval Williams and Permanent Secretary , MoEY, Dr Kasan Troupe during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding to continue the delivery of Restorative Practices training in schools across Jamaica on Monday, February 5. Looking on are (L-R Background) Director of Restorative Justice, MoJ, Joanalee Robertson, Principal Director, Social Justice Divison MoJ, Jamie Ann Chevannes and Director of Safety and Security, MoEY, Richard Troupe .
