St Elizabeth Technical High School principal tells students who choose violence they must learn or leave

The principal of St Elizabeth Technical High School used a graduation ceremony held on Thursday to deliver a blunt message to students and parents: anyone who puts violence ahead of learning has no place at the institution.

Keith Wellington said the administration is taking a firm stand after roughly two dozen students were expelled last month. He pointed to a May outbreak of fighting on campus that led to 12 students being removed and forced a suspension of classes on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Authorities said multiple fights broke out that day, including one that allegedly involved a knife. Four students were later charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, reportedly against a 15-year-old schoolmate.

"Just about five weeks ago on the campus. And that incident was something that we do not ever want to see happening here again," Wellington said. "I want to assure you as parents that our goal, our mandate — we are insistent that St Elizabeth must be a safe place for every single person who walks through this gate."

With several violent incidents reported across secondary schools during the academic year, Wellington said any student found in breach of safety rules would be ushered out. "Anyone who jeopardizes the safety of any other member of this school campus will not be welcome here," he said.

Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon, who was present at the ceremony, had urged Jamaicans last year to take greater action in protecting the nation's children from violence. Wellington noted that excluded students and parents still have recourse, and invited the minister to correct him if he was wrong. "But if your child, if your children is unwilling or unable to comply with the requirements of this school, the standards that we have tried to build and uphold, they are not going to be welcome here," he said.

The principal stressed that the school is not walking away from its duty to teach and shape proper behaviour. "We believe that as a school, we do the things that are necessary to teach students. And where they fail to learn, there's a prominent school in Montego Bay whose motto is learn or leave. Learn or leave. As simple as that," he said.