Psychologist says Ascot graduation was discrimination

President of the Jamaican Psychological Society, Dr Paul Smith, says the Ascot Primary School graduation controversy should not be treated as a simple school “blunder”, but as a form of public punishment that may have damaged children at one of the most important milestones of their young lives.

Smith said the reported decision to separate some Grade Six students during graduation based on their Primary Exit Profile (PEP) performance amounted to discrimination and could leave lasting emotional scars.

“Children internalise things differently from adults,” Smith told THE STAR.

Ascot Primary, located in Portmore, St Catherine, has come under public criticism following reports that some Grade Six students who did not meet certain academic standards in the 2026 PEP examinations were denied the opportunity to wear caps and gowns at the school’s graduation ceremony. Their higher-performing peers reportedly participated in full graduation regalia, while parents alleged that the affected students marched behind the gown-clad students and were seated at the back of the graduating class.

The Ministry of Education has since criticised the reported actions, saying graduation ceremonies should celebrate the completion of a significant stage in a child’s educational journey and should not be used as a platform for public differentiation, stigmatisation or punishment. Smith rejected any suggestion that academic performance or behavioural concerns could justify excluding students from full participation in graduation.

“If the students have matriculated to graduation, they should be afforded the opportunity to,” he said. He described the reported action as a form of discrimination.

“What happened is a form of discrimination, prejudice, isolation and segregation. That is what it boils down to because they were allowed not to be as well dressed or affirmed or a full part of what was happening at the graduation exercise because of their performance,” he said.

Smith said the psychological impact could be severe, especially for children who may already be struggling academically, emotionally or socially. He said schools must be careful not to confuse discipline with humiliation.

“If there are behavioural issues, there are other ways of dealing with it. Once you do damage emotionally to a child, the child may never get over it,” Smith said.

According to Smith, if the school had concerns about students’ behaviour or performance, those concerns should have triggered intervention long before graduation day.

“What intervention was employed from the time it was noticed that these students had behavioural issues? Were they brought to the guidance counsellor? Were the parents brought in? Did the school have particular measures? Was there a reward system? It can’t be just that you are sending a message on graduation day,” Smith added.

Smith said that he understood the long-term effects because he was once denied the opportunity to graduate from high school because of an incomplete project.

“I had all the matriculation requirements, subjects and everything, and because of that I didn’t graduate. It affected me for years, and that was high school for me, not primary school,” he said.

According to Smith, graduation is a major milestone in a child’s life and should not be used as a moment of embarrassment. He opined that the controversy should force schools to examine whether their disciplinary practices correct children or simply shame them.

“Whatever it is, it must still be in the best interest of the child,” he said.