Education (Amendment) Act (2012), Grenada

Section 79(1) of the Education Act provides that the Minister of Education must refuse to issue an operational permit to the proprietor or principal of a private educational facility if any staff member employed by that private educational facility has been convicted of child molestation or any other sexual offense involving children. Under Section 79(2), the Minister of Education may refuse to issue a permit if the educational facility had its permit revoked during the five years preceding the application. Further, Section 79(3) grants the Minister of Education the power to refuse the issuing of a permit if any of the criteria set out under Section 78(1) are not met, including if the educational facility’s accommodations are not suitable regarding the gender of the students attending.

The Education (Amendment) Act (2012) amended Section 132 of the Education Act to require that the Chief Education Officer notify the Public Service Commission of any report made against a teacher or principal involving misconduct of a sexual nature between the teacher or the principal and a student.  Following this, the Public Service Commission may, within one week of receiving the report, place the teacher or principal on a temporary paid leave of absence while the preliminary investigation proceeds and a following disciplinary enquiry. The total period of leave may not exceed 60 working days.

The Education (Amendment) Bill of 2024 increased the school age from 16 years old to 17 years old, therefore amending the definition of “compulsory school age” to include 17 year olds. 

Topics

• Sexual violence and rape
• Statutory rape or defilement

Geographical location

• Grenada

Keywords

• child sexual abuse
• duty to investigate
• right to education

Year

• 2012

External URL

• Education (Amendment) Act (2012), Grenada

Type

• Legislation

Jurisdiction

• Grenada