Former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn has described as “a sad day for education,” reports on Saturday that a primary school in Portmore, St Catherine, was separating its graduation class based on the students’ performance.

Llewellyn did not mention the school by name, but it had been reported on Saturday in The Jamaica Observer that Ascot Primary School in Portmore, St Catherine, had separated its graduating class with only the top achievers allowed to wear caps and gowns at the graduation ceremony, leading to a protest by some parents.

Since then, the Ministry of Education has responded to the issue, condemning the action of the school administration, describing it as contrary to, and inconsistent with, the standards of care for children, especially those at ages 11 and 12.