A closer partnership between churches and schools is needed to help counter rising concerns about youth violence and indiscipline, President Jeffrey Bostic insisted on Wednesday, as he praised one Bridgetown primary school for preserving a model he believes has largely faded from the education system.

The President did not address constitutional boundaries between church and state as he praised the Bridgetown Seventh-day Adventist Primary School on Dalkeith Road, St Michael. Bostic said the school’s faith-based foundation stood out as an example of the values and guidance needed to help young people navigate an increasingly challenging society.

He said: “The fact that this school is a school that belongs to a faith organisation in this country, that took me back to my time as a boy when that was the case and that the churches played a significant part with the students and with the schools.