Approximately 100 Educators, Ministry of Education Officers, and other stakeholders received training in Restorative Practices and Restorative Justice Conference Facilitation in four workshops hosted by the IMPACT Justice Project in Jamaica.
The workshops took place at the Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort and Spa and Jewel Runaway Bay Beach and Golf Resort, St. Ann, Jamaica from July 17th –20th .
At the opening of the first workshop, remarks were delivered by Professor Velma Newton, Regional Project Director of the IMPACT Justice Project, Dr. Grace McLean, Chief Education Officer of the Ministry of Education and Mrs. Kahilah Whyte, Director of the Restorative Justice Unit, Ministry of Justice.
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Participants listening to remarks at the opening.
The provision of training in Restorative Practices falls under the Alternative Dispute Resolution component of the IMPACT Justice Project and is intended to expose educators to alternate methods of resolving disputes in schools, whether these disputes arise amongst students, students and teachers and even amongst teachers themselves. The ultimate objective of the training is to reduce the instances of violence and bullying in schools, improve behaviour, improve leadership, restore relationships and repair harm.
IMPACT Justice has facilitated similar training in several other CARICOM countries and is now working towards establishing Restorative Practices Associations in countries where training has already been held.
