Education Ministry Condemns Ascot Primary Over PEP-Based Graduation Gown Restrictions

The Ministry of Education has sharply criticised Ascot Primary School in Portmore, St. Catherine, after reports that grade six pupils were barred from wearing graduation gowns because they were judged not proficient in the 2026 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations.

For many children, completing primary school is a milestone they anticipate for years. At Ascot Primary, however, that celebration was reportedly marred when some pupils were denied gowns while classmates who met the proficiency threshold took part in the ceremony fully dressed, dividing the cohort along lines drawn by test performance.

The ministry said the school's approach amounted to differential treatment based on assessment results. Officials described the policy as inappropriate and said it ran counter to principles of equity, inclusion, and positive discipline.

Acting Chief Education Officer Terry-Ann Thomas-Gaye said the ministry had since engaged the school's principal, Mark Jackson. Jackson explained that the decision followed discussions with parents of pupils who did not meet the criteria set for participation in the graduation exercise. He later expressed regret and apologised to any student who may have been hurt by the policy.

Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris-Dixon said a child's PEP results should never determine whether he or she is made to feel worthy of celebrating an important educational milestone. She added that graduation ceremonies should mark the completion of primary school for every child, not serve as a platform for humiliation, exclusion, or public differentiation.

The ministry said it would not condone practices that undermine a child's dignity or emotional well-being, and reminded school leaders of their responsibility to act always in the best interest of their students.