No need to interview Padmore principal - Education Ministry

The education ministry says it has gathered enough data to complete its audit of the Padmore Primary School in rural St Andrew and, therefore, has no need to interview its principal, Keisha Hayle, tomorrow. 

The news comes as the People's National Party (PNP), which Hayle will seek to represent in the St Andrew North West by-election on March 5, cried foul, claiming political victimisation of its candidate, who is to be nominated tomorrow. 

However, the education ministry has rejected those claims. It says an audit officer assigned to Padmore Primary visited the institution on Friday to conduct a document verification process, as part of a routine investigation which began in September last year. However, Hayle was not in office and the officer arranged to return on Monday.  

But it now says that a meeting with Hayle will not be necessary as it has collected enough data to conduct its assessment. 

It maintains that the education ministry is an arm of the Government of Jamaica and would not interfere in the political activities of a citizen.