The board of the St Hildas High School in St Ann is to meet this Thursday, October 22 to discuss the reinstatement of the former head girl at the school.

16-year-old Jade Bascoe was appointed head girl and house captain for the 2015/2016 academic year but stripped of those titles because of her affiliation with the Jehovah’s Witness body.

The meeting of the school board follows the release of the findings of a report into the incident conducted by Public Defender, Arlene Harrison-Henry.

In the report, which was commissioned by Parliament, Mrs Harrison-Henry found that Jade Bascoe was treated in a discriminatory manner by virtue of her religious denomination and association with Kingdom Hall.

She also found that the principal appointed and rescinded the child’s appointments and that the school board took no part in the appointment and rescission, as this is regarded as part of the day to day management of the school.

In addition, the Public Defender found that neither the school nor the church has any policy of discrimination whatsoever.

She says the actions of the principal, which infringed the child’s charter rights, were solely of the principal.

Mrs Harrison-Henry has recommended that Jade be restored to the office of head girl and school captain and that the school board meets and makes the appointment.

She also suggests that there be a guarantee by the board, the principal and school that there will be no further acts of discrimination or retribution taken against Jade on her reappointment.

Additionally, the Public Defender has recommended that that acts of discrimination by virtue of religious denomination be investigated by the school board.