Viral school video prompts privacy protection call

children’s rights advocate has called for the protection of children’s privacy and legal consequences for those sharing a viral video depicting improper behaviour by primary school pupils on the last day of term.

Felicia Dujon, a vice president of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), has expressed deep concern about the controversial footage that circulated on social media over the weekend. But she praised the Ministry of Education for its swift response.

“First and foremost, the protection of privacy is paramount,” Dujon said in a statement. “I urge everyone to refrain from sharing the video. Circulating such content only serves to further harm and stigmatise the children involved.”

The advocate emphasised the legal ramifications of distributing the footage, citing the Cybercrime Act. “Sharing explicit content involving minors is a serious offence and can result in severe legal consequences for those who distribute it,” she warned.

Dujon called for a compassionate approach to the situation, stressing the need for education rather than punishment. “This incident should be viewed as an opportunity to educate and help them understand the consequences of their actions,” she said, adding that children need to learn about personal responsibility and the dangers of posting explicit images online.

The Ministry of Education has taken immediate action. Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw met with school officials on Monday.

“The ministry is satisfied with the plan that would be put in place to prevent future occurrences like these on school property,” Dr Archer-Bradshaw said.

She added that the ministry would provide counselling for the children and their parents, commending the school’s leadership for their proactive response to the incident.

Dujon urged all parties to “act with compassion and responsibility” in addressing the matter. “Our children are still learning and growing, and they need our support more than ever,” she said, calling for a collective effort to protect the students’ “innocence and dignity” whilst guiding them towards a “positive and respectful future”. (SB)