Incident at Springer Memorial just a simulation, says ministry

The Ministry of Education has explained that an incident that took place this morning at the Springer Memorial Secondary School, in which masked gunmen appeared to have stormed the school compound, was only a simulation.

Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw told Barbados TODAY the drill was carried out at the Government Hill, St Michael school in conjunction with the Barbados Police Service, the Barbados Defence Force and the Barbados Ambulance Service, to prepare the school body for any such occurrence.

As part of the drill, masked men armed with fake weapons ventured onto the school compound. Unaware of what was happening, some students panicked, with some reportedly having asthma attacks and saying they were traumatised. Some parents and guardians also collected their wards.

Acknowledging that the exercise did cause some confusion, Archer-Bradshaw said the ministry sympathised with parents who thought their children were in danger. (SZB)