Student killed by goalpost

Campion College in St Andrew has made counselling and pastoral care services available to all members of the school community after a second-form student died after an accident on the school grounds yesterday.

Thirteen-year-old Rashad Richards was reportedly on the school's playing field when a football goalpost fell on him. Rashad was taken to the University Hospital of the West Indies, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. In a media release, Anton Thompson, chair of the school's board, said the community was devastated by the loss, and extended deepest condolences to Rashad's family.

"The school is cooperating fully with relevant authorities regarding this incident. Out of respect for the family's privacy and due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot provide additional details at this time," the release said. "Our immediate focus is on supporting our students, staff and, most importantly, Rashad's family during this extremely difficult period."

Director of safety and security in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Richard Troupe, said the tragedy is a reminder of the importance of schools adhering to the ministry's safety protocols.

"It is a matter of concern. We have a policy document for contact sports, which speaks to the posts being planted because of these eventualities," said Troupe. "We understand that in some spaces, an area is used for multiple activities, but what we have seen in the past is schools putting the goalposts to lay down, so it does not provide that kind of threat to students."

In 2011, three students at different schools died after incidents involving goalposts. This prompted calls for the development of guidelines for schools' sporting equipment. The ministry ordered the immediate removal of all unanchored goalposts from public infant and primary schools after the third tragedy. It also formed a committee to explore the use of safer materials in the construction of goalposts. Although stating on Tuesday that the majority of schools have been conforming to the policy, Troupe acknowledged that an audit may need to be done of school playing fields.

"It is something, in the context of this situation, we have to revisit. We encourage our schools to do an audit of their own facilities and to ensure if this is still an issue in any school, that it is treated with a matter of urgency," said Troupe. He said the ministry and its team will be present at the school today to provide counselling to staff and students.