Department could be removed from their files.

Education officials took the disciplinary action after a majority of the Island's 27 principals failed to complete a questionnaire on events which took place at their school when teachers abandoned classes last month to attend a meeting at Warwick Secondary over violence in schools.

The Association of School Principals responded on the head teachers' behalf.

But education officials answered with disciplinary letters for those who did not reply and letters of commendation for those who did.

Education Minister Jerome Dill explained the Department decided to find out what happened on March 11 after it received "a lot of conflicting reports from parents''.

"Chief Education Officer Joseph Christopher sent out letters to each of the principals for them to report what happened in their respective schools on that day,'' Mr. Dill explained.

"A lot of our principals were exemplary,'' he added. "They got on the phone and arranged to have some parents and prefects assist in the supervision of the students. Unfortunately, some principals did not.

"There were also reports from parents that some principals locked school gates.

"A letter has been placed in those principals' files (at the Public Service Commission).'' Mr. Dill said no further action was to be taken against the principals, but "that's something that will remain in their files''.

However, ASP president Livingston Tuzo said the matter was far from resolved and it was discussed at a meeting, along with other matters, yesterday.

Mr. Tuzo was not prepared to comment further on the matter.