Shanielle Allen

Shanielle Allen serves as the Policy and Advocacy Coordinator for the Jamaican Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN). In her recent discussions on school discipline, she has voiced concerns about the ineffectiveness of traditional suspensions, particularly for students from volatile communities who may be left unsupervised at home. Allen advocates for more proactive measures such as counselling and targeted behavioural interventions to address the underlying mental health issues that contribute to student misbehaviour. She emphasizes the importance of including student perspectives in the disciplinary process to ensure that policies are in the best interest of the youth.