Senior teacher Sandra Delapenha, who had been fired from the Black River High School in St. Elizabeth six years ago is to be reinstated.

The Judicial Review Court made the ruling last month after it found that the termination was manifestly excessive.

Delapenha was dismissed by the school board in October 2018 on the grounds that she failed to submit lesson plans.

The matter went before the Teachers’ Appeal Tribunal which upheld the dismissal order in 2021.

Delapenha then took the matter to the Supreme Court seeking to have the dismissal orders quashed.

Justice Sonya-Wint Blair heard the matter and ruled that there were breaches of the principles of natural justice, procedural impropriety and irrationality in the findings of the Teachers’ Appeal Tribunal.

In handing down her decision, the judge declared that the termination of the claimant was manifestly excessive since this was the first complaint against Delapenha, who had been employed at the school for over twenty years.

The judge also found that Delapenha did submit lesson plans but the school had no proper system for documenting submissions.

Delapena’s Attorney, Andre Earle said he will be writing the school board regarding the teacher’s immediate reinstatement.

He also noted that he will be contacting the Education Ministry regarding payment to Delapenha for the years she has been off the job.