JIS: Jamaica is developing an education system that is quality based, with a special focus on skills in technology, to ensure that the country has a workforce that is creative and innovative.

 

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is also ensuring that students attain strong reasoning skills and the ability to solve problems.

 

Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says one aspect of the reform mandate is the promotion of quality education for the nation’s children to appreciate good governance.

 

This will be done through the strengthening of the instructional capacities of teachers and the improvement of school facilities, “especially at the primary and secondary levels”, he notes.

 

The Minister, in his report to a world education forum, in London, England, recently, says as part of the country’s path to growth, the Australian system of education “has provided us with a model to emulate”.

 

“As such, it is the vision of this Minister, like Australia, to achieve full employment by aligning training to industry,” he argues.

 

The Minister says the Government is committed to having a world-class education and training system, to produce “well-rounded” individuals who will be able to function creatively and productively in the workforce, and be equipped for local and global industries”.

 

Citing the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), in Caribbean economies, as it involves 80 per cent of jobs in the region, Senator Reid says it is an essential area that has the full attention of the Ministry.

 

“We want to produce a reasonable standard of education that is robust and available for all, with a lifelong-learning context. The goal of this policy is to provide a national framework for the development and sustainability of TVET at all levels in the Jamaican education system,” the Minister explains.

 

Highlighting the Career Advancement Programme (CAP) of the education system, the Minister says it is geared at improving access to quality education, where no one will be left unaccounted for, and that children between three and 18 years of age are attached to, and attending structured learning and training programmes appropriate to their age.

 

Phase I of CAP involves a series of diagnostic assessments to determine students’ entry-level capabilities, aptitudes and initial interests in careers.

 

For Phase II, students who choose technically oriented vocations and have the aptitude for the programmes will pursue TVET courses at levels one and two, in addition to core areas, as well as be provided with opportunities to go further.

 

Phase III involves in-class education and training for all students in the curriculum. Courses are designed and provided through systematic and organised orientation sessions for teachers, facilitators or counsellors.

 

Under Phase IV, job placements are offered, as well as job preparation, such as résumé and writing of application letters.

 

“It should be noted that the job placement/work experience comes at different times during the programme, in order to accommodate the volume of students and ensure that it is applicable to what is being studied,” the Minister says.

 

Senator Reid emphasises that key to all the objectives being pursued is the development of a National Service Corps, with a vision of providing an avenue for young people to develop themselves through nation building.

 

It will cater to persons 16-18 who are desirous of continuing education in a school-based environment.

 

He says the initiative will lead to a knowledgeable and adaptable workforce, with higher levels of general education associated with vocational training.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid

JIS: The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) is deepening its engagement with existing partners and targeting new ones, as it seeks to certify approximately 300 basic schools by 2019.

 

One hundred institutions, with an enrolment of approximately 5,000 children, are being targeted under the initial certification phase, which commenced last September and is scheduled for completion in August 2017.

 

Board Chair, Trisha Williams-Singh, tells JIS News that the ECC has established collaborations with several national and international entities in helping the institutions to meet the ECC’s 12 operational standards.

 

These relate to staffing; developmental and educational programmes; interactions and relationships with children; physical environment; indoor and outdoor equipment, furnishing and supplies; health; nutrition; safety; children’s rights, protection and equality; interactions with parents and community members; administration; and finance.

 

“We already have partners like PACE Canada and the Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA) Inc. (UJAA), who we are seeking to re-engage at a different level. We are also working with the National Education Trust (NET); Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund; and Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF),” Williams-Singh informs.

 

PACE (Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education) Canada was founded in 1987 by Jamaican-born educator and Canadian resident, Dr. Mavis Burke, out of a need to assist the island’s early-childhood sector.

 

The organisation sponsors a number of early-childhood institutions in Jamaica under the theme ‘Helping Kids Excel’.

 

The UJAA is a New York-based non-profit umbrella organisation of alumni associations of Jamaican educational institutions, founded in 1990.

 

It was created to assist in unifying the activities of member associations focused on improving educational opportunities for students in Jamaica, and those who have immigrated to the USA.

 

Mrs. Williams-Singh also cites the pivotal inputs of other entities and organisations, such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); the Sandals and Digicel Foundations; Child Development Agency (CDA); Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ); Jamaica 4-H Clubs; Nutrition Products Limited (NPL); Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB); and United Way.

 

She says the ECC is looking to forge additional partnerships at the parish and community levels.

 

The move, she says, is already yielding positive results, with Director of the One Jamaica Foundation, Ann-Marie Vaz, agreeing to take on the role as the ECC’s point person in Portland, while Journalist, Barbara Ellington, has indicated her interest to work in Manchester.

 

Their role, she explains “will be to help institutions with capacity-building activities that enable them to attain the ECC’s standards”.

 

“These persons are volunteering their time because they want to see a better Jamaica. They understand that we have to get it right from the start and that if the foundation is not strong… all else fails. So we invite other well-thinking persons to work with us,” the ECC Chair tells JIS NEWS.

 

Mrs. Williams-Singh emphasises that the Commission is consistently seeking innovative ways to carry out its mandate.

 

Among other things, the entity has improved the efficiency of communication with early-childhood practitioners and other stakeholders by introducing modern technology, which has reduced costs, while “providing instantaneous information at their disposal.

 

Mrs. Williams-Singh says the ECC is also reorganising the staff structure, where necessary, to enable the attainment of “optimum outputs”.

 

In addition, the entity’s website has been revamped to make it more interactive, thereby facilitating greater inputs from Jamaicans at home and overseas.

 

She invites persons to visit the site at www.ecc,gov.jm. In addition, she says persons can communicate with the agency on Twitter @eccja and Instagram at earlychildhoodcommission.

 

Acting Executive Director, Karlene Degrasse-Deslandes, says the entity’s primary objective is ensuring that children’s educational development is administered in a way that enables them to “compete with any child anywhere in the world at any time”.

 

She tells JIS News that in carrying out its mandate, the ECC is also engaging parents in dialogue to ensure that the home environment is conducive to learning.

 

There are approximately 2,700 early-childhood institutions in operation across the island.

 

CAPTION: Early Childhood Commission (ECC) Chair, Trisha Williams-Singh (left), and Acting Executive Director, ECC, Karlene Degrasse-Deslandes, engage in discussion on sector developments.

The Early Childhood Commission (ECC), which has overall responsibility for child development from birth to eight years in Jamaica, is using an integrated approach to bringing all policies, standards, and regulations relating to early childhood care, education, and development under one umbrella.

In keeping with its mandate to standardise the early childhood sector, the ECC has embarked on a series of regional certification fairs to get all the country’s early childhood institutions to adhere to 12 operating standards. These standards are necessary for the certification of ECIs.

They cover the areas of staffing; development and educational programmes; interactions and relationships with children; physical environment; indoor and outdoor equipment; health; nutrition; safety; child rights, child protection; and equality; parent and stakeholder participation; administration, and finance.

The inaugural fair was held on August 21 last year at the Jamaica College Auditorium. The event was met with much appreciation by practitioners in understanding the operations of the 12 standards of the ECIs.

Commenting on the first fair, Audrey Forrester-Saddler, principal of the St Simon Basic School in Admiral Town, Kingston, said: “It was very informative. I was impressed with the booths. A lot of valuable information was shared, and it was so much easier for me to understand the standards in the simple way they were broken down. It also made a difference that I was able to talk with someone from the ECC directly.”

Scores of practitioners, parents, children, and government representatives turned out to lend support to the third Certification Fair held in Region 5 on Friday, February 17, held at the Everglades Centre, Black River, St Elizabeth. It was a joyous atmosphere, where the participants were treated to a rendition of their “Poco Party” by the Lil Noble Kinder Care School.

The troupe ranged in age from three to six years old and to see that they could execute their performance really goes to prove that learning takes place during the early stages of development.

While the focus of the fair was to inform the patrons about the requirements for achieving the standards, there was a special emphasis on the Early Childhood (EC) Rationalisation Project. The presentation indicated that the objective of the EC Rationalisation was to create infant schools/departments in communities where there is an identified need. This will be done through partnership with the community, the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MoEY & I) to identify locations that are in need based on poverty levels and population size.

The ECC, led by its board of commissioners, plans to establish, by 2019; an additional 40 infant departments through a consultative process with the MoEY & I and communities so as to provide access to good-quality services for children.

The ECC’s next Certification Fair will be in Region 6 on Friday, April 28, 2017.

 

The ECC’S 12 OPERATING STANDARDS:

 

 

Standard 1: STAFFING

 

The staff at early childhood institutions has the characteristics, training, knowledge, skills, and attitudes to help children achieve their full potential.

 

Standard 2: DEVELOPMENTAL / EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES

 

Early childhood institutions have comprehensive programmes designed to meet the language, physical, cognitive, creative, socio-emotional, spiritual, cultural, and school-readiness needs of children.

 

Standard 3: INTERACTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN

 

Early childhood staff has the characteristics, training, knowledge, skills, and attitudes to promote positive behaviour and reduce difficult and challenging behaviour in children.

 

Standard 4: PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

 

Early childhood institutions have physical environments that meet building, health, and safety requirements; allow adequate space for children; and facilitate the development of children and staff.

 

Standard 5: INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT, FURNISHINGS, AND SUPPLIES

 

Early childhood institutions have indoor and outdoor equipment and furnishings that are safe, child-friendly, and whichpromote the optimal development of children.

 

Standard 6: HEALTH

 

Early childhood institutions have physical facilities, policies, programmes, and procedures that promote healthy lifestyles and protect children and staff from illness.

 

Standard 7: NUTRITION

 

Early childhood institutions provide children in their care with nutritious meals and model good nutritional practices for children and families.

 

Standard 8: SAFETY

 

Early childhood institutions provide safe indoor and outdoor environments for children, staff, stakeholders, and visitors to the institution.

 

Standard 9: CHILD RIGHTS, CHILD PROTECTION, AND EQUALITY

 

Early childhood institutions uphold the rights of children, protect them from harm, and ensure that all children have equal access to services.

 

Standard 10: INTERACTIONS WITH PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

 

The management and staff of early childhood institutions have good relationships with parents, caregivers, family members, and the community.

 

Standard 11: ADMINISTRATION

 

Early childhood institutions have a management structure that ensures good administration. There are plans, policies, procedures, and programmes that ensure child, family, and staff well-being.

 

Standard 12: FINANCE

 

Early childhood institutions have sound financial practices and adhere to standard accounting principles.

– Article courtesy Ministry of Education, Youth, and Information

 

CAPTION: Children from the St Simon Basic School in Admiral Town perform at the inaugural Early Childhood Commission Certification Fair on August 26 at the Jamaica College Auditorium in Kingston.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has designated March 5-10 as National Mathematics Week.

 

Thousands of students from grade four at the primary level through to grade 13 at the secondary level are expected to participate in the fifth staging of the Week, which will be held under the theme ‘Math Counts’, which is the theme for the general national mathematics campaign.

 

Addressing a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on February 23, National Mathematics Coordinator at the Ministry, Dr. Tamika Benjamin, said the main objective of Mathematics Week “is to help to change the attitudes, the views and experiences of not just our students, but also the teachers and the wider members of the society about mathematics”

 

“We recognised that one of the issues impacting students’ performance and how the subject is taught is the perception Jamaicans generally have of the subject. So, we tried over the last five years, as part of the public-education campaign, to have a week that focused on changing the experiences that students have,” Dr. Benjamin said.

 

The Week’s activities will start with a church service on March 5, at the Boulevard Baptist Church in Kingston.

 

On Monday, March 6, the official launch of the activities is scheduled for the Mona Visitors’ Lodge, University of the West Indies (UWI), where the Jamaica National-sponsored 2017 Math Teacher of the Year will also be celebrated.

 

For the first time, road shows will be held at Holy Trinity High School in Kingston, BB Coke High in St. Elizabeth and Hopewell High School in Hanover on March 7. There will also be a live broadcast from Holy Trinity High.

 

According to Dr. Benjamin, normally there would be a teacher focus activity during the Week, but the decision was taken to focus the activities more on the students. Simultaneously at all three locations, there will be several activities, including a Math scavenger hunt, where students will have the opportunity to use tablets and smartphones to participate in math games.

 

The main activity of the Week will be the fifth staging of a Mathematics Exposition on the Campus of the UWI on Thursday, March 9. The UWI has partnered with the Ministry to host this event.

 

This flagship event has grown significantly, with more than 8,000 persons attending last year’s event, up from 2,000 when it was first held in 2013. Some 45 booth holders will be on hand to interact with the participants.

 

Dr. Benjamin explained that there will be full participation from teacher-training institutions, public- and private-sector organisations and professional bodies. “Exhibitors are asked to create booths designed to show students and teachers how maths relates to everyday life and how maths relates to the profession they are engaged in,” she said.

 

Highlight of the exposition will be a Math Extravaganza where students and teachers will use maths in artistic ways, such as dub poetry, songs and drama pieces based on the theme. Exhibitors include the: Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Civil Aviation Authority, Port Authority of Jamaica, HEART Trust/NTA, colleges, The Book Merchant Limited, Insurance Association of Jamaica, the Jamaica Defence Force, Shipping Association of Jamaica, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica and many more. 

 

CAPTION: National Mathematics Coordinator at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Tamika Benjamin, addresses JIS ‘Think Tank’ on February 23.

JIS: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Government remains committed to fostering an inclusive education system for the nation’s youth.

 

“We have to develop a framework where, for the students who are on the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), students with disabilities and those who are vulnerable, the State is going to be far more proactive to make sure we give assistance to (them),” he said.

 

He noted that consideration is being given to reallocating the Ministry’s resources to give greater support to children in State care.

 

Senator Reid was speaking at a meeting with leaders of independent schools across the island held on February 23 at the Caenwood Centre in Kingston.

 

He commended the institutions for their invaluable contribution to the education sector. “Most of our special needs students have been accommodated in our independent schools, and we want to thank you for this very important service that you have been providing,” he said.

 

Under the theme ‘Transforming Lives through Education’, the one-day information session updated the independent schools on activities and policies under the Ministry’s Education System Transformation Programme (ESTP).

 

It included workshops aimed at training the school leaders in best business practices, and providing updates on curriculum development for the upcoming academic term and the new policy directives of the Ministry.

 

The meeting, which was facilitated by the Ministry’s Independent Schools’ Unit, included presentations by Chief Education Officer, Dr. Grace McLean; Project Director for the ESTP, Jean

 

Hastings; and business management tips from National Commercial Bank (NCB) Branch Manager, Maxine McKenzie.

 

The ESTP aims to improve standards of performance and ensure greater accountability at all levels of the education system, and to lead the modernisation of education service delivery.

 

CAPTION: Senator Reid was speaking at a meeting with leaders of independent schools across the island held on February 23 at the Caenwood Centre in Kingston.

JIS: Jamaica National (JN) Foundation has collaborated with Mathematics and Science Professor at Columbia University, Christopher Emdin, to launch its ‘Science Genius Jamaica’ education project, which fuses dancehall music with science.

 

The project was officially launched during a function held at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday (February 22).

 

Whereas Science Genius uses hip-hop music in the United States to reach students, Science Genius Jamaica will use dancehall music to bring the subject to life for students and teachers in an exciting ‘dancehall clash’ competition that is geared at helping them to explore and discover the wonders of science.

 

Senior Manager, Learning, Development and Culture at JN Group, Dr. Renée Rattray, said the initiative aims to inspire the confidence of students by using music and culture to get them more enthused about learning.

 

“As part of the broader science movement initiated by Chris (Prof. Emdin) in New York schools a few years ago, our project aims to connect youth culture with education, so that learning the rigourous content of mathematics and science becomes more effortless for young people,” Dr. Rattray said.

 

She noted that data show that students are not performing as well as they should in mathematics and the core science subjects. She said the pass rate for Mathematics is 48 per cent; Chemistry, 57 per cent; and Physics, 63 per cent.

 

“The influence of dancehall on our young people is a no-brainer. It is our popular culture and its influences, today, extend beyond class boundaries and country borders. It is like the air our children breathe,” she said.

 

Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, welcomed the project, noting that it is intended to convert students into science lovers through the use of popular culture.

 

“I thank the JN Group and its Foundation for setting an excellent precedence in public-private sector partnership in assisting in the rescue mission of science and mathematics in Jamaica. So let me say thank you for your efforts in birthing the new generation of scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, engineers, botanists – both girls and boys,” Dr. Wheatley said.

 

He also thanked Professor Emdin for taking the time to come to Jamaica to introduce his model of fusing popular music with science and mathematics education.

 

“Importantly, and as the educators have stated, this new fusion approach brings the sciences and the arts together and, in the land of reggae and dancehall I believe it will reap positive results in the near future and improve the national Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Science performance,” he noted.

 

State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green also commended the JN Group for its inititiave.

 

“We all recongnise now that no one cap fits all and no one size fits all and you have to take different approaches if you are going to truly connect with your students,” Mr. Green said.

 

Meanwhile, Professor Emdin noted that by merging dancehall to science “you are retraining the brain of youth who are embedded in dancehall, to reimagine themselves as scientists”.

 

“We are engaging in not just a cute programme; we are engaging in rewiring our generation,” Professor Emdin said.

Under the project, grade-nine students and teachers will be invited to submit videos to the JN Foundation Team by Tuesday, February 28.

 

Teachers and students will be coached over a five-week period to create and deliver dancehall and reggae songs with purely scientific content.

 

Project Ambassadors Tifa and Wayne Marshall will visit the schools and mentor students and teachers as well as assist them with the development of their songs.

 

In the final phase, teams will engage in classical dancehall clashes called BATTLES, an acronym for Bringing Attention to Transforming Teaching, Learning and Engagement in Science.

 

The five best schools and five top individual students will move on to the final round of BATTLES, where they will be judged by a team comprised of the project mentors, other professionals from the music industry, scientists and educators.

 

Teachers and students will compete for cash, laptops, among other prizes. The winning school will also receive funds for its science labs.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley (right), speaks with Senior Manager, Learning, Development and Culture at the Jamaica National (JN) Group, Dr. Renée Rattray and Mathematics and Science Professor at Columbia University, Christopher Emdin. They were at the launch of the ‘Science Genius Jamaica’ education project at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on February 22.

JIS: PLANS are in high gear as schools at all levels of the education system prepare to celebrate Jamaica Day tomorrow.

 

Jamaica Day is celebrated annually as part of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information effort to instil the spirit of nationalism that is necessary for the social and cultural development of the country.

 

The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Celebrating Jamaica: Exploring Our Legacy in a Global Context’.

 

Explaining the reason for the theme, senior education officer and chair for the Jamaica Day Planning Committee, Marlon Williams, toldJIS News that during a visit to Jamaica Archives Registry Department (JARD), he recognised that the department “plays a critical role in preserving a lot that has to do with us as a nation”.

 

“So we want to showcase what JARD does and at the same time show how it will be beneficial to our students, and to highlight areas of legacies and what students can do to start creating their legacy,” he said.

 

Williams added that schools are encouraged to look at people, programmes or initiatives in their schools, communities, Jamaica, and internationally that may have created a legacy — something that the schools are proud of that they can highlight and celebrate.

 

“We also want to inculcate in our students that they can start creating legacies from now that will be celebrated in the future,” he said.

 

This year the school to be featured nationally is the Green Island High School in Hanover, representing region four.

 

According to Williams, this school is very resourceful and culturally aware, and has been contributing a lot to nation- building through the performing arts.

 

“When you look at their performance in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) festivals, as it relates to speech and drama, they have been doing well over the years.Their performance in the CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) Drama examinations is exemplary, and last year the CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations) performing arts were introduced and this school performed exceptionally well in the examinations. So I can safely say that Green Island High has already started to create a legacy,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, in theother education regions, focus schools have been selected for Jamaica Day celebrations. In region one there are Wolmer’s Boys’ School, St Aloysius Primary School, Kingston College, and Vaz Preparatory. In region two the focus school is Yallahs Primary in St Thomas; region three, Brown’s Town High School; region five, Holland Primary in St Elizabeth and Port Henderson Primary in St Catherine.

 

Williams is appealing to corporate Jamaica, government entities and departments, and Jamaicans in the diaspora to celebrate Jamaica Day by wearing the Jamaican colours (black, green and gold) or the bandana or just do something to celebrate Jamaica.

 

CAPTION: These bright-eyed girls were spotted in their bandana outfits last year at Culture Day celebrations at Jamaica House Basic School in St Andrew.

JIS: The Government continues to create financing options for higher education with an additional $30-million scholarship grant provided through the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service/PetroCaribe Development Fund (PDF).

 

This is being administered through the Ministry of Finance’s Scholarship and Assistance Unit, and is part of ongoing efforts to provide state interventions to facilitate human-capital development in the country.

 

Addressing the launch of the scholarship programme yesterday (February 22), at the Ministry, in Kingston, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the initiative reflects measures being taken by the Government to assist students to fund higher education.

 

“The Ministry is extremely grateful to PetroCaribe and the Ministry of Finance for facilitating this important (programme). It is consistent with our aspiration to have all our youth going on to tertiary institutions to gain at least a first degree, occupational or transfer degree by age 30. In this fourth industrial revolution, we have to have a cadre of trained professionals to get the job done,” Senator Reid said.

 

Meanwhile, Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, said the initiative is part of a multisectoral approach to facilitate more opportunities for human-capital development, which is one of the most important aspects of national development.

 

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry and PetroCaribe was signed in 2015 to implement a tertiary scholarship programme.

 

Since its inception, approximately 25 awards totalling $7.9 million have been disbursed to students pursuing studies at the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), Shortwood Teachers’ College and the University of Technology (UTech).

 

In 2016, the PDF Board approved the additional grant for the scholarship programme. It is anticipated that the increase will make it easier for persons pursuing higher education to achieve their career goals.

 

From this grant, scholarships will be awarded to Jamaican citizens pursuing undergraduate studies (academic or technical), postgraduate studies, or research leading to a university degree or professional development in key growth industries – energy, entrepreneurship, logistics and Spanish.

 

The programme targets Jamaican citizens from lower socio-economic and vulnerable groups between the ages of 17 and 57, including youth, at-risk youth, women, persons with disabilities and persons impacted by HIV/AIDS.

 

Applications for the PDF scholarship programme are now open. For more information, persons can visit: http://www.mof.gov.jm/scholarships.

 

Also attending the launch were Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Rudyard Spencer; Chief Executive Officer of the PDF, Dr. Wesley Hughes and Deputy Financial Secretary, Strategic Human Resource Management, Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, Wayne Jones.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, said the initiative is part of a multisectoral approach to facilitate more opportunities for human-capital development, which is one of the most important aspects of national development.

JIS: Commissioner of Corrections, Ina Hunter, is urging parents to be more watchful of their children.

 

Speaking at a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on February 21, Commissioner Hunter said poor parenting and neglect are two factors that contribute to children being detained at the South Camp Road facility of the Department of Correctional Services.

 

“It is important that parents know the warning signs that lead to delinquency in children. Many youngsters who come to us are not bad, they just did not get the intervention to prevent them from committing an act that would lead them to the wrong side of the law,” she said.

 

The Commissioner pointed out that children usually display many telltale signs before deviating from normal behaviour. These include cursing, abusive language, shouting, violent threats when angry, drug or alcohol use, taking weapons to school, decline in academic performance, refusing disciplinary actions, bullying and intimidating peers or younger children, significant mood swings and being unusually silent.

 

“Parents, you can save them from coming to us. Spend more time assessing the small things, investigate, listen to what is said and what is not said,” Miss Hunter urged.

 

She also encouraged parents to do constant check-ups at the school and with the parents of the child’s close friends, noting that this could go a far way in preventing a youngster from becoming a ward of the State.

 

The Commissioner said that in addition to destroying lives and families, delinquency among youth puts tremendous financial burden on society.

 

Miss Hunter emphasised that if parents assist with preventing misbehavior, this can help to reduce violent crimes.

 

CAPTION: Commissioner of Corrections, Ina Hunter, addresses JIS ‘Think Tank’ on February 21.