Press Statement from the Ministry of Education and Sports sent on behalf of Clare L. Browne Esq, Director of Education, pertaining to Violence Prevention/Reduction among Youth
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The Ministry of Education and Sports recognizes and appreciates the partnership of students, parents, schools and communities which support a sound education system in Antigua and Barbuda. As we face the increasing trends of youth violence and the increased use of illegal substances, we acknowledge those students who have exhibited discipline and restraint as they navigate our school environment on a daily basis. We commend parents, guardians and our school staff who hold a high standard of personal responsibility for student development and a safe place of learning.
The Ministry of Education and Sports strongly condemns the current level of student violence and drug use. These behaviours pose a significant threat to the teaching and learning experiences of students and staff of learning institutions. These societal problems also threaten the confidence parents and students place in the education system.
The Ministry of Education and Sports is guided by its mandate to provide a solid learning experience for all students in a safe learning environment. We have over the years implemented several initiatives to curb such undesirable behaviours. We will be embarking on a series of other initiatives to prevent/reduce the level of violence and drug use that is emerging in our schools. We will be working collaboratively with other agencies to aid in the enforcement of these new initiatives. Our goal is to assist our students who are struggling with issues that cause them to be less than what they are meant to become.
The Ministry of Education and Sports is making a clarion call for a strengthening of the education partnerships to alleviate this current troubling trend. We are appealing to our students to maintain focus on their education and activities which positively impact the development of their minds and bodies. We are appealing to all parents of school-aged children to become more vigilant in the affairs of your children. We are appealing to our church leaders and various sports club leaders to join in this campaign to prevent/reduce student violence and drug use. We are also appealing to communities to be positive role models and guardians for our children.
The Ministry of Education and Sports acknowledges that there are no quick fixes or one-size-fit-all approaches to preventing/reducing deviant behaviours and the situations that contribute to them. We are, however, committed to providing our students with the socialization tools and skills that they will need to navigate the world so they may become citizens/leaders of whom we are proud, today and in the future. We are therefore calling on every citizen and resident to look inwardly and endeavour to make the changes within each of us so that we may begin the process of helping our students and each other.
It does take a village to raise a child. Let us work together!
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Tell Gaston.. is he who wanted to win election.. crack and cocaine next….
Continue selling your Soul….
More police presence all over the island, and get them trim and fit for purpose … JOB DONE!
Then run more community projects for the youth dem. Easy!
Politics is easy, if the will to make PROGRESS is in the heart ❤ and not in the pocket 💰
POOR PARENTING IS CHILDREN OF TODAY DOWNFALL…
IT ALL STARTS WITH THEIR PARENTS.
PARENTS WHO OVERCOMPENSATE BCOS NOBADY GO HAVE ANYTHING MY CHILD CANT HAVE…OR WHEN I WAS A CHILD I DDNT GET THIS OR THAT….II DDNT HAVE NICE CLOTHES…SHOES..AS A CHILD SO NOW TO FEEL BETTER AS A PARENT I OVERCOMPENSATE……..I GREW UP POOR SO NOW I OVERCOMPENSATE TO MAKEUP..PARENTSYOU ARE THE DESTRUCTION OF YOUR CHILDREN….YES YOU!!
FATHERLESS HOMES…ILLITERATE DISRESPECTFUL CHILDREN HAVING CHILDREN…OVERWORKED & OVERBURDENED MOTHERS…ESPECIALLY SINGLE MOTHERS.
.PARENTS !!!!! …BAD PARENTING OR LACK OF PARENTS…WHEN YOU HAVE 13yr 14 yr etc telling teachers …adults…or anyone how much they dnt afraid of them…children raised in homes where there’s NO PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE what do you expect.
PARENTS ARE MORE INTERESTED IN BEING THEIR CHILDREN’S FREN THAN BEING A PARENT…THEY HAVE AN EXCUSE FOR EVERYTHING. ..EVERYTHING IS CUTE AND FUNNY UNTIL IT STARTS TO STINK.
THE CHILDREN AREN’T INTERESTED IN PLAYING EVERYTHING IS ABOUT FONES…MATERIALISM AND WHO FA PIKNEY CAN LOOK BETTER THAN WHOSE.
PARENTS ITS ALL YOUR FAULT
One thought or two.
We must all know this and never, never forget it: “A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
The Ministry of Education and Sports statement: “…..As we face the increasing trends of youth violence and the increased use of illegal substances….”, first let us know this, our youths are naturally energetic, vibrant, adventurous and believe they ‘know it all’ yet they do not know what they do not know. They have power and potential within them to learn and achieve great things for their benefits and for others in every category of human endeavor.
Focus, we recognize, acknowledge and publicly admit ” …the increasing trends….” undoubtedly based on collected data related to our schools and environment. Clearly, a trend is not a one day, night event but a longer-term pattern of ‘deviant behavior’.
We own our problem, now we must find our solution.
We always aptly say: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ (an African proverb), now we must act it out. This is our foundational test (match) as a people not a one day, five day but a generational test, a relay for a lifetime. In every village there are our grandmas and grandpas, senior aunts and uncles who do not have titles before their names and alphabet letters (A-Z) after their names who are wise, respected and knowledgeable of life. Our villagers approve and accept them. They are our Judges and Jurors. We must humble ourselves and reach out to them for their wisdom and guidance in life’s learning. We must listen to them, communicate with, collaborate with them to help us by ‘by whatever means necessary’ to move our youths in the right direction in our Nation/Village.
In addition, not all of our private and public schools can be included in a category of students with ‘deviant behaviour’. So why, what is the difference and what is the model used by schools with good results? Can we therefore implement changes to get better results?
By the way, the education authorities are making some progress with their overall efforts but always they need to do more.
Always know this and never, never forget it: “God and Nature first made us what we are, and then out of our own created genius we make ourselves what we want to be. Follow always that great law.Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.”
Save our Environment, Save our Soil, Save our Youths and Save our Humanity!
Blessings!
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