Boys in Dominica need mentors Catherine Daniel says

Daniel said there is a need for mentors for boys

With girls continuing to outperform boys in the Grade Six National Assessment Exams, acting education minister, Catherine Daniel, has made an appeal for mentors to come forward to assist boys on the island.

“Our boys need mentors, and I believe they can find positive influences starting in the home, church, community groups, and certainly in the schools to help boost achievement levels,” she said.

The results of the Exams were released on Monday and only one boy, Deleon Fontaine of the Temple SDA Primary, made it to the top five level of achievers.

Speaking at a press conference when the results were made public, Daniel stated that over the years, statistics have shown that girls always outperform their male counterparts at an average of five percent.

“This is a persistent statistic over the years. While we continue to seek ways to raise the standard of achievement or both genders, at the ministerial level, I implore every education stakeholder to assist us in that regard,” she said.

She stressed that male students must not be “left behind” but rather all Dominicans must look at how the society engages them and responds to their needs.

Meanwhile, Daniel pointed to the importance of reading as it relates to the Exams, describing it as a “fundamental in every subject,”

She encouraged parents in the home to encourage their children to read as much as possible because the level of reading reflects in the results of the National Assessments.

“Parents and other family members are encouraged to do their part to prepare the students for long term academic success. We may say here that not all can read, not all parents have the ability, but by just showing the interest, just being there, just listening, just opening a book with your child, all these are activities which will help the children engage successful reading,” she said.

She encouraged parents to expose their children to books or allowing them to chose a book over the television or other forms of entertainment.

According to her, there must be an urge to recommit to raising reading levels in the classroom and more so to “engendering an early love for reading in the home.”

She added that a training session was done with over 70 teachers in order to enhance their teaching ability to an effective level for students with different needs.

“All of this is an effort to increase the performance of our primary school students in literacy so that they are fully prepared to tackle the work at the secondary school because the transition is not an easy one,” she said.

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65 Comments

  1. finn
    June 29, 2017

    http://sundominica.com/articles/rescue-men-and-boys-from-gender-and-societal-war-3958/

    This article may be of some interest to some pertaining to this critical and vexing issue.

    Thanks

    Emanuel Finn

  2. done&done
    June 29, 2017

    “There is a need for mentors.” So, could this mean job openings for male job seekers? Whatever will improve the up-bringing of our young men and Dominica on a whole, should be worth investing money into – Instead of giving 37 people from Campbell almost $7000.00 for doing nothing. All you wasting time and resources.

    • done&done
      June 29, 2017

      $7000.00 each for sitting down on Red Dirt. :twisted:

  3. Gary
    June 28, 2017

    To suggest that boys need mentors simply because they are out numbered by girls on a grade six national assessment exams is somewhat misleading and does not address the complex problems within an outdated method of educating children.Why is there such an exams for grade six students, such exams is a method used to enforce a heard mentality indoctrination, preparing children for the workforce. You cannot force children at a certain age to all have same academic understanding, it’s insane. Such Exams are pointless,the scores provide no information about what the students learned and didn’t learn.

    Our whole educational system suffers from this evil. An exaggerated competitive attitude is inculcated into the student, who is trained to worship acquisitive success as a preparation for his future career. Quote from Albert Einstein

    • Anyway, I have to agree with you, as I said any first year psychology major reading that lady’s comment knows there no substance to her argument, this nonsense that girls are smatter than boys in Dominica, that concept is not new.

      That is something most of us born in Dominica who are now aged have heard all of our life. She is a an aged woman, and that concept is imprinted on her brain, it is reality in her mind , and that is where the psychology of it all cuts in.

      Her sentiments are all flattery, to attract voters, especially young women voters.

    • del
      June 30, 2017

      so what is your alternative???

  4. Dominican
    June 28, 2017

    Education is the process of facilitating learning, or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. Educational methods include storytelling, …

    Ponder on this before you comment

  5. NKRUMAH KWAME
    June 28, 2017

    Continuation: It is the teachers in their schools who have the knowledge, experience and expertise to decide on the best strategies for their boys. Teachers need to look for and understand the causes of any underachievement by talking to underachieving boys in particular and pupils in general. It is this dialogue which results in effective strategies. Without the dialogue, the strategies will be less effective.
    Of course this is only a global representation of the challenge and much more detailed planning and implementation are required.
    If the MoEHRD is serious about this issue, I am available to help. And I almost forgot: teachers have to be better remunerated. Teachers teach every other career professional yet they are the least well paid. This cannot be right and only serves as a DEMOTIVATOR!!!
    HOTEP!

  6. NKRUMAH KWAME
    June 28, 2017

    My dear Catherine,
    There are a number of things that all “stakeholders” can do. The parents should accept their responsibility for inculcating a love for reading in their sons. The ministry of Education must identify, recruit, train and reward MALE teachers and end the practice of putting UNTRAINED teachers in the classroom. The curriculum must contain subjects that boys love to study: there is a “feminization” of the curriculum; it is skewed towards the girls. Teachers MUST be held accountable for teaching. How does one explain to me that after SIX years of primary education, one suddenly “discovers” that the child can’t read? Since success in all subjects depend on one’s ability to read, READING must be the most important thing done at schools during the first years. If need be ALL OTHER ACTIVITIES must take second place.
    Achieving successful strategies with boys depends almost exclusively on the work and the personalities of individual teachers and group of teachers.

  7. bigger
    June 28, 2017

    There are more female teachers in the schools today. I believe that’s why the boys are larking behind. In my opinion. In my school days over 90% of the teachers were male now the table has reversed hence the poor results of the boys

    • Dominican
      June 29, 2017

      So what is the cause of the higher number of female teachers? @bigger. Who causing the boys not to become teachers in the first place?

  8. hhhhhhhhhhhhh
    June 28, 2017

    So Honorable Minister, have the Government Information Service visited Mr. Fontain of the Temple SDA Primary School, the BOY who placed 2nd in this year’s GSAT exams? Wouldn’t that be a great way to encourage other boys; to show them that boys can excel too?

    Lest you forget, the top performer in 2016 was also a BOY from the Roseau SDA school.

    • P.I.
      June 28, 2017

      not one of them took a trip to temple to see the boy. to talk to him to make him feel good. not GIS, Marpin, nor SAT. They all lazy and stay at one school featuring only girls. I applaud the girls but what about the boy who came second.

  9. James Christopher
    June 28, 2017

    Only, the mentors must be RED.

  10. NRt
    June 28, 2017

    This is really alarming and calls for her ministry of Ed to mobilize seriously, requesting and setting aside a BUDGET to address this situation. She is right Parents have to play great part, with the limited education of many, at least show interest. I have always wondered what is being done to get even the primary school kids up to the speed that the teachers, faculty and opponents of Universal Ed are complaining about. I believe a big chunk of CBI money can do a lot in that respect, alongside the building of roads all over the place, which is also a good thing.

    • Hugh .G. Recshun
      June 28, 2017

      NRT this is a social problem that money cannot begin to fix. It must start in the families and homes. the attitudes of parent must change in order for those of children’s to change. The fact that some young men dont want to work is a problem. CBI cannot fix that.

      • NRt
        June 29, 2017

        Read again.

  11. nicole
    June 28, 2017

    All I know is that every boy MUST have had a father to be created. Women, know who you are having children with. Condoms and other forms of contraceptives can be used to prevent pregnancies. We are no longer in the dark ages. Having sex with a person is one thing. Creating kids with them is quite another.

    Men PLEASE take your paternal responsibilities seriously or just DON’T HAVE KIDS.

    The situation is sooooo sad. But for the few men who do take up their responsibilities you are to be commended. Keep up the good work.

    • Hugh .G. Recshun
      June 28, 2017

      Nicole, i am a well employed single childless HETEROSEXUAL. My problem here is finding a suitable WOMAN to have children with. Many of the women here although they may look decent with all the latest awnings, i refuse to let many of the single women i have met here in Dominica have my children. I fear that my child especially i have a daughter may be allowed to develop habits and traits that are unsavory to me, yet apparently acceptable to the younger (20-35) generation. I just cant do it. Ill have all my fin with them. but when it comes down to making humans, like many men here, many women here are not fit, for me at least.

  12. Elephan
    June 28, 2017

    To make such a statement is to assume that education is the sole means to success. Which IT IS NOT. Boys in Dominica are more likely to focus on their goals than girls do. Right now, boys have been outperforming girls at the A Levels and CSEC, yet that’s hardly ever mentioned. Those are the boys who chose to focus on education as a means to success. Imagine, there are many male bright minds who simply prefer to focus on Sports, Entrepreneurship, Arts for their success but because their Grades don’t show it, it means they are under performing according to you. Now that’s ludicrous and understandable coming from the backwards generation. Girls don’t have a grasp of the opportunities which boys have to reach that point and Education is the most secure plan, although on average, the least rewarding. Challenge: Take a minute and analyse the Grade 6 of Dominica right now and what they do on their normal day. We need to throw out this GEN X ideology that Education is the sole means to an…

    • Elephan
      June 28, 2017

      end. In the future, the more well rounded individual will have the strongest positions in the workplace. We are failing our children with this way of thinking.

    • Dominican
      June 28, 2017

      Elephant you misunderstood the meaning of education with book smart. Go research and come again

  13. Realist
    June 27, 2017

    When women lay with a certain type of man in the name of fun and these are the reaults who do we blame???

  14. rolling rosary
    June 27, 2017

    Well when you passing n spread money to boys sitting on the blocks to catch a vote their is no need for them to emulate hardworking men but rather adore and glorify the same set of idle boys they will eventually turn out to be which you directly encourage…..Cabbinot full of deadbeat das as well

    • Dominican
      June 28, 2017

      who put them on the block in the first place, I am sure its not the politicians.

  15. Concerned
    June 27, 2017

    As someone who was blessed enough to be raised in a 2 parent household…I only realized just how lucky I was when I entered high school…. We need to do more as a nation.
    I understand the need for the Women’s movement… I do. Some terrible injustices have been done throughout history …but do you know what?…..Dominica had a female prime minister long before the mighty “land of the free” USA seriously considered a woman as a candidate for the presidency. She was a famous leader too. So I think as a nation, in terms of women’s empowerment we’re doing quite fine.
    So we need to get our head out of the figurative posterior of the USA’s social setting and look at our own society. Let’s make it known to our boys from an early age that it is perfectly manly to excel at school.

  16. Concerned
    June 27, 2017

    As a heterosexual male, I love women just as much as any man….but I want to see my brothers succeed in life just as much as my sisters.
    Do you know how annoying it was as a child every fathers’ day to listen to countless speeches about deadbeat fathers….whilst mothers day is filled with nothing but complementaries.
    WE NEED TO STOP BLINDLY FOLLOWING USA’S SOCIETAL TRENDS AND FOCUS MORE ON WHAT’S BEST FOR OUR SOCIETY.
    We need to start by praising the GOOD fathers on Fathers Day and give all these “pound cake” a rest.
    If you are a pastor or a priest reading this…think about your next Fathers day sermon… Your word is influential.
    Do you think men like hearing every day that we are all rapists, child molesters, criminals and deadbeats?
    We need to make our boys feel proud to be boys. We need to let them know that it is perfectly manly to study your work and excel at school. And when they do excel…we need to put it in the news, with the same energy as if it were a girl.

  17. Just Me
    June 27, 2017

    But last year the boys did very well. Kids on a whole need to be taught the value of having a dream and working towards achieving it.

  18. viewsexpressed
    June 27, 2017

    “Our boys need mentors, and I believe they can find positive influences starting in the home, church, community groups, and certainly in the schools to help boost achievement levels,” she said.

    Our boys need mentors for real, but who? Certainly not Skerrit, this inept PM of a corrupt Labour Government. Parents, families, keep a good distance from this political mishap affecting Dominica. This minister responsible for home affairs and children ought to know better and offer sound advice to our young people. Madam, your government ministers, from Craptain to Crook are not role models, they have failed the young people of Dominica.
    Skerrit must go………Madam Minister, help us get rid of Skerrit.

  19. AFRICAN QUEEN
    June 27, 2017

    I am not in total agreement with Miss Daniel. Parents try their best to instill good attitude in their boys but they are strong headed and chose their own way at a very early age in life. Girls have always overpowered boys in National assesment program or common entrance for a very long time.

  20. prophet
    June 27, 2017

    This talk about male marginalization comes in the midst of all power and big wealth in DA are held by men. This talk male against female is to blind us to the fact that although girls are doing a little better, there were plenty C, D, and E grades across the board.

    • Dominican
      June 28, 2017

      That will soon pass, all the reach men are old and will die off leaving what? How many young men you know will replace them?

  21. Spike
    June 27, 2017

    “There is no way to target aid toward desperate situations without increasing the value of being in a desperate situation.” Government aid targeted to broken families makes it easier for families to break up, until it becomes like US cities, where men are studs and pimps, women are “ho’s,” and it goes against the culture to stay put and watch your spawn grow up straight.

  22. Anthony P. Ismael
    June 27, 2017

    Ms. Daniel is a fine individual, but she is dead wrong with her assessment. While the numbers that she’s reviewing do not lie, it is impossible to judge a human life at age 12. I know scores of boys who failed the assessment and before that, the “Common Entrance Exams” and if you see them today you would be shocked. Our education system picks winners and losers at 12 years old and that in itself is simply nuts. Maybe we need to change the system to a more progressive one. This rote learning produces absolutely nothing.

  23. Patience
    June 27, 2017

    REALLY? What have the ministry done to assist the scout movements around the island? The academies? They all have died or are dieing slowly. Just hot air comming from you all mouth you all don’t mean anything you say you are paid to talk so you do. You all are clamping down on the youth division for assisting these groups. Put your money where your mouth is

  24. June 27, 2017

    The boys that are failing, are nurtured by their single mothers who in most cases do not want their fathers to be part of raising that child.Now ,look at the boys with both parents in the home instilling the type of discipline needed, we see a totally different outcome. The hyperactivity of the young male has to be kept in check, and that can only be done by a strong respecting father / mother in the home, yes, the girls continue to excel, their make up as being more laid back, is ready made for the present educational system. Dominica is not isolated, T&T the USA and the rest of the caribbean are going through the exact scenario.The young black males, need to have their attention held captive, and female teachers have shown that they do not have the capacity to do that, and presently very few male teachers are in the class, all these are problems need looking into.At the end of the day, both parents media, lifestyles, ,etc. should take the brunt.They are the leaders of tomorrow.BD

  25. Bro
    June 27, 2017

    But which major segment of our economy is dominated by women? None. There are very few businesses that are female founded or owned. And that will not change as those who do well in school aren’t the ones who change the world (rebel) or take major risks. They play it safe, there’s no risks involved in studying only that you submit to your books. So when they grow up they submit to the rules of society, because that’s what’s given them ‘success’ in the pass. Thinking inside a box.

    I know people won’t understand, but it would be interesting to know how many members of parliament, well known business people and millionaires in Dominica got scholarships at common entrance. And how many island scholars at college level who are self employed and/ or employ others. It doesn’t matter what results kids get in school, people with experience will know that it won’t define you in life.

    • Anthony P. Ismael
      June 28, 2017

      I would shake your big toe if you were next to me. So clear and pragmatic.

    • Dominican
      June 28, 2017

      Trust me the businesses you see “owned” and “run” by successful men all have a strong WOMAN behind them! Culturally our women stay in the shade but they are the ones holding the reins. In time to come this will be past and you will see the women coming forward, it has already started, women doctors, lawyers and other professionals are already outnumbering men.

  26. JOSH SHAW
    June 27, 2017

    Tell thier mothers them stop open thier legs for all kinda mal kwab. They r like clothes pegs squeeze d head legs open. Oh and start to hole the parents accountable. This country too damn soutiweh want ppl to come beg for all kinda tings and give it to them for no money while ppl like myself av to work and pay tax to support worthless lazy ppl. So my blasted tax money is for the lazy to enjoy. Tell skerrit sto promote begging and let them lazy beggarites find work to maintain their yutes only then they will feel how it is. And hopefully once their money in fire ( school fee, uniform, books, food, transport) then they will look to ensure their yute dem perform in school.TOURNEH

  27. Roger Burnett
    June 27, 2017

    “Parents and other family members are encouraged to do their part to prepare the students for long term academic success.”

    But at least 30% of students are creatively, rather than academically inclined. For the most part our educational system ignores this pool of talent. You can add to that up to 15% that are gifted with dyslexia.

  28. The Darkness
    June 27, 2017

    You guys were all “Woman time” and “Girl power” and then your looking at boys, males, who were overlooked… like they should have done better?

    Gender, race… its all the same… The US got you all good. The eastern side of the world does not check these things.

    Right now, if a woman hits a man and police reach on the scene… guess what, they might shoot him… cause he wrong for being a man, in confrontation with a woman.

    No questions are asked as to who was wrong, who hit 1st, nothing…

    So keep preaching you all femnist crap, I will not support it and I condemn… Femnism is a practice spread out by the devils’ followers… Mark my words when you see him.

    • Justice
      June 28, 2017

      “The Darkness” you ignorant jackass!! What does mentoring young boys into men for higher education have to do with feminism? Have you thought about the trend that is occurring with young boys into men on the island ? Your comments are straight up divisive !! WHO THE HELL MENTORED YOUR DUMB SELF!!

      • The Darkness
        June 29, 2017

        Since your blind self does not understand… More focus is placed on females, where as males are easily distracted…

        When the males now show no interest in education, they are forgotten… By that time it is too late…

        I think you confuse me for someone who cares… I gave up on humanity ages ago…

        You are probably just speaking with that 1 trend in mind… I think on a different scale you molly coddle!

      • The Darkness
        June 29, 2017

        You also techincally called 14 other people stupid… Check the up vote dunce!

  29. Shaka Zulu
    June 27, 2017

    Mrs Daniel I cannot agree with you more. Some of the parents also need to snap to reality. They are the first examples to thier kids. I have noticed the trend for some time. Great to see our young ladies holding the fort.

  30. Hugh .G. Recshun
    June 27, 2017

    FINALLY!!!!!!!! an acknowledgement from the Heads of STATE!. Our young boys and men are so disenfranchised! from young many have been raised to only pull up on the block of ride a scooter or a bike and aspire no higher than the gold chain and baby daddy status. Our young men need to taught how to be gentlemen. need to be taught to be hard working and to have integrity. to learn that their words and actions have consequences and that their should protect the lesser sex while respecting their fellow man. and the list goes on. too much emphasis is placed on women so much that our young boys dont even try anymore. they sit back and let their wives or girl friends be the bread winners.

    • 1979
      June 27, 2017

      I agree but dare I say… the older Cocks in the chicken farm love young women with fathers ill equipped to handle fatherhood, jobless, futureles and constantly bashed for not handling THE MANS portion on the responsibilities. Don’t you think the young boys see us MEN WORKING OUR BACKS OUT, and SACRIFICING within an INCH OF OUR HEALTH AND SANITY to make ends meet??? Who would sign up for putting in a full 30 days of work and when its time to get paid, you have to wait 3 months…the bossman giving you runaround..this society has been cultivated where young men see it as less hassle to be their own boss and sell their drugs and young women and their foolish pride chant independence but exchange favors for favors…these are the masks that we wear…when the old man sees the young man as a threat, and an end to his Dominance… this is the animal nature of man…as old as pharaoh himself…

      • Hugh .G. Recshun
        June 28, 2017

        as far as working and waiting 3 months to get paid, that is an organisational internal matter. I work hard daily and i dont have to wait three months to get paid.

    • rolling rosary
      June 27, 2017

      but what you talking about! Is that they encouraging for young men to sit idle and allow the women to be the bread winners. 15 men asking for building assistance 0 receives. 15 women doing the same all getting and even gettting grants 3-4 times to start the same nail and hairdressing business…..and we wondering why young men appearing so disinterested.. It is because of the enabling environment we allow them

      • Hugh .G. Recshun
        June 28, 2017

        You are are all correct. all their little secretaries and little girl friends getting duty free and help, like 1979 said favors for favors, but the young man has no one doing him any favors. It is not like the older women interested in them in turn to give them favors because they going through their own hardships. Ok but to solve the problem, from small, parents we need to train our young boys, nurture them, care for them give them a sense of belonging and appreciation. teach them about integrity and hard work. from early! teach them not to steal and lie. so that we do not have a bunch of fools with tremendous potential just wasting their lives waiting for the next easy opportunity. Our young men need to be revolutionaries and lead the way courageously. In classrooms in tertiary education the majority of students are women. the men sit in the back and most act disinterested much less for participation. Almost like they are embarrassed to be there.

      • Patty Cakes
        June 28, 2017

        I co-sign what you’re saying. And if you ever notice it’s always around Carnival and Creole Festival time these 15 women going to their PM. Next thing you seeing, the building assistance money went on to buy hair, nails and clothes for the sewo…

        It is what it is…smh.

  31. Old woman, I told you before you should be at home babysitting your grand children if you have any, and praying to God. Every once in a while your kind pups up talking nonsense. Girls out perform boys, in what crap?

    All horses do not run at the same speed; and if you any commonsense you would know that; your idea of girls out performing boys is a myth, and you are spewing what you believe people want to hear.

    As many smart women there are one can find as many smart men or boys. You are not saying anything excepts talking fart. Any first year psychology major can tell you all of what you braying about is total garbage!

    The only mentor boys in Dominica need are the parents having the financial resources to sustain their children, and be in a position to educate then, financial resources derives from jobs employment, and not from sweet sounding babbling empty useless nonsocial words that you speak.

    • Dominican
      June 27, 2017

      So said Mr Google with his textbook solution lol :lol: :lol:

    • Chester
      June 27, 2017

      As usual, your brain farts again on DNO. u never disappoint, ring leader of id10ts.

    • rolling rosary
      June 27, 2017

      Francisco I agree with you a 1000% Catherine and the others failed to mention the other boys who excelled even obtaining 4 A’s in the exam and wanting to come here talking her bull crap. Tell Catherine wheel and come again and be fair in their assessment and mention ALL our boys who excelled with no streaming and setting but an equitable platform for each to excel.

    • Gary
      June 27, 2017

      If you disagree with The Minister, do you have to call her an “old women” such behavior is not the treat of an intelligent person, your arrogance is so despicable. I have always told you, I’m amazed by the nonsense you write, I’m referring to your last paragraph, wow.

      • Well Gary she is a young woman!

        Don’t you know age is honor, we all must age as long as we are alive. How many times I read on DNO where certain people call me old man.

        If I am an old man: it is what it is; she is an old woman who should be at home looking after her grandchildren, and great grandchildren, if she has any. If she does not have children; this is her opportunity to adapt ten of the boys she assumes need mentoring, and become their mentor!

        Instead, she sits there with her ugly self talking nonsense believing the crap she speaks makes sense. All she is doing is spewing crap she believes people want to hear; using flattery to secure votes. Since she is in government, has she ever proposed a way of implementing a project: an industrial investment that could provide some work for the smart girls she is fantasizing?

        Creating employment is the most important of a government minister function!

  32. LifeandDeath
    June 27, 2017

    Catherine is right here..deadbeat dads are to share the blame.

    • The Darkness
      June 27, 2017

      Good for nothing moms too…

    • The Darkness
      June 27, 2017

      Good-for-nothing moms too…

    • We deserve better
      June 27, 2017

      I think it’s incorrect to point fingers af the dads alone; there are deadbeat mothers too. We should discuss how we can identify a supply of positive male role models that will guide these young men.

    • ????
      June 27, 2017

      My mom rang this in our head as kids – “you make children; you don’t make their minds”

    • marie-claire R Skerrit
      June 27, 2017

      Or what about the deadbeat Government that’s failing our kids all that corruptions that’s going on in the island…Need i say more

    • ATKINSON
      June 28, 2017

      And who do you think are having relationships and babies by these deadbeat dads? These mothers/women

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