Member of Parliament for the Roseau South Constituency, Joshua Francis, is expressing concerns over high school drop-outs on the island saying that he is in the process of finding out the amount in his constituency and to find a way to address the issue.
Over the years concerns have been voiced about high school drop-out rates in certain parts of Dominica and Francis told Dominica News Online said he is determined to find out how many students under the age of 15 are out of school in Roseau South.
“In Dominica there seem to be an issue with high school drop-out rates,” he said. “I am in the process of conducting an inventory of high school drop-out in my constituency and to determine the way forward, or to respond accurately because I subscribe to the policy: no child left behind.”
He explained that Section 27 of the Education Act of the Commonwealth of Dominica states that “every child shall attend school from the first day of the school calendar in the school year, following that in which he attains the lower age of the compulsory school age until the last day of the school calendar in the school year in which he attains sixteen years of age, or at the end of which he obtains a school leaving certificate or diploma awarded by the school, whichever occurs first.”
Francis said therefore, students under the age of sixteen who dropout of high school act contrary to the Education Act.
He stated that he has observed that some student who are not academically oriented and who do not find the technical courses to work with, get frustrated and they drop out of the school system.
“Unfortunately society is failing these children,” he remarked.
In fact, he said, dropping out of high school culminates in profound social and economic consequences for students, their families, and communities.
“Students who drop out of high school are more likely to be unemployed, and to earn less than those who graduate. They are more likely to be male and they are also more susceptible to socio-economic evils such as criminal activities based on universal studies,” he stated. “Not only will these drop-outs negatively affect the growth of the economy of each community, and our nation, but these under-educated young people will add costs to the nation. We can all attest to the unfortunate scenario of countless ‘boys on the block’ which is repeated in almost every community in Dominica.”
He added, “The disturbing trend of marginalization of our young men, coupled with the dwindling numbers of potential spouses for their high-achieving female counterparts are all consequences of the problem.”
Francis believes the relevant authorities must ensure that students who drop out of school are placed at a learning institution.
He also said that more recreational facilities and extracurricular activities should be provided for the country’s youth.
“The absence of rehabilitation centres or training will not give children a second and third chance and that is unfortunate,” he remarked.
Francis is of the view that institutions, such as schools, family and support groups, should conduct programmes which are beneficial for the youth.
“The bottom-line is that there will always be some families who will show very little interest in their children’s education, therefore the wider community could undertake a moral responsibility to help these vulnerable children,” he noted. “This is possible by greater efforts of the institutions: school, family, church, and interest groups to conduct programmes which are beneficial for the young, greater focus on early childhood education by both parents and authorities, more investments in high-quality early childhood programs that support the emotional, cognitive, and social development of children. In the long run, children will enter high school with less academic deficiencies.”
Good Mr. Francis you are on tune. This is a problem existing in our country and no one take note of that. For a better Dominica our people must be educated. How many people take up a news paper and read. And some of our people remarks are still slavery mentality, when will they learn.
Todays school programme is to pass an exam to enter secondary school. The JSP programme was an asset for late learners. How you can put a child who cannot spell his name in a secondaty school . Come on maybe some programme as the JSP can be modified for these children to build up their self esteem and learn a trade while still learning English and Maths.
Look at the small amount of comments on thid serious issue.
I think this provide a reflection that the majority of Dominican in this country are worthless.
My belief is the current administration should keep on oppressing them until the people get outrage.
DLP continue the oppression.
This old problem requires new solutions and collaboration and the generation of new revenues to an economy. I make no apologies for advertising b1stepahead.com.
A summary of the solutions:-
1. A platform to provide affordable personal tuition from an early age (3+) to help all children with all abilities. The tuition/mentoring can be free at point of use to targeted students going at their own pace.
2. Pass exams: the purpose of the platform is to help students improve their exam/training grades using contemporary schooling and personal tuition methods
4. Increase the money in the the economy. The platform employs local teachers to teach the local student base as well as the international student base who would otherwise not be capable of affording personal tuition. E.g ec$20/hr is £5/hr in the UK and the curriculum is transferable.
5. Trained students can join the “sharing economy” as sole traders advertising on a trade employment version of the platform. BBC news sharing…
those of you who think mr francis would win , not so easily. he would have to be able to spread goodies around just as our loving PM. when the propaganda machin begin calling mr francis ugly and lazy and rum shop lawyer our fellow dominicans will fall for that and their tablet and proclaim that they love their PM
I Love My Pm
New hospital with better trained doctors, that’s what we need. The young and educated are afraid to enter PMH, and cannot afford to travel abroad to clean their ears – These simple procedures could get them killed PMH. You want to take care of people? Then provide good and affordable healthcare here on the Island and stop playing politics and pretty boy. People are dying like flies up on the hill up there and all you just talking crap. People don’t pelt stones in Dominica no more?
Kids dropping out of school
Not a new problem.
Not confined to Dominica.
Does not always close the door on the future.
But here are some of the causes of high school drop-out.
Some parents do nothing to help students appreciate the need for and value of education.
Our modern educational system does nothing to find out the subjects an individual student enjoys and is good at to help them excel in those fields. It allows them to get bogged down in subject matter they hate and fail at until they get discouraged and drop out.
Not enough is done to let students know about the different careers, trades, and professions that are out there, and help them choose the one that they would enjoy doing. Every school should have a CAREER DAY once or twice a year in each grade with members of the various occupations present to speak and or answer questions.
There should be more vocational and trade subjects offered in high schools.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill,…
Mr. Hill when one drops out of school in Dominica, or the West Indies for that matter, and especially Dominica, it is all over for them scholastically. In North America, and Europe assuming one drops out of high school, at age fifteen, or seventeen, by they time they are thirty or older, when they, find out they made a mistake, they have an option to return to school at any age!
In the Dominica it is not so!
When I was fifty-two years old, I dropped out of a medical program, that is why I am not practicing medicine at this time. Now if I wish to return and complete my studies no one can tell me I am too old. Some of my prerequisites may be out dated, but all I would have to do is take them over, once you cleared that hurdle once, one should not have difficulties clearing it a second time.
There are people of all ages still attending college; at fifty-two I met a man in college who was almost eighty, when I ask him why, he told me he had no time for his education, busy…
Don’t only just look at the obvious one which we all know of; those who are not academically inclined. That story has been sung for long. You are going to research your constituency and it will show what we know which is as stated earlier, those who are not academically inclined. Now if you can collect data, look at different variables that contribute to kids staying and dropping out of school that would give you a much better picture. Doing a data analysis will give you a better idea of what the problem is and how you can approach it. I am not an expert on students drop out but you could look at variables such as age entered school, ages dropped out, number of years in high school, siblings, parents in the house, parent working, are they the first, third or last, house hold income, etc.. I could go on but the problem is collecting the data and next analyzing. I would hope that your advisers and you have everything in place to give a sound analysis and not just put out statistical figu
Every young person who does not graduate from high school is not lost to society. Some with little conventional education will find a place in business, the trades, or in technology. Some will excelled to the surprise of their families. Not everybody has the same aptitude. All young people should be encouraged to believe in themselves and learn their own worth.
Frances is concerned for those who will stop short of their potential and rightly so.. Are there courses in technology and the trades available for those who are interested in such work? Are there schools that offer this kind of alternative education training?
How many of the dropouts are regular marijuana smokers or use alcohol and party into the wee hours?
Sometimes the dropout problem is actually a lifestyle problem. Another example of this is unwed mothers who have to drop out of school to care for a child. The answer for all this is a national return to God and the Bible.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill…
While I admire Mr. Francis for his work, my opinion is that this problem stems from the home. Children have their own way too much these days and is always teachers that getting the blame. I could drop out of school under my parent’s roof???? You mad!! Want to or not I had to learn. We giving our badly brought up children too many choices.
One ting Joshua Francis must win a Oscar Award this year. That kind of performance and show he putting on the last couple months there.
and while Education Minister Peter St. Jean is out smoking teachers out of holes, stripping them of their little income, Joshua Francis steps in to do the job of the education ministry.
The assessment Joshua aims to undertake should all have been completed by the ministry; they should be able to easily provide drop-out statistics by constituency and give color as to why it is taking place. But the needs of children for academic success isn’t a mystery. The question is, what is the ministry of education’s role in all of this?
We need educated, ambitious, and honest people leading such important efforts. While Joshua is certainly doing what he can, unless he has a good budget to hire the social workers, truant officers, etc. that will be needed to provide support for students and their families, he will be severely limited.
The ruling gov’t is all smoke, no substance. Rather than build up people and fix what is broken, they rather terrorize and threaten! Recipe for…
Reading these comments makes you wonder if some people even understand what they post on here. Who remember the way the school system was where if you were a late bloomer for whatever cause missed the opportunity to go to high school? Today all kids gets a chance to go to high school, who remember walking from bourn and up those sides to get to school in Portsmouth? Now buses are provided for kids to go to school, food are provided in some schools for the kids. In the today we live in even if you have a skill you still have to have at least a high school diploma to really make a good living, so that thing about a trade is just part of it. It’s sad to see everything has to be driven by lying politics, because we all know under this government you have the most kids ever finishing high schools and colleges, most get it for free or at a reduced price than other Caribbean islands. I know of a young lady in town who sits on FB day in and out bashing the PM while her child is failing.
am not a UWP fan but somhow i love this man
Me TOO. I’M not a UWP either but I just Love this man.
He seems genuine. If is politics he’s playing, he is a damn intelligent politician! I’m not a UWP but very impressed with him.
I think Mr Francis should run for PM next election ..
he would win 4sure he is very loved
of course he can run for pm (Post Mortem)
It is a grave situation. Students who drop out of school may not be able to obtain a good paying, stable job. The more of them who are unemployed the less they will contribute to the country’s revenue. This could eventually be a burden on the State to financial provide for them.
Another matter are students ingesting illegal drugs which could hinder their learning process? Many factors must be looked at to determine what could be the cause of many of them dropping out of school.
I thought of it and decided to provide my comments on this matter. I hope that you, the Minister of Education, school principals, teachers and other authorities have some feasible suggestions and solutions to this problem.
Dominica needs its people, educated and to some degree to also assist in building it up. Students are future adults One day they will be the ones who will take over the reins of this country. It is to their benefit to complete their schooling.
Go Joshua! The only opposition parl rep that is actually doing something, he cares for his people, while others obsessing over skerrit with nothing to show esp LL. You are the only chance UWP has of ever coming close to forming the govt and if they cant see that they shall remain in opposition forever.
FYI – If nothing else, you MUST have heard of at least these two highly popularized efforts of opposition leaders this year:
You forgot Danny Lugay’s attempt to improve the playing field in Roseau North. Received funding and community support all to be blocked by the PM??
Did Spaggs not have to darn near shut down access to Roseau to get delivery on promises made to farmers in his constituency?
Wake up dreamer
@ Bon Dieu Are you for real? These are 2 poor examples you gave. You talking about Danny going about things like the true …man he is to do things with state property. And that other …. spraggs encouraging people to damage state property to force the government to do roads on private property to private farms when they should be doing it themselves.
What I have read on this Website, some blame the PM for unemployment including stating derogatory words which I find is totally unfair to him. I have responded, find out if those who complain and how many of the unemployed are elementary or high school dropouts.
Minister Francis, responsible Dominican residents take this seriously. They would really want you to get down to the bottom of this serious matter. I surmise, A.S.A.P you will have to commence with their parents which means meeting with them, probably through organizing a parents’ meeting with the children and teachers to discuss this crucial matter with them.
This problem of school drop outs cannot be solved if certain questions are not asked, in whatever manner you ask them professionally and sensitively.
I considered the following may hinder the students’ learning process which could cause them to be disinterested and subsequently drop out of school.
Real Facts…isn’t their a minister of education? Wasn’t the PM a former school teacher? Why then should they not be taking the lead on this issue ACROSS the country, rather than one parl rep doing what he can in his constituency. We know this drop out issue isn’t isolated to Roseau South.
You guys seem to be worried so much about “blaming” a PM. Is he more important than our children? Are we not supposed to hold our elected leaders accountable? It is very easy to say that I provide food, bus, etc. but any educator should know that these neccesary basics do not, in themselves, assure student success. You need supportive households, mentors, and even police to enforce the education act.
I applaud Josh for doing what he can, but we have to stop employing people for certain jobs and then rely on politicians to step in and do it. If systems were working well, Josh should be able to simply visit the education ministry and have them step in. But not in Dominica!
The high school drop out rate has been off serious concern for the past 6 years. The system is failing our kids
Mamzoo the system is not failing our kids. Parents are the ones failing their kids. Parents don’t put no quality time into their kids, helping them with their school work, teaching them manners etc etc etc. But i guess the ignorant will blame Sherrit for their children bad ways
thanks for you concern sir. hopefully there will come a day when tony , alick and dominicans will be concerened about such matters rather than just defend a mysterious PM and government.
By the way is it true that a stowe fella brought in 12 cars? if is tue i wonder when will FAST N FURIOUS and fellow dominicans be able to bring in two cars at once
I Love My PM
Do they view and access the Internet? How much time is spent viewing TV and on the Internet? What programs do they view and the Websites which they frequent.
Do they own a cellular, smart phone, ipad, etc.?
Do the parents show an interest in their children’s studies and take an interest in them.
Generally, all children need help with their homework. Some may need after school extra studies.
Is there a responsible person who could assist the children with their homework and ensure that they have done their homework?
After you have asked all this questions and organized a meeting and meet with all concerned, you could concerned that. Not all children are capable of absorbing what is taught and especially at a higher level.
If they are incapable of completing school, they should be encouraged to learn a trade that someday hopefully operate their own business. If they do and are successful, these types of job pay much more than office work.
Again, ask youself. What is the purpose of a ministry of education? Shouldn’t St. Jean have all this information readily available. Shouldn’t schools be collecting this info continuously and feeding it up the chain so that central decisions can be made.
We act as if Dominica is the first in everything when in fact we are so far behind. All we need to do is look at other successful models, and at the very least try to implement some of their practices. Joshua can make the call for this, but the ministry of education should be ashamed. While St. Jean wants to smoke people out of holes, parl reps must do his job for him?!
Facts, You keep mentioning the Internet, the Internet is not a teaching institution!
It is not an academic facility, true one might obtain certain information, however it cannot educate anyone except you as an educational institution as a college, or university will do; if that was the case there would be no need for such institutions!
The government should re-introduce the vocational school or technical training school. We were not all born to be academics. Some persons are extra-ordinarily gifted at cooking, furniture making, sewing etc. These students should be given the opportunity to pursue these talents at school in an effort to be self-sufficient in the future.
Our school system is programmed in enforcing dependent employees instead of creating entrepreneurs and creation of employment for self and others.
“Francis believes no child should be left behind” (Francis)
Francis that is an American slogan which has absolutely nothing to do with the dropping out of high school student in America: It is as I read on DNO where someone wrote; “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” that is America, and there are lots of different reasons for such slogans. In the first place the no child left behind comes into play even prior to kindergarten, so you should not try to relate anything in America to failure in Dominica!
I suspect that the dropout rate in our country may have to do with the economic status of the parents, on the other hand the students have no hope of being employed after they finish high school or college. When I grew up the only hope for one leaving School; no matter how smart; to find a job, one would have to become a teacher, police office, or find employment in the Civil service, or get a five dollar, or one pound per week salary with some merchant in Roseau.
We…
We lake employment opportunities, therefore some may simply say what’s the point! If someone have a degree, even a two year degree from the Dominica State College, and cannot find a job in the field they are qualified, what’s the point of doing two years of drooling hard studying, only to find out you will never find, a job in the country of your birth!
I was quick to realize if I remained in Dominica, my only hope and alternative; as a matter would be on some banana plantation, and would die never work in any significant job at home. Almost everybody my age who remained in Wesley are dead, from hard work, poor medical treatment, and nutrition. All of us who left for England the U. S. and Canada are yet alive. One of my village family and friend I have not seen that man fifty years came from England to attend a relative of ours funeral in Texas I made enquires as to it I am still alive, So, I called him In England, only to find out all who left in the 1950’s are alive and…
Sometimes I wonder, for a guy who thinks of himself as such intelligent person, why so much garbage can come from your mind. You mean to tell me, because it is an American Slogan, it cannot be applied to us in Dominica. So there is so much jobs in Cuba, and why are they so highly educated? It is not because, everyone that graduates will get a job. It is because the Cuban society, have place a value on education.
Growing up, it seemed like those family that had education, there kids continued that education, while families that did not, did not place a value on it. Now things have changed, everyone knows the value of education. An educated society, whether jobs or not, will be a productive society. They can think outside the box, create their own opportunities.
Now there you are critiquing me, but you are expressing yourself as an idiot! In order for such slogans to apply to Dominica, the circumstance must be the same in Dominica!
Lou Rowels the late recording artists coined the words “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” and used that during his marathon programs of collecting money once per to support black collages in the United States, since he died have you heard it anymore? What does that have to do with Dominica? Are Dominicans wasting their mind?
No child left behind is before kindergarten, and poverty of children in certain communities in America. Do you have such programs in Dominica. Man shut you bloody mouth!, and I do not think I am intelligent, I know that I know that I am not only intelligent, I am confident that I am damn smart, my academics accomplishments prove that!
Look how stupid you are: ” So there is so much jobs in Cuba, and why are they so highly educated? ” Why don’t you go Cuba , and find a job…
Mr Francis we can bring the cow to the stream but we can’t force it to drink! As for these irresponsible ppl that making yutes like waddin. They should b jailed.
Universal secondary education
Another feel good policy/political decision. Kids all forced to academics when lots not ready. Neglected the skills, trade and systems they had under JSP program. I am not surprised. We continue to regress.
Great contribution Mr. Parl rep. I do not know you, but I enjoy reading your articles. This is clearly what a parl rep should be focused on the well being of his constituents. I wish more parl reps would emulate you. Roseau south is blessed to have such a smart and caring parl rep. You are the quintessential parlimentary representative. Keep up the good work and good looking out for your fellow men.