High school delinquency is a major challenge for the Morne Prosper community, according to an executive member of the Morne Prosper Village Council.
Clerk of the council Linella John told Dominica News Online there has been an upsurge in the number of young men who have dropped out of secondary schools recently, and now walk the streets idly.
“The major challenge we are facing right now is with the youth. I would say we have a youth delinquency problem in Morne Prosper. Most of the youth, they have dropped out from school, mainly boys… and it’s like they are just there … days passing and they are just there not doing anything,” she said.
According to her, the village council is planning some programs where these youths can learn a skill and trade. She added that many of the young boys are interested in learning a skill, as opposed to learning academics, and the council understands the need to offer these options to these teens.
“It’s not everybody that is academically able; some people want to do something with their hands. Some people want to get engaged in something else besides academics. So we are trying to encourage them to get on board, but first we have to educate them and try to see if we can get them to come and learn something,” John said.
John also said an upgrade of the village playing field road is on the council’s agenda.
“We already got the materials from the road it’s just setting a date and getting people to come on board,” she stated.
The Chairman of the nine-year-old village council is McDowell Paul.
HERMISHA ROLLE/STAFF REPORTER.
The Morne Prosper Village Council has outlined a major challenge that the community faces as high school delinquency. Speaking with Dominica News Online was clerk of the Council Linella John, who stated that recently there has been an upsurge in the number of young men who have dropped out of secondary schools and now walk the streets idly. “The major challenge we are facing right now is with the youth. I would say we have a youth delinquency problem in Morne Prosper. Most of the youth, they have dropped out from school, mainly boys... and it’s like they are just there... days passing and they are just there not doing anything. “So the council is trying to put some programs in place to get them engaged in something a little constructive instead of they being just on the side of the road not doing anything . They can learn a skill; they can learn a trade...” Linella stated that many of the young boys are interested in learning a skill, as opposed to learning academics. She said that the council understands the need to offer these options to these teens. “It’s not everybody that is academically able; some people want to do something with their hands. Some people want to get engaged in something else besides academics. So we are trying to encourage them to get on board but first we have to educate them and try to see if we can get them to come and learn something,” John said. Among other matters affecting the council, John outlined one major project which the council is currently undertaking. Clerk of the council Linella John said an upgrade of the village playing field road is also on the top of the charts for the council. “Well we already got the materials from the road it’s just setting a date and getting people to come on board,” John said. The Chairman of the council which has been in existence from 2000, is McDowel Paul.
We have to look through the eyes of those kids, what future do they see or can they see one at all and if they don’t see one, then I don’t see the need to graduate.
yep, getting to the root of the problem is crucial in solving the problem
So, “they just there” I think that the Ministry of Education should be involved in the solution. What is the reason for the high rate of drop out? Fixing the symptom is great but the root of the problem needs to be address to prevent additional drop outs.