Education Minister Emphasises Importance of Strengthening Social Skills of Youth
By: , September 2, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Mark Bell
Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (right), exchanges pleasantries with (from left): Pastor, May Pen Seventh Day Adventist Church in Clarendon, Rev. Barrington McLean, and Principal of Glenmuir High School, also situated in May Pen, Dr. Marsha Smalling, during the institution’s annual academic conference, Colloquium 2015, which was held at its campus on Tuesday, September 1, under the theme: ‘Flagrans Fire: Blazing the Flame of Excellence’. Rev. Thwaites was the guest speaker.The Facts
- In this regard, he is urging school administrators and educators, particularly at the secondary level, to undertake intervention methods, where necessary, during the course of the 2015/16 academic year.
- The Minister was speaking at Glenmuir High School’s annual academic conference, Colloquium 2015, at the institution’s campus in May Pen, Clarendon, on September 1, under the theme: ‘Flagrans Fire: Blazing the Flame of Excellence’.
The Full Story
Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, says the school remains one of the most influential and important institutions for strengthening the social skills of Jamaica’s youth.
In this regard, he is urging school administrators and educators, particularly at the secondary level, to undertake intervention methods, where necessary, during the course of the 2015/16 academic year.
The Minister was speaking at Glenmuir High School’s annual academic conference, Colloquium 2015, at the institution’s campus in May Pen, Clarendon, on September 1, under the theme: ‘Flagrans Fire: Blazing the Flame of Excellence’.
Noting that some educators and administrators “may well complain that it is more than they bargained for,” Rev. Thwaites emphasised that it is “vitally important” for schools to engage in nurturing youngsters to become “strong, adjusted persons and socially competent.”
The Minister argued that this is necessary as there are challenges associated with “deteriorated family life…and weak community structures,” which the youngsters encounter in many instances.
“Too many of our young people are graduating, some with excellent results, but not necessarily with the sterling and functional characters that are needed for happy communities, for strong family lives to emerge, and for strong choices to do with economic realities. In fact, many more are graduating after 12 years of State support and family sacrificed-education, without any competencies that are certified,” he said.
As such, Rev. Thwaites said there must be recognition of the need for continuous inculcation of discipline and order in young people that will ultimately redound to the wider society’s benefit.
The Minister called on administrators and educators to place as much emphasis on character formation as they do on the academics. “We recognise the tremendous additional responsibility which our schools in Jamaica have in this regard, and this is a particular challenge that I place before you,” he said.