Education Ministry To Roll Out Curriculum On Trafficking In Persons

The Ministry of Education is to roll out the national curriculum on trafficking in persons during the current academic year.

The curriculum, jointly developed with the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons, aims to better enable teachers to impart the facts and issues relating to human trafficking to their students.

Trafficking in person is commonly characterised by abduction, forced labour, and sexual exploitation of the victims.

In this regard, the curriculum’s implementation is deemed pivotal in supporting the Government’s fight against these illicit activities, particularly involving children, which is underpinned by a comprehensive legislative framework.

Speaking at the Ministry’s Region One Principals consultation at St. George’s College in Kingston, on October 14, Task Force Chairperson, Carol Palmer, said the curriculum’s implementation is intended to further heighten knowledge and awareness across the society.

“Scientific research shows that the more aware, educated, and sensitised we are about human trafficking is the more successful we will be in combating the crime. So, while we do (general) public education, the curriculum’s implementation is critical for children, who are the most vulnerable. We have to help them to help themselves,” she told JIS News.

Mrs. Palmer, who is also Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, advised that the curriculum’s content will initially target students in Grades Seven to Nine, to “put it in a language for them to clearly understand,” with modifications for the other age groups, where the need arises.

In addressing participants at the consultation, Mrs. Palmer also emphasised the need for greater enlightenment among principals and other school administrators, to better enable them to safeguard students against human trafficking.

She also emphasised that the onus is on schools to create the environment where children who have been affected “feel safe to talk with someone.”

“Trafficking victims need a safe space to restore themselves, and we have to give them a lot of psychological and counselling support,” Mrs. Palmer said.

In this regard, Mrs. Palmer said members of the National Task Force Against Trafficking in Persons, as well as the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Trafficking in Persons Unit, would avail themselves to assist schools, where their intervention is needed.

Global statistics show that an average 2.5 million persons fall prey to human trafficking each year, and often end up being victims of forced labour and sexual exploitation.

Of this number, Asian and Pacific countries account for 1.4 million victims, representing 56 per cent; Latin America and the Caribbean – 250,000 or 10 per cent; the Middle East and Northern Africa – 230,000, representing 9.2 per cent; and sub-Saharan Africa – 130,000 or 5.2 per cent.

Statistics also show that victims of trafficking are abducted in 127 countries and taken to another 137 where they are exploited.

Additionally, 161 countries, including Jamaica, are affected by this phenomenon by being source, transit and destination points.

Over 100 principals and administrators from schools across Kingston and St. Andrew, which comprise the Education’s Ministry’s Region One, attended the forum, which was held under the theme: ‘Student Behaviour and Welfare: Emerging Challenges and Opportunities’.