Parents Urged to Teach Children the Importance of Education

As the new school year approaches, Member of Parliament for East Rural St. Andrew, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, is urging parents to teach their children the importance of education.

“Children don’t actually understand how valuable education is when they are young. When they are older and looking for a job, that’s when it hits them, and, as such, we have to be responsible for ensuring that we teach them the value of education,” she said.

Mrs. Holness was speaking to JIS News following a back-to-school treat at the Dallas Castle Community Centre in the constituency on August 17.

She noted that education has been used as a vehicle by many to change their circumstances, and encouraged her constituents to do the same.

Meanwhile, she urged parents to invest in textbooks for their children, so that they will be able to better participate in their lessons at home and school.

Another back-to-school treat was also held at the Kintyre Community Centre in the constituency on the same day.

The children received educational supplies and free health checks. The students, who will be attending basic, primary and high schools in September, received knapsacks and lunch bags, notebooks, pens, pencils, rulers, sharpeners and book vouchers. They were also treated to food and entertainment.

Ten back-to-school treats will be held across the constituency. A total of $5 million is being used from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and will go towards the paying of tuition and the purchasing of educational supplies.

Mrs. Holness informed that 2,000 bags have been donated to the initiative.

Treats have already been held in Harbour View and Bull Bay. The others will take place at Dublin Castle/Content Gap, and Mavis Bank High School on August 20; Irish Town-UCC Craighton Estate, and Savage Pen Playfield, August 22; and Top Maryland and Woodford Two Trees on August 23.