Ministry implementing school retention course on Linden/Soesdyke Highway

The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security is implementing a School Retention and Child Labour Prevention Programme on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway.

The programme is being done in collaboration with ILO/IPEC Tackling Child Labour Through Education (TACKLE) Project with support from the European Union, a press release from GINA said.

It aims to address issues such as absenteeism, school dropouts, lateness and truancy and targets children specifically from Dora Secondary School, Kuru Kuru Primary School and Kuru Kuru Nursery School. These schools are located in the Kuru Kuru Training Complex, the release added.

The programme has five components: Numeracy and Literacy, which will entail extra afternoon classes to assist students with homework and other difficulties they may have in relation to school work;  Nutritional Enhancement, where each child will be provided with a healthy, balanced meal; Transportation, where every child will be will be provided with transportation to and from school. Parenting workshops for parents and guardians and psychosocial support will also be provided.

According to GINA, the programme’s objectives are to boost children’s performance in school, change parents’ attitudes towards educating their children; encouraging better parent/child relationships and increasing the capacity of community groups to implement development projects.