Basseterre, St. Kitts, July 01, 2019 (SKNIS): Seven-hundred sixth graders, including approximately 150 from Nevis, gathered at Warner Park on July 01, dressed in the attire of their future career choice, for the second annual National Grade Six Career Jamboree as part of the “Moving on Up” Grade Six Transition Programme.
In a press release from the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF), Crime Consultant and Social Skills Specialist, Dr. Neals Chitan, was quoted as saying “The objective [of the programme] is to help children go into high school more focused so we can mitigate failure, especially among boys. Once they fail there, they have no other alternatives, which would make it easier for them to join the gang sub-culture so we try to strengthen their abilities.”
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, the Honourable Shawn Richards, was present at the event to show his support of the various schools in the Federation.
The minister stated that the programme was a joint effort between the Ministry of Education and National Security.
“[This is] a programme that is important to all of us as we look towards you our students and ensure that you are well prepared to transition into High School,” he said. “However, more importantly, as you transition from primary school into secondary school, it is important that you have the necessary skills to do so to avoid some of the social pitfalls in the Federation. You need to know where you are going, how you are going to get there, and you see the importance of doing so.”
He noted that the students, once they enter into secondary school, will face many challenges, but they should not let those challenges deter them in achieving what they set out to achieve.
“It is for you to use programmes such as this and take the free education that you will be receiving and overcome whatever challenges you may face in secondary school,” said the minister. “If you remain positive, overcome those challenges, remain focused, you will achieve what you have set out to achieve. You can achieve whatever you want to achieve because you have the ability within you to do it. It is what you want for yourself that will determine how far you get in life. I say to you this morning, remain focused, remain positive, look towards the good things in life and you will achieve whatever you set out to do,” said Deputy Prime Minister Richards.
The minister expressed his pleasure in seeing a number of the children dressed as law enforcement officers and said that is important to see the children who want to pursue those careers because the fundamentals of what they learned over the past year under the programme speaks to maintaining law and order in the Federation.
“We have been struggling to find persons to serve in this particular career path and so it is good that there are young persons who recognize that law and order is important and that it is the career path that you want to take,” said Deputy Prime Minister Richards.
