Classrooms in Saint Lucia are getting smaller, not just because of fewer births, but also because more students are skipping school. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre said that over 120 students are missing from school, and truancy now affects both boys and girls.
To address this, the government will increase the number of truancy officers from one to four. They will work with principals, teachers and social workers to determine why students are not attending school.
Minister of Education Kenson Casimir emphasised that truancy contributes directly to declining classroom numbers, compounding the impact of low birth rates, an ageing population and emigration. Class sizes that once averaged 30 students now sometimes fall below 15.
Casimir explained that the government is reviewing suspension policies and intends to repurpose underused classrooms for special education and technical training.
The government also plans to bring in more school counsellors and behaviour specialists, using data to find out why students are missing school. Casimir said that policies will be based on evidence, and Pierre highlighted the need for statistics to guide solutions.
Officials are also worried about students dropping out in Forms Three and Four. Because of this, the upcoming budget will focus on special education and early childhood programmes.
The budget debate starts on April 21, when Pierre will present the government’s plans for these challenges and reforms.
Any third-party or user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries published on the St. Lucia Times website (https://stluciatimes.com) in no way convey the thoughts, sentiments or intents of St. Lucia Times, the author of any said article or post, the website, or the business. St. Lucia Times is not responsible or liable for, and does not endorse, any comments or replies posted by users and third parties, and especially the content therein and whether it is accurate.
St. Lucia Times reserves the right to remove, screen, edit, or reinstate content posted by third parties on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times (this includes the said user posts, comments, replies, and third-party entries) at our sole discretion for any reason or no reason, and without notice to you, or any user. For example, we may remove a comment or reply if we believe it violates any part of the St. Lucia Criminal Code, particularly section 313 which pertains to the offence of Libel. Except as required by law, we have no obligation to retain or provide you with copies of any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website or any other online platform owned by St. Lucia Times. All third-parties and users agree that this is a public forum, and we do not guarantee any confidentiality with respect to any content you as a user may post, or any other post or reply made by any third-party on this website. Any posts made and information disclosed by you is at your own risk.
Most of this young generation in St. Lucia is going nowhere very fast. Social media has been used to negatively impact what is reality. I remember growing up in St. Lucia – where education was the most important item on the agenda. Young people should be eager to go to school and learn.
Today, folk seem to think they can get ahead without education – Sirs Arthur Lewis and Derek Walcott certainly did not skip school. Some of the young generation in St. Lucia don’t even know who they are. However, they know who is Cardi B, Jay Z, 50cents, 25cents or whomever and that’s a shame.
If you fail to prepare you are definitely preparing to fail – a good education is key. There is no such thing as a microwave education – we all must study and learn in order to get somewhere in life.
Special education is not the answer. Four truancy officers for the whole island will not solve the truancy problem. Have we checked the reading levels of those kids dropping out. This is a critical piece of data. Also are we investing in teacher training to enhance the quality of instruction in schools. Parent education is paramount in reducing truancy and drop out.
@James. Taught at a Secondary School for a bit. There were students who could not read. Many read at grade school level. Those students would never function in a typical classroom environment. Teachers continually made that argument but universal secondary education kept advancing them regardless of inability to function at that level.
Kids see many in society getting ahead with minimal schooling and connections to politicians. They ask themselves: whats the point?