35 students from St James North benefit from Primary School Literacy Programme

Thirty-five students between ages five and 10 from the constituency of St James North have benefited from a Primary School Literacy Programme.

Over the past five Saturdays, the students have been receiving lessons from trained teachers through the literacy programme hosted by the Clarkson Foundation at the St James North Constituency Office, Lower Carlton, St James.

Patron of the Clarkson Foundation, Member of Parliament and Senior Counsel (SC),  Edmund Hinkson, said this was the third time the programme was being held during the summer period to help children who need help with improving their academics, learning abilities, comprehension, understanding and reading.

“We have had eight qualified primary school teachers over the five weeks coming in and giving their service and experience voluntarily to this cause. We are eternally grateful to those teachers who understand that there is a need for professionals to give back to our youth and our country as a whole,” Hinkson said.

“In addition, we have had assistance every Saturday from university students and Barbados Community College students who have come to help as well. And we are giving all of them a token of appreciation for their service.”

The Member of Parliamentsaid the students who participated in the programme this year have benefited significantly from the academic exercise. He shared that the students looked forward to attending the weekly sessions and noted that some of them may be sad that the 2023 edition of the programme has come to an end.

“I will be giving their respective parents and guardians an assessment of what they have done and maybe what assistance and help they need going forward once the new school term begins. I regard this as part of my duties as a parliamentary representative to mentor the youth who have given me an opportunity to be with them as well. I personally bring about half of them to class and take them home,” he said.

Hinkson indicated that the Foundation was working towards the start of a parent education and personal development programme. He said the parenting programme, scheduled to commence in January 2024, will equip parents with financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills.

“We will have a component with emotional intelligence, mental health, which is key and has come out a lot recently, resistance from drug abuse and obviously sexual health issues as well, as keys to raising children. So we have the family planning association, and we would also have PARADOS [Parent Education for Development in Barbados], to assist us,” he said.

(AH)