Parent education comes to St James North

Parent education in St James North has received a boost from a new programme organised by the Clarkson Foundation Inc., a non-profit organisation dedicated to social welfare, community services and developmental projects in the constituency.

Patron and area MP Edmund Hinkson noted that this is the fifth programme undertaken by the charity and the first time it has added a parental education component.

Speaking at the launch of the charity’s Parent Education and Personal Development Programme on Saturday at the Gordon Greenidge Primary School, he highlighted its goal of establishing a platform for improving parent-child relationships.

“I certainly regard parenting, or lack thereof as one of the major social challenges in our country and it has to be addressed,” he said.

The eight-week programme, facilitated by Rhonda Bryan-Hutson, will cover such topics as emotional intelligence, mental health, drug abuse, family planning, and cyber security. Four government agencies have also joined the training effort. The Financial Literacy Bureau will provide insights into budgeting, the Ministry of Labour will share information on employment opportunities, the Trust Fund will discuss funding options for small businesses, and the National Training Initiative will showcase government-supported skill-building opportunities. The foundation is also considering additional sessions on preparing for a job interview.

Hinkson said the programme’s objective is to boost participants’ self-esteem and self-confidence. To help the parents maintain regular attendance at the educational sessions, daycare services are to be provided.

But with only one man registered so far, the MP made a plea for men to sign up for the initiative.

Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith, spoke of the need for a comprehensive nationwide parenting programme, aligning with his ministry’s efforts in mentorship.

He said: “I have been waiting and waiting and expecting that maybe somebody else would trigger it, but I think that in relation to some of the programmes that I am running at the ministry, it is an absolute need to have a comprehensive parenting programme in place.”

Referring to his ministry’s National Mentorship Programme, he added: “When our mentors interact, and they instil certain things that they figure are necessary with the mentees, it is eroded when they return home. Hence, there is a need now to match a parenting programme alongside the mentorship programme to ensure that some of the best practices or the things that we are trying to get over are fused in the mentees’ minds going forward.”

Griffith urged participants to absorb the information.

“There is an absolute need for us to ensure that our young people are taken care of by parents who are fully aware of the pitfalls and how to share information to bring them to the next level,” the minister said.

Minister of State in the Attorney General’s Office Corey Lane, who is heading the administration’s crime prevention strategy, stressed parenting as a crucial element in crime prevention, endorsing the initiative for its proactive approach.

“When this initiative was brought to my attention, it was an automatic yes,” he told the launch. “This is not just a talk shop, we are going into action and learning when this is finished and that is what I like.”

Motivational speaker Tony Olton led a session on the opening day, emphasising practical learning, and emotional intelligence practitioner Melena Simmons provided valuable insights.

(STT)