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Combating truancy will take a Ministry/parent effort

Oct 01, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
In respect to Education Month, we the students of the University of Guyana – Berbice Campus hereby make the following recommendations to eliminate truancy, directed to the Ministry of Education.
Truancy is the deliberate absence of students from school.

This act is one of the chief results of poverty. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, some parents or guardians are incapable of paying the regular transportation fees to send their children to school. Others are unable to afford the various school fees, besides purchasing text books that are not provided by the schools along with uniforms and specific footwear.

Considering transportation, the Government of Guyana should provide public school buses. These would not affect minibus or hire car drivers, but would assist parents who are unable to afford $400 transportation fees everyday. These buses can pick up students on a scheduled basis, at specific bus terminals and periods.

The public is always well aware of operations that donate books, uniforms, etc…, to the less fortunate students. The unavailability of these items is not a valid excuse for truancy. However, the Ministry of Education should make available to students the text books they are required to use in school; if not to take home, they must be present in the school’s library for research and or to use during the periods/class sessions.

Regarding the truancy campaigns, their efforts are commended. However, these campaigns should be constant and unexpected as well as sterner. If more parents are penalized it would send an uncompromising warning to the rest. Parents should know where to go for assistance in sending their children to acquire an education that would secure a prosperous future.

On the other hand, it is agreed that some children lack the ability to comprehend higher education than reading and writing. Even so, there are many skills training institutions that teach youth people trades such as computer repair, craft, carpentry, electrical installation and so on. Nevertheless, reading and writing are two basic necessities for working where you can’t be taken advantage of.

Parents need to understand the importance of education and allow their children to gain this opportunity which is a foundation for a bright future, one free from poverty and struggles. This is an appeal to parents, not to let your children work, but attend school or acquire a trade.  

To the Ministry of Education, stricter and regular truancy campaigns would help to get to the bottom of this problem and eliminate it. Also, get your individual schools involved in encouraging parents to send their children to the schools they represent.

Even people in the communities can engage themselves by simply reporting parents who keep their children at home or send them to work.

The authorities need not be lenient with those business owners who use children in the disguise of “helping out their families”; let the parents work themselves.

The difference we would make together would outwit the efforts made by one individual we all depend on to make it.

Marina Deodat

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