Broken promises can seriously affect young people’s minds

May 06, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
We know from our daily doses of the media that we live in a world of broken promises and an absence of justice throughout the world. A study was done a few years ago in which 12,000 twelve year old children were asked what was the most important thing they wanted from their teachers. The response was not kindness, cleverness or wisdom – they simply asked for the teacher to be just and fair.
When asked, those same children, in their innocence, said that when an adult promised something they expected they would stand by that promise. Some weeks ago it was reported that the President of our country was going to rescind the 14% VAT on Private Education. Was that a journalistic mistake, a piece of fashionable “fake news” or simply a statement that was made outside the corridors of politics?
Whatever the explanation – the announcement was made and youth celebrated – only to be crushed a few days later by the “correction”. Then we were promised that on Monday Parliament would debate the 14%. Articles were appearing in all the newspapers, on a daily basis, about the “positions” to be taken by various parties on this very contentious issue. But the statements were always “on behalf of parties” rather than the voice of individuals. Then we heard late on Thursday night, that apparently because of some “technicality” there will be no debate on Monday.
Despite the many problems in the world today we also live in a new age of increasing transparency where the elected leaders throughout the world are obliged to state openly their personal views on contentious issues. In so many countries now all votes are made public so that the people of the nation can see clearly who has voted for what. Is it impossible to have a simple list printed in the newspaper with a yes or no by the name of each of the MPs re whether or not they, as an individual, support the 14%. While we are waiting for the debate in Parliament to eventually take place is it possible to have a TV debate on the matter to help inform the public on the key issues?
I had the opportunity to work for 30 years in the area of disability, working as a consultant on projects in 36 countries. In almost all of those countries when there was no genuine desire to improve the lives of persons with disability a “Commission” would be created or a “survey” undertaken to “assess the magnitude of the problem “ or a “promise” would be made to address the matter “later” and, over time, simply nothing would be done and the vast majority of persons would remain blissfully ignorant of the debates, concern, surveys, commissions and broken promises voiced, apparently, on their behalf. The youth of this world still expect promises to be kept. If such promises continue to be broken they will grow into embittered, disillusioned and sad young adults and will do precious little to develop this country. So many will invest their talents elsewhere and enrich those nations.
Dr Brian O’Toole
Director
Nations University

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