The state of education in the
public school system was the main theme when dozens of young people met with
government ministers last week.
Over 300 young people and leaders
changed their usual Friday night youth meetings and social plans to attend the
third national youth forum.
The event was hosted jointly by the
Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth, Sports and Culture, and the Cayman
Islands Youth Assembly.
It was organised by the Youth
Services Unit and broadcast live on Radio Cayman with the assistance of the
Youth Flex broadcast team.
The meeting had an open agenda and
encouraged youth dialogue on issues ranging from development and the environment
to teen pregnancy, crime and violence.
However, most young people expressed
frustration with secondary-level education, which has seen major changes since
the school year began.
The teens were especially concerned
about the new Year 12 programme, as well as work opportunities and succession
planning for young professionals.
They also expressed concern about
the availability of financial aid and scholarships, and inadequate staffing and
insufficient time for key subjects.
In response, Education minister
Rolston Anglin made a commitment to visit secondary schools this week to personally
review the issues raised.
“CIFEC is a major advancement in
the education system and encompasses the new mandatory additional year of
studies while seeking to place students in the most beneficial programme,” he
said.
The main features of the programme
are preparing students to re-sit exams to achieve more passes or higher grades,
and offering vocational preparation classes such as tourism and media studies
as well as work experience and placement.
Youth Minister Mark Scotland
promised to embark on a series of district meetings to engage young people on a
range of topics.
“The country’s youth policy is
currently being updated by the National Youth Commission in conjunction with my
office,” he said.
The government’s Youth Services
Unit welcomes young people’s participation, questions and concerns.
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