The Ministry of Education launched its Stay in School Programme on Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at the St. Mary’s Primary School. The highlight of the programme is a project that includes 12 jingles and one dramatization done by students to encourage their peers to stay in school.

Dale Anthony, Manager of the Truancy Unit in the Ministry of Education, said that the project got started in 2008 and the main purpose is to “make parents aware that school age children

Minister of Education, Hon. Patrick Faber, said “Most of the time when students miss school it is not because they ‘bang hooky’. It is often because parents don’t see the value of an education.” He said that parents take their children out of school, especially in remote parts of the country, so that they can work and help support the family. That is because “they don’t realize that in the future the child would be far better off with an education.” The Minister continued by saying that he believes that the message will be effective because the words are being spoken by school children: “When older folks talk to children they don’t listen but this message is coming from their peers.” It is mandatory for children ages 5-14 to be in school.

The Stay in School Programme is sponsored by UNESCO and the Ministry of Education. Minister Faber distributed certificates to students who participated in the jingles and drama.