Minister of Education visits two schools in his backyard

It is an acknowledged fact that there is a correlation between education and crime. When there is high enrollment in schools, the streets are safer and crime is reduced.   That’s the point that the Minister of Education was driving home when he visited two schools in his backyard. The students agreed that a sound education will prepare them for a brighter future. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

The Minister of Education and Youth is on his regular countrywide tour of schools, but today there was much fanfare as he visited, Gwen Lizarraga High and Unity Presbyterian Primary, the only two schools in the Collet Division.

Patrick Faber, Minister of Education and Youth

“So we thought that we would start the day with a bang and parade a bit through the constituency so that we are able to send the signal that education is important to us in this constituency and that I’ve come to bring that message to our students here at Gwen Liz and at Unity.”

lorna mckay

Lorna McKay, Principal, Gwen Lizarraga High School

“We’re very blessed to be visited by the minister. We have been for the minister to come and he has assured that he would come but he saved the best for last as he has assured us.”

Minister Patrick Faber emphasized the message of staying in school and spoke to the students about the link between education and crime.

Patrick Faber

patrick faber

“The statistics have shown us that in years where the enrollment of high school aged students have increased that the corresponding crime and violence in the society reduces. So we understand that there is a direct correlation, a direct link between crime and violence and our young people getting education.”

eugustavia galvez

Eugustavia Galvez, Student, Gwen Lizarraga High School

“There will be less young men—because mostly young men are dropping out of school today—so it will help with the crime rate cause they will have something positive to do.”

Crystal Augustine, Student, Gwen Lizarraga High School

Crystal Augustine

“I believe that if more people are in school, they are more able to get a job and will not have the need to rob or jack anyone because they will have the means to get money.”

Darnell Lopez

Darnell Lopez, Student, Gwen Lizarraga High School

“Most of the crime committed today are by young men between the ages of fifteen to twenty-five so if more young people were in school—more males were in school they would have less reason to do anything illegal and deprive people of anything.”

Guillen, Student, Unity Presbyterian Primary School

guillen

“I think education is important to mek learn so we don’t have to be a criminal.”

Ariel Chen

Ariel Chen, Student, Unity Presbyterian Primary School

“Education is the key of life and your future.”

Delahnie Bain

“So what would you say to those who have dropped out of school?”

Ariel Chan

“I would just say let them come back to school because education is fun and education is better than the street.”

Kamesha Petillo, Student, Gwen Lizarraga Evening Division

kamesha petillo

“I encourage all di youths dehn weh deh outside fi come back dah school miss cause without wah education yoh dah nothing cause right now all vacancy weh yoh di si yoh need wah fourth form paper, sixth form dis. Yoh can’t just go and seh yoh want wah like dat. Yoh neva too late fi come back dah school miss.”

Along with his message, Faber brought a gift of computers and notebooks for the high school.

Patrick Faber

“We also used the opportunity to present to the Gwen Liz High School—as they are the ones offering the evening division for so many of our adult learners—to give them the donation of twenty computers; twenty out of the two hundred computers that were given by the Taiwanese Embassy.”

Lorna McKay

“We have two computer rooms and we have six hundred and eight students so definitely it will help with the delivery of IT in the system.”

Delahnie Bain

“And there were also some notebooks.”

Lorna McKay

“The notebooks will be one per student as he indicated to me. It will help in whatever; they can probably use it for notes of for putting down their homework so it will help.”

Unity Presbyterian Primary School was not left out; Faber visited them this afternoon and gifted musical instruments for the school band. Delahnie Bain for News Five.