Streamline education to redirect young men from a life of violence – Minister Chang 14.04.2023 (updated)

May 8, 2023 Press Release
First page of the press release: Streamline education to redirect young men from a life of violence – Minister Chang 14.04.2023 (updated)

Enhancement Fund (TEF), Dr. Carey Wallace participate in the ribbon cutting to signify the official handover of furniture and appliances

donated by TEF to the Rio Cobre Juvenile Correctional and the South Camp Juvenile Correctional and Remand Centres. Looking on are

Mr. Courtney Williams, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security (second right), Ms. Fiona Wilson, Director of

Rehabilitation in the Department of Correctional Services (third right), Ms. Janice Shaw, Adult Rehabilitation & Reintegration Policy

Specialist in the Offender Management Branch (third left) and Ms. Maulette White, Superintendent at Rio Cobre Juvenile Correctional

Centre (centre).

Streamline education to redirect young men from a life of violence – Minister Chang

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr Horace Chang is again

calling for certain aspects of the educational system to be streamlined to steer young men away from a life of violence.

Speaking at the Handing Over Ceremony of furniture and appliances donated by the Tourism

Enhancement Fund (TEF), to the Rio Cobre and South Camp Juvenile Correctional Centres

yesterday (April 13) in St. Catherine, the Minister reasoned that music, dance and sports should

formally be brought into mainstream education.

This he said, should be done and introduced to young men in particular to provide opportunities to

help engender responsible behavioural change among the country’s youth population.

Said Minister Chang: “The Ministry’s We Transform Youth Empowerment Programme is

designed to provide young men like you a second opportunity.”

“That is the ultimate objective of the We Transform Youth Empowerment Programme, not

just to make you a good young man, but a productive and successful individual,” he added.

The donations were made under an arrangement of corporation between the Ministry’s We

Transform Youth Empowerment Programme and the TEF and comprise beds, a television set, a

stove and a refrigerator valued at approximately $1.1 million.

Minister Chang encouraged the wards to make use of the rehabilitation programmes offered and

apply what is being taught while fostering self-growth.

“The equipment we handed over, the industrial stove, and smart television is part of the

overall equipment to the institution to assist in providing a course through which you can

reach the finish line and through which you can also look to live your dreams and achieve

your ambitions without having to break the law again,” said Minister Chang.

The Rio Cobre facility is a male only juvenile correctional centre and is home to forty-nine (49)

wards.