Page 88 - Social Norms Survey

complete high school. The female focus groups estimated this as 25–50.0 per cent of the

females, with the rural St. Mary group giving the lowest figures. The mixed group from St.
James estimated that it was usually 50.0 per cent or fewer among the girls. The percentages

for the boys were much higher —65-90.0 per cent—according to almost all participants.

The main reasons that were given for the girls dropping out of school related to either
money problems or pregnancy. The Whitehall group, however, were critical of the girls:

“Mek mi talk, Mammy. More time fi the girl dem a either man or peer pressure. You see fi
the boys dem, a always badness or drugs.” It is also the case that some girls already have

children and have returned to school. For them the pressures of life as a mother with one
or two young children may make them give up school. The mixed group from Mt. Salem

suggested that adolescent mothers should be allowed to attend school until the birth of
their children, just like their American counterparts, and return to the same school after

having the babies.

The boys are said to drop out of school because they take up with the wrong company,
start to smoke, and may be expelled like many of the PMI youth; or “Some a dem just

pick up a greater opportunity weh dem can sort out dem parent and can mek di money
quicker.” This observation came from St. James and quite likely refers to scamming.

Where resources are insufficient, parents are likely to send the younger children to school

so that they get a good start. The government now heavily promotes the importance of
early childhood education and parents want their under-12s to attend basic and primary

school. They see this as the chance for the children to enter a good high school, even
though, ironically, they may later have to drop out. These are poor communities so this

situation is not uncommon.

Survival After Non-completion of High School
What happens to those who drop out of school or are expelled, who have no high school

graduation certificate and no subjects? The mixed group from Mt. Salem estimates that
about half of the women go back to school: one said she was about to do that. The Gayle

women say these young women will go back to school if they are encouraged to do so, but
many do not get this opportunity. They say the CSJP has helped some women. According

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