UNICEF Representative assesses Caribbean region
Commends St. Kitts on teen mothers project
By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Right~~BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – TOM OLSEN, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative for the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados, recently examined the child development status of the region, and while he noted there are some areas in which progress was made, there is still room for improvement.
According to Olsen, the region’s predominant children issues are violence committed against or by children, the huge drop-out of males from higher education, HIV/AIDS and, most importantly, the quality of the region’s education system.
“We must look at education from a different perspective. One of our biggest mistakes is that we send those who don’t perform and those who do perform down different routes. There is a tendency to concentrate on the best and brightest and to leave the slower ones behind.
“Schools should not focus only on academic skills, but they must look at life skills, vocational training, et cetera. Instead of embracing diversity, we want everyone to be the same. We all have different strengths and weaknesses and we can build upon those. I’m not sure we’re teaching our children the kind of skills that foster character-building,” he said.
Olsen noted that the Caribbean region is rated number one worldwide in homicide and teenage pregnancy per capita, and it is second in the world, after sub-Sahara, in terms of HIV/AIDS cases.
“In addition to the worldwide economic slowdown, people would be afraid to travel to the region if they think they’ll be murdered. This is a serious issue because 65 percent of the region’s gross domestic product comes from services-related industries,” he warned.
On the brighter side, Olsen highlighted areas in which St. Kitts and Nevis has been progressive, including access to health services and education, but cautioned that “we must begin to look at the qualities”.
“How are you treated at the hospital? How quick is the treatment when you are sick? What is the standard of the nurses and the doctors? Many people still do not have full confidence in the system in the Caribbean, so if they have money they will go elsewhere for treatment,” stated Olsen.
Another area he pinpointed was the Project Viola, a programme geared towards ensuring teen mothers return to school and provides them with assistance in tutoring, childcare costs and finding employment.
“I think the Viola Project is really, really good. St. Kitts has done something good, putting the mothers back into the education mainstream. In other Caribbean countries nobody wants to talk to them; they call them bad influences. The girls are now educated and have good jobs, and are not burdens, but, instead, resources.
“This represents a success for the women and their children and sets a good standard for rest of the Caribbean to follow.”
