Basseterre, St. Kitts (August 12th, 2005): Eight teen mothers are eagerly awaiting results of examinations they sat at the end of the school year with the hope of attending college or vocational training programmes.
The young ladies, who graduated from public high schools in St. Kitts seized the opportunity offered in St. Kitts and Nevis to return to school and complete their high school education following child birth.
The teen mother graduates included four students from the Washington Archibald High School, two students from the Verchilds High School, and two from the Sandy Point High School.
Verchilds High School Guidance Counsellor Elzeva Cuffy said she was very proud of the two young mothers who have graduated and is pleased that they made the decision to return to school despite obstacles.
Director of Gender Affairs Mrs Ingrid Charles Gumbs, stated that this significant achievement validates and re-iterates the progress of the St. Kitts/Nevis policy to return teen mothers to school.
St. Kitts and Nevis is one of the first nations in the Caribbean to encourage and permit young girls who have babies to return to school to complete their education.
Project Viola is the Department of Gender Affairs programme which supports young mothers returning to school. It has been recognised by international agencies as a best practice in the Caribbean.
