KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Labour and Social Security, has launched an initiative to increase the school attendance of students who benefit under the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).

The ‘School Wi Seh!’ educational campaign will be implemented through a series of island wide school tours during this academic year.

“There has been an increase in the levels of non-compliance of children on PATH, who are in higher grade levels at secondary school,” Labour and Social Security minister, Derrick Kellier said.

“Our data shows that the requirement for children to attend school 85 per cent of the attendable days is not being met by 25 per cent of the children.  This number increases to almost 35 per cent for young persons, especially males, in grades nine and above,” he added.

Kellier said that the standard was created to ensure that each child had the opportunity to reap the full rewards of an educational experience.

According to the ministry the campaign will motivate students to attend school regularly “despite their social and economic challenges and also support community participation by reaching out to parents, guardians and the general public to endorse education as a way to break the cycle of poverty.”