PRIME Minister P J Patterson says that in the next term of government his administration will grant financial relief to trained graduate teachers who receive student loans and are prepared to give four years’ service to the teaching profession.

The plan, which he said would boost the quality of education by getting more graduates into the classroom, was announced on Thursday at the opening of a youth forum on crime and violence organised by the Ministry of National Security and held at the Jamaica Conference Centre.

“In our next term in office, we will be granting relief to trained graduate teachers who borrow money from the Students Loan Bureau and are prepared to give four years service in schools,” Patterson said.

He also disclosed that Cabinet had given approval for the allocation of $50 million to the Apprenticeship Programme which he announced in his budget presentation in April, adding that the programme will start on Monday, September 2.

Noting that a greater portion of the national budget was already allocated to education, Patterson said that last year, US$422.7 million was allocated to tertiary level institutions resulting in an increase in enrolment at these institutions from seven per cent to 14 per cent.

Patterson said the introduction of programmes such as the National Youth Service, the Jamaica Values and Attitudes Programme and the Youth Summer Employment Programme, was aimed at providing opportunities for the nation’s youths and to empower them to become citizens who do not need to resort to illegal means to ensure their survival.

He urged the participants in the one-day forum to become ambassadors for peace and get involved in community activity which will make Jamaica safe for generations to come.