ST Ann’s Bay, St Ann — The St Ann Justices of the Peace Association is partnering with the Ministry of Education to launch its “Students Take Ownership Mentorship Programme (STOMP), as the new school term approaches,

STOMP is the product of the collaborative efforts of the St Ann Justices of the Peace Association and the Guidance and Counselling Unit of the Ministry of Education (Region 3).

Under the programme, JPs will be mentoring students in six high schools across the parish when the new school term starts; aiimed at providing intervention and prevention services through mentorship to 60 “tier-two” grade 9 or 10 students who are at risk of educational failure, teen pregnancy, truancy or juvenile delinquency.

Under this programme, the JPs will host 12 (three per zone) parenting workshops for the parents/guardians of students. There will be 120 structured group sessions (20 per school); however a one-on-one mentorship will be made available for student participants as the need arises. In addition, there are expected to be two planned social activities for participants.

Karlene Segree, community relation officer at the Ministry of Education Region Three, who was guest speaker at the launch, said teachers spend too much time disciplining children instead of teaching and so the programme was a great step in helping to instill values into at-risk youth.

“We are aware of the challenges that face our children, face our teachers in society,” she said. The programme was a timely initiative to help address some of the challenges both facing the both educators and students.

“It is initiatives like STOMP that will send a message throughout Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean that it takes a village to raise a child,” she added. “Through STOMP, I think our students can believe in themselves,” she continued.

Chairman of the St Ann Justices of the Peace Association Pixley Irons said the idea of the mentorship programme came about a few years ago when a St Ann student was killed by another student.

The JPs, she said, believe that poverty and poor parenting are pervasive, overwhelming and are key contributors to many students resorting to maladaptive behaviours, criminal activities and to low educational attainment in the parish.

Several organisations are also expected to partner in the initiative; these include the Career Advancement Programme, HEART-Trust NTA, International Care & Assessment Support Services, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Marcus Garvey Youth Information Centre, Ministry of Labour & Social Security, National Council on Drug Abuse, the National Youth Service and the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce.

— Renae Dixon