Hillel Academy Founded: 1969 Address: 51 Upper Markway, Cherry Gardens, Kingston 8 Principal: Alfredo Bennett WITH various sectors of society staking their claim to various reforms from the incoming political Administration, the youth, represented by head students of Hillel Academy, got their chance too. In a hypothetical meeting with the new Prime Minister, they discuss issues affecting the nation as a whole, and young people specifically, and suggested solutions.

Hillel is one of the premier educational institutions in the island, and like the American International School of Kingston, it does the International Baccalaureate programme instead of the CXC curriculum.

The students are exceptionally aware of local affairs and possess the intellectual aptitude to bring these issues to the fore and, like any budding young leader, demand redress.

Head Girl :Aarushi Khajuria DOB: August 4, 1998 Head Boy Name: Justin-Paul Williams DOB: November 12, 1998 Issue: Lack of awareness of children’s rights

JW: Recently, the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) came to visit our school and gave a talk on the basic rights of children in Jamaica. However, surprisingly, none of us students had ever even heard of this organisation that exists solely to serve us. Children cannot know that they are being treated unfairly if they do not know what they deserve in the first place. Solution: Promote child rights on social media.

AK: Organisations such as the OCA ought to be promoted more on all media platforms and encouraged to access schools, churches and communities on a grander scale. This would enable children to know their rights and identify if they are being treated appropriately. Issue: Teacher qualification

AK: Different schools across the island have various standards that they expect their teachers to meet.

JW: A school may require a teacher to have a degree in teaching as well as their respective subject area, whereas another school may not have such high requirements. Students with great potential can be limited if they cannot access the help and guidance they need from suitably qualified and experienced education professionals. Solution: Standardise qualifications.

AK: Considering the importance of education, teachers should be expected to have standardised qualifications across the board so that no student’s education and potential is jeopardised. In order that the gap between various institutions be reduced and no school is left behind, teacher training could be subsidised and even promoted, paying special attention to those schools that are in need most. Issue: Improve levels of sanitation in health care facilities.

AK: We have to start on a positive note by saying that Jamaica has made a lot of progress in terms of health care.

However, major concerns still stand for the health sector of Jamaica and these concerns are displayed in the following.

JW: Recently, 42 newborn babies at two hospitals contracted bacterial infections, 18 of which reportedly died. In hospitals, sanitation is the utmost priority, especially considering the services provided. A hospital cannot fulfil its function correctly if basic cleanliness is not observed at all times and by all people involved. Solution: Increase awareness.

AK: The most obvious solution would be to raise awareness among not only hospital staff, but amongst the general public about the importance of proper sanitation and the risks they run if they do not operate in a hygienic manner.

JW: This awareness can be raised by including it in the training of hospital staff and emphasising the importance of cleanliness, not only in their actions, but also in the equipment they use. Additionally, basic school curriculums should also include basic information on sanitation and personal hygiene. Issue: Increased participation of youth in illegal acts.

JW: Due to the poor state of Jamaica’s economy, youth from low-income backgrounds may become involved in illegal activities to earn money.

Additionally, children in these situations may have lower school completion rates, and therefore, limited opportunities for further education and employment. Solution: Teach entrepreneurship in schools.

AK: Entrepreneurship programmes should be introduced in school from a young age to encourage and motivate students to not rely on new jobs from the government, but rather harness their skills and potential to create new businesses in the formal sectors of Jamaica’s economy, rather than in the informal one. This will then help to develop Jamaica’s economy as well as help children in these situations to break out of the poverty trap. — Aldane Walters