We note with considerable satisfaction word from National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang that, as part of a “new, inclusive, whole of government approach to tackling the social causes of crime”, children aged 7-17 are getting special attention.

Dr Chang tells us that the initiative engages 34 primary and high schools in, or close to seven communities with zones of special operations (ZOSOs).

The minister says the social interventions form part of a multi-agency approach to improve school attendance, behaviour, literacy, and the overall management of schools.

This newspaper recognises the impact of ongoing economic constraints, but our hope is that such interventions will be rapidly universalised across the society and not restricted to so-called most troubled communities, covered by ZOSOs.

The truth is that poor attendance at school was a huge problem in Jamaica long before the novel coronavirus pandemic — which has now only worsened the situation.

The average daily absenteeism rate is said to be about 20-25 per cent — obviously way too high.

We can all agree that absenteeism from school leads to illiteracy, ignorance, an absence of self-worth, and hopelessness.

Children who fall victim to such conditions are more easily manipulated by evil, ruthless people and recruited to criminal gangs.

Back in August 2011, when Prime Minister Andrew Holness was minister of education, he underlined the problem during a visit to St Elizabeth.

He said then that disenfranchised, frustrated young people, who were not part of the school system, nor properly socialised, could be drawn into crime and gangs, becoming “a menace to society…”

The challenge for the State is to intercept those vulnerable children before they become irredeemable young adults.

While noting that “some” of those who stray into criminality can be rescued, Dr Chang, in his sectoral presentation to Parliament this week, said: “The 17 to 25 age group poses a particular problem… Most of them don’t have children, they have no responsibility, they are fearless, and they are used by the gangs as the ‘shottas’…”

“They are usually the ones who, when encountered, will begin to fire at the police, because they are fearless. They have a gun; they feel powerful…”

The national security minister said that, in striving to reduce gang recruitment, his ministry is trying to provide a model that can be scaled nationally by the respective portfolio ministries and agencies.

“In crime prevention, we must onboard all stakeholders — the residents, ministries, departments and agencies, private sector, and our international donor partners,” he said.

The ministry is in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in implementing a Government-to-Government programme geared towards improving the relationship between the security forces and communities with a focus on at-risk youth, Dr Chang said.

This is being implemented in nine communities and 22 schools, with key activities including violence audits and training of community groups in basic conflict mediation and interruption, trafficking in persons, and identification and reporting of child abuse and domestic violence.

We are told that the programme also provides case management and psychosocial support to at-risk youth and their families.

We applaud. Let’s now expand across the length and breadth of Jamaica.