Mrs. Malone said a Technical Institute will reach some of the students if not all, and create a more fulfilled and well grounded education, and by extension a more skilful and literate community. Photo: VINO

Minister for Education and Culture, Myron Walwyn congratulating Lewis on his achievement. Photo: VINO

“Currently as it exists, it is not equipped to address and facilitate students’ needs,” Mrs. Malone bluntly stated at the ASEP graduation ceremony on Friday November 25, 2011 at the Eileene Parsons Auditorium.

“Major restructuring needs to take place. Presently our young men leave school totally disillusioned, lost and without hope. Positive role models in the home are absent, which add to their frustration,” the coordinator revealed.

To this end, she suggested the implementation of a Technical Institute which will reach some of “these students if not all, creating a more fulfilled and well-grounded education, and by extension a more skilful and literate community.”

The educator pointed out that from observations over the years, the male students are influenced by a number of factors, and such complexities are very difficult to address at this stage.

According to her, “They are allowed at a very young age to assemble in groups with no sense of purpose, develop a negative attitude towards learning. They disconnect themselves from school and learning, hence finding no success in their academic lives and forming gangs as a means of self protection.”

This is where educators and the community must join to advocate for a more advanced institute, Mrs. Malone added.

“We are losing too many of them to negative behaviour, it is a difficult task but we must develop a mind set to help them at an early stage of their development...a proper Technical Institute is a priority if we are to save more of our male students,” the coordinator declared.

Mrs. Malone, who has been with the programme since it conception nine years ago, also divulged that males are more “hands on” and interactive learners with few of them succeeding in the reading subjects.

Mrs. Malone commended one of the graduates Travis Smith, who wrote his examinations while incarcerated.

The 31 year-old told Virgin Islands News Online that he was wrongfully accused but was convicted of grievous bodily harm and spent two calendar years – 2008 to 2010 at Her Majesty’s Prison.

Holding his certificate tightly and smiling, Smith said, “I paid my debt to society and I came out and completed the programme. I wrote English, Mathematics and Science in prison and when I was released I completed the technical aspect of the programme.”

He admitted it was a mental challenge but was determined to change his life around.

“I was determined to complete my education and integrate myself into society and be a better man. Here I am today, I am thinking of going to college, but I have to wait and see how financially stable I am right now,” Smith said, before moving off to be congratulated by his supporters.