WHAT WOULD YOU say to a person who spends most of their time in the gym trying to build muscle and pay little to no attention to proper nutrition, diet and rest?
What would you say to a leader who focuses primarily on economic and business development and pays little interest to youth and educational development?
I have sat in a few circles and shared my concern in regards to the lack of visible interest being shown to youth development and education in this country by our leaders.
I know we have a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and I frequently hear the Minister of Culture and Sports but I don’t know where the Minister of Youth is.
Equally, in the past six years, I have mainly seen the Minister of Education as a mediator, guest speaker and presenter of awards but haven’t seen him as an innovator or visionary.
I have heard little about new initiatives or upgraded programmes to further develop our students to adequately prepare them to function efficiently in a globalised environment and to contribute to national development and its sustainability. It may be just that I didn’t hear or just a lack of consistent communication.
If we continue to focus our efforts on growing the economy and not focus simultaneously on our educational system and our young people, we are doing all of this for nothing.
Even if we find a way to jump-start the economy and get it moving and growing again, it will require the youth to keep it sustainable and continuously moving.
Therefore, it is imperative that we increase our focus and commitment to our educational system and young people. Matthew Farley had revealed in his column some time ago that the consultations had been done and recommendations submitted years ago on what we need to do to transform our educational system and schools.
My question is, what are we waiting for?
Too many of our school children are unhappy, bored and frustrated and this has led to apathy, mischievous behaviour and delinquency. I once had a few students who told me that they come school to breeze because school doesn’t have anything for them to do and they just waiting to done school so they can go to the polytechnic.
I don’t have to tell you the amount of trouble these guys gave between third and fourth form (they didn’t last till fifth). This generation of young people have new interests, new skills and new inspirations that drive them and the old system that brought us thus far will not be able to take us where we need to go.
Upgrade the system – or lose a generation.
Over the past few years, there have been many discussions in regards to the increase in violence within the home, schools and communities. I want to say that we are fighting a losing battle if we continue to try to solve these issues the way we have been over the years. The main issue isn’t the home, school or communities; the main issue is the heart and mindset of the people.
A person can only reflect what is in their heart. The Bible says, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he . . .” It also says, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.”
A repentant and forgiving heart and a renewed and transformed mind is at the source of solving many of our problems, not only with violence but dishonesty, adultery, promiscuity, drug abuse, greed, theft etc.
Sadly, we are maybe one generation away from apostasy, so this situation will get worse and continue to deteriorate.
Why? Truth is now relative; morality is now relative; right and wrong are now relative – well at least that is what “they” are promoting, and teaching. Neither social programmes, stronger laws nor a change in government will fix our main issues – issues of the heart and mind.
Find the source of a repentant and forgiving heart and a renewed and transformed mind and you will find the source and saviour of our people.