Hazel: Our children are hurting
"Our children are hurting. As I hear the news daily and as I read the reports, our children are hurting," said Minister of Education Hazel Manning at the sixth cycle graduation ceremony of Creative Parenting (CPNE) at the Aero Services Credit Union, yesterday. She said this was as a result of "a serious problem with poverty" which has contributed to poor health among students. Manning reiterated that it was the job of the seven-month-old Student Support Service Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education to tackle these problems and produce citizens who can help develop Trinidad and Tobago. The SSSD was initiated in September and is made up of diagnostic and prescription officers, counsellors and school social workers. To date 60 schools have benefited from this programme. Manning was addressing graduates who successfully completed the CPNE Train the Trainers Parenting Programme, 18 of whom included principals, teachers and members of the Parents and Teachers Association in the eight education districts. The six-month course which was held over six weekendstrained participants in psychosocial skills to help parents and the wider community alleviate problems of deviance and eliminate crime among youths.
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"Hazel: Our children are hurting"