Education the Key

THE EDITOR: I regret that I disagree with the recommendation by Prof Ramesh Deosaran that parents or guardians should be punished for delinquency/truancy of their children or charges because I think it may have a negative effect. The adults may be stigmatised or ostracised in schools and community and that will only exacerbate the situation. I have two questions in the event his recommendation is implemented by the Government:

1) What will the penalties be, who will decide on them and how will they be implemented?
2) What guarantee is there that after these penalties have been imposed that there will be an improvement or positive effect on the family situation?

It is my opinion that Dr Deosaran should have suggested:
1) More emphasis on parental skills and management. This could be done by a media blitz to sensitise parents on the crucial role they have in the lives of their children and society.
2) An in-depth analysis regarding unsupervised children and violent movies/videogames/music/peer pressure and the impact they have on delinquency and truancy.
3) A more diligent effort on education of family planning so that parents can cope with the number of children they can afford to feed, shelter, clothe, educate and, most important, love.

Penalising parents/guardians is not the solution — education is the key.

B SANDY
Maraval