Social Education Programme
aims to equip youngsters
for labour market
PHILIPSBURG--The Social Education Programme, which aims to better equip high school dropouts for the labour market, was born from the realisation by the Central and Island Governments that the number of dropouts in the country was steadily increasing, Pilot Project Budget Manager Saskia Kliphuis told The Daily Herald.
As a result, the need for a programme that trains youngsters between the ages of 16 and 24 was emphasised and penned in the Ys government Urgency Programme. The preparation started in 2004.
To ensure the programme is continuous, Parliament is scheduled to pass a law on Social Education Duty in the latter part of this year making it compulsory for dropouts to attend courses offered as part of the Social Education programme.
Kliphuis said the aim was to motivate the youngsters to become part of the programme so they would have a good starting point to enter the labour market at least in a trainee or assistant position. When the law goes into effect, there will be penalties for persons who refuse to be part of the programme.
In St. Maarten, the pilot programme to set the stage for the initial three-year project started in March. On the island it is estimated from the 2001 census figures that 40 per cent of the youngsters between 16 and 24 are high school dropouts and 31.9 per cent was finding it hard to find gainful employment in 2003.
The numbers are much better for Saba and St. Eustatius, while in Curaçao the situation is not so good.
“The idea of the programme is to train youngsters for the job market, help them get jobs and keep them. Later on there will be more contact with employers to encourage them to hire unemployed youngsters,” she stated.
Classes for the pilot phase, which ends in August, are carried out by EduRRR and Windward Islands Foundation for the Advancement of Vocational Education (WAVE). EduRRR is responsible for the familiarisation course that equips youngsters, especially those returning to St. Maarten from the Netherlands, for example, with the basic knowledge of the island. WAVE takes care of vocational, basic skills and work training.
Five persons are already taking part in the EduRRR part of the programme while about 20 are with WAVE. There is still space for more youngsters to join the pilot phase; one can register at the Island Labour Office on Walter Nisbeth Road or call 543-7509 for an appointment for evening registration.
The persons in the programme are “happy and motivated. There is also a balance between the number of males and females.”
Counsellors are attached to both participating organisations to help the youngsters work through issues and problems they maybe experiencing.
In a future phase of the programme, a dormitory will be constructed in St. Eustatius where youngsters from St. Maarten, Saba and Statia will be able to stay while following the courses. The reason for this is that often youngsters are in life situations that are not conducive to learning and this scenario should help, Kliphuis stated.
When the programme commences fully, the courses will be for a six-month period with the possibility for an individual to continue if it is thought that he or she is not equipped for the labour market sufficiently.
A stipend is granted to persons taking part in the course should they request it at time of registration. The amount given will be enough to cover travel expenses and for parents there will be an extra amount to cover day care service for their children. There will also be evening classes to accommodate persons who are employed, but need further training.
Youngsters who have completed the courses, but do not find jobs will be channelled through the Labour Office for employment opportunities.
To motivate as many youngsters as possible, Kliphuis plans to visit places youngsters frequent, to talk to them about the programme and its benefits. She will be accompanied by persons who are involved in or have completed the courses. Meetings will also be conducted with the community councils to share information.
As a tool to better execute the programme, a youth register is being complied to monitor the youngsters who have completed school or dropped out. Those who have dropped out will be sent letters to register for the Social Education Programme. All of the high schools will be visited to gather student information.
To start the register, the Central Bureau of Statistics has selected 400 youngsters from a random sample who were sent letters to provide their education status to the Labour Office. The response has not been very good to date, according to Kliphuis. She urged persons who have received letters to report to the Labour Office as soon as possible.
To register for the programme, visit the Labour Office with identification card, passport, driver’s licence, school statement, proof of registration or report card, job letter (if employed), marriage book/certificate, child(ren)’s birth certificate(s), if these apply. The programme is only for youngsters with valid residence permits for the island.
The Social Education Programme is funded by the Dutch government (85 per cent), Central Government (10 per cent) and the Island Government (5 per cent) for a total of NAf. 25.1 million. The programme funding comes to an end in 2007 and it is hoped that by then there will be a structured system for financing and execution so the process will continues. (Alita Singh)
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