Gov’t begins implementation of ZHTF programmes

Two programmes under the Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF) have begun, which should help to make the goal of no person going to bed hungry by the year 2020, more attainable.

During a ministerial speech to Parliament last Thursday, Minister of Economic Planning and Sustainable Development Camillo Gonsalves disclosed that the ‘Adopt a Classroom Programme’ and the ‘Rapid Training {{more}}and Skills Development Programme’ are just two of the programmes that target the youth in vulnerable areas.

The Adopt a Classroom Programme, according to the Minister, is geared at improving the educational and nutritional development of children in rural and vulnerable communities, while the Rapid Training and Skills Development Programme is designed to enhance the employability of the target population through training and apprenticeship.

The Adopt a Classroom Programme also aims to ensure that children from the poorest communities across the country are provided with the necessary resources to stay in school.

These necessities, according to the Minister, include: fees for the students to benefit from the school feeding programme; a school kit, which includes books, school supplies, uniforms, a pair of shoes and a book bag.

The educational and health progress of the students will also be monitored and psychosocial support would be provided to the parents, while a reading specialist will assess the progress of each child.

This programme will cost around $160,700 annually.

Gonsalves noted that seven schools were selected to participate in the programme in the initial stages. Those schools are the: Chateaubelair Government School, Barrouallie Government School, Barrouallie Anglican Primary School, Fair Hall Primary School, Sandy Bay Government School, Fancy Government School and the Mayreau Government School.

The programme begins from the kindergarten classes and 190 students are expected to benefit from the programme across the seven schools.

“The trust fund indicates that successful implementation of this programme will lead to improvement in school enrolment, attendance and educational performance in students of targeted communities,” Gonsalves said.

He said if the first year the programme is successful, an additional five schools would be added.

The Minister noted that the Rapid Training and Skills Development Programme is designed to enable the poor and vulnerable in rural communities to escape the circle of inadequate education which would lead to high unemployment.

“Skills development is an essential element in improving employability and productivity of the population and is an important tool for reducing poverty,” he noted.

The programme will target 80 young persons in the North Leeward and the North Windward areas, because of their higher than average incidences of poverty and unemployment.

According to Gonsalves, that programme is expected to cost about $400,000, of which 80 per cent will be funded by the Caribbean Regional Infrastructure Programme (CRIP).

The Minister noted that the participants would be trained in “skills that are readily available,” namely computer networking and repairs and mobile phone repairs.

Following the training, the 40 top performing participants would be placed in an apprenticeship programme.

“This will allow participants to benefit from critical on the job training, further building their competence in the field and exposing them to the workings of the industry,” Gonsalves said. (CM)