As I meditate on the landscape and the goings-on in the country – water shortages, terrible road conditions, high food and transport costs, crime, etc – it has become obvious that crime is an overwhelming concern.

Serious attempts are being made to address water shortages and inflation. The implementation of property tax is touted as the answer to road repairs, garbage collection, etc. What is troubling, however, is crime and criminal activity, despite the best efforts of political administrations, the police and other state agencies.

The question therefore is: given the efforts of arms of the State, why is crime and criminal activity still so problematic? It seems to me that the education system has not prepared many of our youths for life at the adult level. These youths simply do not believe the school system is beneficial to them.

The issue, therefore, is how do we address this problem. I suggest that one way would be to establish so-called “finishing schools.” By this I mean, after individuals demit secondary school without achieving academic qualifications to access certain employment opportunities, they must be afforded another opportunity to achieve the life skills that would provide them with a decent living as responsible young adults. This may be achieved by an enrolment in a finishing school where they will be taught appropriate life skills to continue their life’s journey.

If this approach appears discriminatory, then legislation could be enacted to provide finishing schools for all students exiting the secondary school system. South Korea has implemented this approach for all young males under the rubric of national service with great success.

What would be critical here is the curriculum and the political will to take and implement harsh decisions, even if there is a fear such an approach would result in accusations of dictatorship from the parliamentary opposition and a withholding of its support for the required legislative changes, leading to a fall in political support from the masses.

Regarding the curriculum, the modalities can be worked out with a focus on the end product. That is, adequately preparing a young person for a responsible productive adult life given the widest choices including academia, vocational, sports and in well administered programmes.

Participants not inclined to academia would be taught that there is significant income to be gained from other pursuits, but only for those who work hard in honing their skills to competitive levels. This approach should lead to a reduction in expenditure by the Ministry of National Security while contributing to the overall development of our youth, productivity and safety/security of our nation.

With regard to the second point – the political fear – I think the concern is real but the risk is worth taking. If all arms of Parliament are encouraged to participate in the drafting of legislation to establish finishing schools, then the required support should be forthcoming or the electorate will have its say at a later date.

Healthy individuals with wide experience preparing to retirement could be used as mentors or motivators in these schools while affording them opportunities to themselves benefit from structured programmes designed for the elderly. I am aware that such programmes, though limited, already exist.

D THOMAS

Port of Spain