Efforts to ensure that students remain in school in order for the incidence of truancy to be reduced can only become a reality if there is an active multi-sectoral approach.This notion was emphasised on Thursday last when the Minister of Education hosted a workshop under the theme ‘Keeping our children in school: strategies and interventions,’ which was intended to map the way forward in addressing the problem of truancy and absenteeism.The one-day forum which was held at the National Centre for Education Research Development (NCERD) auditorium was attended by officials from the Ministry of Education, representatives of the Ministries of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, Home Affairs, Local Government, religious organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and other entities.A section of the gatheringThe forum served to highlight the various reasons for children staying away from school.? It also examined the interventions that have been engaged by the Education Ministry and whether there is need for policy reviews or a different strategic focus.In his remarks to the gathering, Senior Minister of Education, Shaik Baksh pointed out that the outcome of the forum would guide the multi-sectoral approach in designing appropriate responses and developing strategies so that “we can more efficiently deal with the problems we have at hand.”He pointed out that it is expected that the outcome of the forum would be two-fold, whereby the Ministry’s policy framework is scrutinised and necessary changes are made even as an action plan and programme are developed to ensure that children attend and remain in school.Another outcome of the meeting would be the establishment of a national truancy committee with principle stakeholders and with a multi-sectoral approach to the problem of truancy in schools.“Largely speaking, when we talk about attendance at school there are several other dimensions. We hear about attendance rate and out of school children, that is, those that have not attended within a given year. My expectation is that we will be able to set up the committee in another month or two but we need ideas of what form it should take and its roles and functions.”However, the Minister noted that when the incidence of truancy is compared with other countries, “we have not been doing so badly. In Africa and Asia they have 40 and 20 per cent of children out of school who have never attended school during a given school year. We do not have those high rates,Cheap Jerseys Outlet, our rates in Guyana and the Caribbean are between 2 and 3 per cent.”According to the minister,Cheap Jerseys From China, there is a probability that the percentage of out of school children could eventually be added to the system. The minister asserted that the dropout rate could not be disregarded, adding that children are dropping out at both the primary and secondary levels.Again, Minister Baksh disclosed that unlike many other countries, Guyana has a low dropout rate at the Primary level. “We have a high gross enrolment rate to the extent that we have satisfied the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. That is a plus for Guyana. We have achieved that already at the Primary level.”In expressing support to the Education Ministry,NFL Jerseys China, Minister with responsibility for Labour,Cheap Jerseys Online, Manzoor Nadir, pointed out that Government has placed tremendous emphasis on strengthening capacity to provide social protection and opportunity for children.He pointed out that the multi-sectoral approach must be employed,Jerseys NFL Cheap, adding that about five ministries currently have direct intervention responsibilities to deal with children.To boost its capabilities, the Minister revealed that “In the last year our welfare and probation department has had about 40 new staff members and we have been moving to fill the complement of our labour officers.? In the next few weeks we should be having an additional six officers hired.”Nadir related that the government has placed its money where its policies and priorities are,NFL Jerseys From China, adding that the efforts to address truancy will not be starved of resources, since the government has adequately equipped the relevant ministries.And in addressing the problem, the Minister emphasised that from a Labour perspective “we are not adverse to prosecution.”He related that there are incidents where school aged children are employed, pointing out that currently an employer is before the Providence Magistrate’s Court as well as the parents of a child.With the intensified collaboration between the various agencies, it is expected that ideal strategies will be developed