ÐÓ°ÉÐÔ°É

Youth unemployment is among the pressing issues facing Roehampton in southern St James.

Dane Julius, principal of Roehampton Primary, said that Roehampton is mainly a farming community.

"(But) most of the persons are unemployed. You will find a lot of youth sitting on the corners, they don't have much to do," Julius said. "Farming in the community is being done mainly by the older folks."

The community has a strong educational base at the early-childhood level at the Roehampton Basic and Primary schools which are almost sharing the same physical space.

Julius says there is a great push by parents who are showing interest in the development of their children.

Roehampton Primary is known to have performed well academically and had, over the years shown great improvement in the Grade Three Diagnostic Test and the Grade Six Achievement Test.

"As it relates to our students, I realise that there is not much exposure for them. You will find that some of them don't even know where Montego Bay is located, as close as Montego Bay is; that's the sad reality," Julius said. "Apart from that, our students are showing marked improvements generally, but they need to be exposed beyond their community, and parents need to ensure that they play much greater roles in bonding with their children, both at home and in their schoolwork."

As for the unemployed youth, Julius has posited that change can take place through education.

"Change can come to this community, that will give hope to its youth. I believe that the burden of unemployment can change. However, persons will have to see the importance of education. We know of those who believe that education is not the way out of unemployment and poverty," he said, noting that some find activities that can bring quick monetary gain. "I would want persons to realise that that practice will be short-lived. And they will need a sustainable base to be able to operate in the world of work or as an entrepreneur."

Councillor for the Cambride division (where Roehampton is located), Homer Davis, agrees that there is a serious problem with youth unemployment, especially among the young men.

STEP UP TO THE PLATE

"There is no doubt that there are several young people who need opportunities, but they have to step up to the plate," he said. "They (young men) need to understand that they have to creep before they walk, and some of them just want to walk. I am not prepared to give up hope on them - I am currently looking at one of the abandoned teacher's cottages in the community, where I intend to refurbish and transform it into a resource and training centre to get them up to a stage where they can go to HEART Trust National Training Agency to be empowered for work."

Davis said that young men need more tender care, "and I have been reaching out to the churches to lend a hand in helping to nurture and care for these young men. A number of them are literate, but needs help to refocus".