Help for new secondary school students

Transitioning from primary to secondary school can be a difficult time for students who may experience challenges such as bullying, pressure to have sex, and exposure to drugs and alcohol.

Issues such as these increase new students’ vulnerability to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI).

Recognising this, the Ministry of Education has therefore pledged its continued support to the Transition to Secondary School Programme (T2S), coordinated by the National HIV/AIDS Commission.

Yesterday, the third installation of T2S got under way with an orientation session for Principals and Guidance Counsellors at the Warrens Office Complex.

“The Ministry remains committed to seeing programmes like T2S work in harmony with our policy on HIV/AIDS for the education sector, which complements the Health and Family Life (HELE) Programme within our school system,” expressed Ministry of Education Representative, Cyralene Willoughby.

She explained that how children are educated and socialised frame not only their future, but our entire nation.

“There are so many troubling trends which are presently plaguing Barbadian society. That has encouraged the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation to be particularly supportive of this programme, which recognises our vast responsibility – as Ministry, as teachers, as parents and last but by no means least, as Barbadians. We all have a sacred responsibility to our children,” Willoughby pointed out.

“It does not preclude but rather it complements all the other work being conducted by various groups; it is all towards a common good. The beneficiaries, our children, deserve every opportunity to learn coping strategies that will help them to face the challenges related to their transition to secondary school and eventually into adulthood”.

T2S is a fun, interactive, half day workshop for new first form students designed to provide them with the information and teach them the skills so they can effectively make good decisions in the new school environment.

Behavioural Change Specialist at the National HIV/AIDS Commission, Cecelia Neblett–Murray explained that T2S covers five topics – Drug Awareness; Bullying and Conflict; HIV/STI Prevention; Gender Issues and Human Sexuality.

“Every year children enter the secondary school system having to cope with a number of stressors in the new school term. We focus on emotional strategies, physical and sexual. These stressors place individuals in vulnerable positions. Vulnerability is experienced differently by boys and girls, and outcomes can be negative or long-standing,” she indicated.

Neblett-Murray further stressed that within the school environment a successful transition is critical to a positive attitude to learning – curriculum continuity, social engagement, physical and emotional well-being, and the rationalisation of students’ full potential.
(TL)