Just for Boys aims to boost confidence of young men

The NGO National Muslim Women's Organisation of TT (NMWOTT) held an outreach activity called Just for Boys to raise awareness of the gender gap in academic achievement and to boost the confidence of young men.

The interactive programme took place at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA), San Fernando. It included about 360 form one students from 14 secondary schools in several educational districts in south Trinidad.

The schools were ASJA Boys' College, San Fernando, Barrackpore East, Debe High Marabella North and South Secondary, Naparima College, Pleasantville Secondary, Presentation College San Fernando, San Fernando Central and West Secondary, Siparia East and West Secondary and St Benedicts' College.

A statement from NMWOTT president Zenobia Mohammed said statistics have shown that boys and girls perform academically differently, with the boys lagging behind the girls in secondary graduation, tertiary level enrolment and completion.

Apart from the underachievement among boys, the "alarming escalation of violence" among boys in society was an important factor in having the programme. She hoped the programme helped to reduce undesirable behaviour and values among young male students.

"The presenters were all experts in their field. Social intervention consultant and founder of Pison Solutions, Kwasi Cudjoe, spoke on building self-esteem and creating good habits. At the same time, supervisor ll of the Victoria District, Ministry of Education, Allan Ramdeen, explained the negative societal forces, gang violence, delinquency and criminal activity affecting youths," Mohammed said.

"Illicit drug use, abuse and self-respect by radio talk show host and producer, Garth St Clair, of I95.5's Eye on Dependency, captivated the boys' attention with his personal experiences of drug use and prison time."

After each presentation, presenters fielded questions from attendees. Some of the questions focused on bullying in schools.

Audience members included the Ministry of Education Victoria District's representative, Karen Ramhadin-Nandaram, curriculum co-ordinators, principals, teachers, and parents.

"The master of ceremonies Ancil Valley, kept the boys not only entertained but focused on the pertinent information given by the speakers," Mohammed said.

She added feedback on the programme from the speakers, students, teachers, and parents was overwhelmingly positive.

NMWOTT thanked the drama teacher at ASJA Boys' College, Omari Asson, for directing the opening performance of boys from ASJA Boys' College and girls from San Fernando Central Secondary School.

Mohammed added, "We sincerely thank the presenters for their expertise, the principals and teachers and parents who ensured the boys' attendance which resulted in a successful programme."

NMWOTT was founded in 2000 to foster sisterhood and advance persons within the community in all facets of societal development.