Our young people are not doing as well as we'd like. The graduation rate in our public schools, where most Bahamians are educated, is 50 percent. In the 2014 Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations, students averaged D and E grades respectively in English language and mathematics. Youth unemployment is around 30 percent.
We are not doing enough as a society to provide our young people with the necessary tools to be productive citizens. Hence, our crime problem is what it is. Murder record after murder record has been the norm in recent years.
In this context, it is always a pleasure to see state entities and corporate citizens doing what they can to invest in the next generation.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force began its 23rd annual summer youth camp this week. The force realizes that its role is not just to respond to crime and disorder. It works to create stable communities where people live peaceably together.
"There may be lots of camps this summer, but I believe that there is only one that is designed to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens through the medium of academics, sports, games, arts and crafts, theme days and other special events," said Commissioner Ellison Greenslade at the opening of the camp at Bethel Baptist Church on Monday.
Scotiabank signed a multi-year $50,000 agreement last year with the Royal Bahamas Police Force for the camp. Its money and that of other corporate donors help to fund the activities for 4,000-plus children who attend the six-week camp annually.
It is important for companies that have the means to allocate some part of their budgets to giving opportunities to young people.
It is not good enough just complaining about the state of dysfunction in our country. It is not good enough to just look down on those who are under-achieving while doing nothing to help. We with means can make our small difference in the lives of the next generation.
Our company sponsors the national spelling bee. We are not the biggest or the richest, but we think it is important to put resources behind worthwhile efforts that focus on youth empowerment.
We must not sit back and blame the government for all that is wrong. We with means must get involved. It could be as simple as taking on a few summer students each year. Or, it could be donating computers to a public school. This is our country. We can make it better by pressing to ensure that the next generation of Bahamians is more educated than those under-performing at this time.
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