 |
| Minister of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna |
Wednesday, June 25, 2014 | 1:02 PM
Kingston, Jamaica - The Minister of Youth and Culture, Lisa Hanna has received an interim report from the Child Development Agency (CDA) surrounding the circumstances under which the group Jamaicans for Justice implemented its unauthorised sexual education programme in six privately-operated children’s homes. Hanna had instructed the CDA, which has responsibility for the regulation of children’s homes and places of safety, to explain:
A. the circumstances which led to the programme being implemented for eight
or nine months without the Agency’s knowledge;
B. the suitability of the material for the children.
The CDA found the following:
1. The training programme “Realising Sexual and Reproductive Health Responsibly: JFJ’s Pilot Intervention in Children’s Homes” was held in: The Alpha Boys Home; St. John Bosco; Jamaica National Children’s Home; Sunbeam Children’s Home for Boys; Elsie Bemand Home for Girls and Best Care Foundation.
2. The six facilities indicated that they were contacted directly by representatives of Jamaicans for Justice via telephone and later by email and letter.
3. The administrators of facilities gave approval to the JFJ for the implementation of the sexual education programme through MOUs.
4. It was confirmed that the six homes each received a monetary contribution from the JFJ for use of their premises for the training.
5. At no time did the administrators inform the CDA or the Minister, as required by the Child Care and Protection (Children’s Homes) Regulations, 2007.
Regulation 15(2) states:
“Where educational programmes are provided at the home, the licensee shall ensure that-
(a) those programmes are in accordance with a curriculum approved by the Minister;
(b) any substantial deviation from the approved curriculum is entered in the daily journal and a notification thereof is sent forthwith to the Minister; more
No comments:
Post a Comment