Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senior Counsel Stuart Young, has emphasised the importance of empowering young people through a curriculum that reflects the nation’s evolving needs and aspirations.
He was speaking at the Graduation Ceremony for the 2022-2024 cycle of the Heroes Foundation’s Development Programme on Wednesday.
The three-year Heroes Development Programme (HDP) is designed to develop and harness the heroic and creative energy of Caribbean children and youth.
As he recalled the Government’s success in passing legislation to remove the three colonial ships from the Coat of Arms, which will now be replaced by this country’s national instrument, the steelpan, Minister Young described this change as symbolic of the country taking charge of its destiny.
“We are now going to determine where we Trinidad and Tobago build from the foundation that has been provided to us, you are going to be the authors of the next few chapters. You are going to have to help us to determine where we take Trinidad and Tobago. How do we build Trinidad and Tobago? How do we make it better? Because we have a great foundation.”
Minister Young said one of the things he’s eyeing is a change to this country’s school curriculum.
“How do we intervene now and start to shed ourselves of the colonial curriculum that we have? How do we make it more relevant today to give our future citizens the best opportunities not only here but globally. So stand by, stand by. At the right time, you will start to hear the exciting things that are going to be taking place in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Minister with responsibility for Gender and Child Affairs, Ayanna Webster-Roy, reminded the participants that with their new skills, they are in a position to effect meaningful change.
“More than ever, what we want is not tougher laws, more policies, but people who genuinely care and people who have the ability to step out of their comfort zone and enter into the uncomfortable spaces and shake it up, and bring about meaningful change. And in you, there is a promise, in your certificate, there is a promise that you are going to be the ones to go out there and do what is required to be done to bring out the change that we all want to see.”
Some of the graduates shared some advice for the young people of the nation.
“I would say that Trinidad and Tobago really has a problem with crime, and my advice to the younger generation would be to not waste your potential as we are all born with the potential of excellence.”
“Even many adults struggle with finances, so I’d recommend even from young you try to organise your finances and learn what you can do for your future in terms of finances.”
“I would like to say to focus on your education. That is the foundation for your career and future. Don’t waste your opportunities you get because you don’t know when or where you are going to get them back.”
The programme delivery utilises a mixed methods approach, emphasising learning with play and leveraging diverse creative strategies to engage participants with varying learning styles and cognitive abilities.