Juvenile secures six passes at CXC after defying the odds ─ several preparing for 2022 exams

Detained at the Juvenile Holding Centre, a juvenile has defied the odds and secured six passes at
the 2020 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examination. Juvenile Corrections
Teacher, Mr. Robert Bourne made this disclosure.
It was poi8nted out that the name and age of the juvenile has to remain confidential. The young
man who is determined to be a better person secured a Grade one in English A, Grade two in
English B and Grade threes in Mathematics, Social Studies, Office Administration and Principles
of Business. He is still awaiting results for Electronic Document Preparation and Management
(EDPM).
It was noted that while no juvenile wrote the examination in 2021 due to the pandemic, Mr.
Bourne disclosed that four are preparing to sit the exams in 2022. He said that in 2019, two
juveniles sat the CSEC examinations and secured Grades one and two in English A, having only
two hours of classes per day. This, he said although the juvenile holding centre caters for teens in
conflict with the law, emphasis is placed on rehabilitation and re-integration of the youths into
their communities.
Bourne noted that through the National Center of Educational Resources Development
(NCERD), 12 juveniles are engaged in a literacy programme. He pointed out that since
beginning the programme, they have shown significant progress. He disclosed that in March
2021, juveniles were awarded certificates after engaging in a five-month Academic and Skills
Training Programme. He said that the training was collaborative effort between the Juvenile
Justice Department and the University of Guyana. The Juvenile Corrections Teacher said that a
total of 12 juveniles participated in the programme which was aimed at supporting the education,
rehabilitation and reintegration of juveniles, through a Skills Development Project and
Educational Workshop.
He added that they were engaged in the areas of Phonics, Mathematics, English, Self-Awareness,
Goals Setting and its Achievements, the Effects of Drug Abuse, Anger Management, Conflict
and Conflict Resolution, Art and Craft, Cement Craft and Photo Editing.