AS Guyana continues to struggle with the implementation of a coherent National Youth Policy (NYP) which has been in the making since 1992, the recently sworn- in Minister of Education who has responsibility for youth, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine, has disclosed that work which will produce a draft of the youth policy, is currently under way.
A National Youth Policy aims to re-define the role youths play in the world through Information and Communication Technology (ICT), science and research, and sport.
Against an eventful backdrop of multiple consultations, repeated calls for the presentation of the policy and numerous promises by former minister of Youth, Dr. Frank Anthony, Guyana has failed to produce even a draft of the youth policy.
In 2011, the minister announced the commencement of countrywide consultations on the document to meet the changing socio-economic circumstances facing Guyanese youth. These consultations and distribution of 2500 questionnaires concluded about three years after, with the then minister promising that the policy was almost completed.
In December of last year, Dr. Anthony had further stated that preparation for the policy was expected to be finalised within three months. He added that a steering committee had been working with representatives from various youth organisations across the country in an attempt to give feedback on the content of the policy.
Prior to this, a consultant whose services were funded by the Commonwealth Youth Programme, had been recruited by the ministry. The ministry later disclosed however, that the document did not meet the ministry’s expectations which forced a decision to have another consultant recruited.
Apart from assistance from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the ministry had also acquired the assistance of Cuso International, and had benefited from the services of a number of volunteers who had worked along with the ministry in ensuring the successful completion of the youth policy.
Following this, Dr. Anthony the then minister made a public declaration that, “We are hoping that within the next three months the final document will be ready.”
Simultaneously, frustrations were mounting which resulted in letters being penned by youth advocates during this time in local newspapers and social media, which reflected disgust at the fact that the failure to implement the policy translated into a neglect of youth and social issues affecting them.
But during an interview recently, Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine explained that since his assumption to office, he has begun to work on the policy through a consultative effort, with youths from various youth organisations.
According to the minister, in order to produce a comprehensive youth policy, inputs must be made by youths who are directly affected. As a result, the steering committee has been meeting with youth leaders in this regard to build on experience and offer solutions to these issues.
Additionally, the current committee which is responsible for drafting of the policy is under examination, the minister said. He explained that the current committee comprises people from the “youth scene” who are au fait with what is needed to successfully execute the production of the youth policy.
“The entire process is articulated by persons who are involved” the minister noted, while adding that the final draft will be the “fruit of intense consultations.”
As to how soon the ministry was working to have the document presented, the minister’s response was “as soon as possible,” though he posited that within a week or two, fruits of their labour will be manifest.
By Ravin Singh
