The introduction of a 'senior school' programme, as said by Andrew Holness, minister of education, an is an interesting one.

A story in the Wednesday's Gleaner reported that the minister said he would be taking a draft policy on education to Cabinet, and that the policy would make it compulsory for a child to remain in an approved educational institution until age 18.

He also said teens who leave school at 16 find it difficult to make the transition into society, and are at greater risk of getting involved in risky and deviant behaviour.

The statistics will show that quite a number of teens and young people are involved in crimes, and maybe would have avoided this path had they been forced to remain in school and learn some skill to better themselves.

However, while we believe that the policy could better prepare our teens for life and adulthood, we hope that there will be sanctions for parents who do not send their children to school.

Every child should attend school, yet there are children hustling on the streets, selling in the market and getting engaged in all sorts of adult activity at times when they should be in school.

It is clear that instituting a policy to make them attend school up to age 18 is not enough to keep them out of trouble. However, while the Government ought to implement sanctions for parents, who allow their children stay away from school, they also need to ensure that there is access and affordability for parents who want their children to attend school.