KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC—In an urgent bid to protect the next generation from the dangers of gambling addiction, guidance counselors across Jamaica are rallying behind a new initiative to introduce a dedicated subject on underage gambling prevention into the national school curriculum. Rise Life Management Services is spearheading the effort in collaboration with the Betting, Gaming, and Lotteries Commission (BGLC).
The urgency of the situation is underscored by data from the Jamaica Child and Adolescent Gambling Survey 2007, conducted by Hope Enterprise Limited on behalf of Rise Life Management Services. The survey revealed a growing gambling problem among Jamaican youth aged 10 to 19. According to the study, one in five adolescents in this age group is either a problem gambler or at risk of becoming one. The survey also found that some children had spent as much as JMD 13,000 at gaming establishments and JMD 10,000 on horse racing within six months.
Ian Grant, a guidance counselor at St. Andrew Technical High School, has been a vocal advocate for this initiative after participating in a recent underage gambling prevention seminar hosted by Rise Life and sponsored by BGLC. Grant believes that integrating this program into the curriculum could have a transformative impact on students, particularly those most vulnerable.
“It is one of the greatest things we’re doing for them,” Grant said in a BGLC news release. “It’s making a difference, more so in the long run, and certainly for a more holistic approach, the BGLC should be joined by other organizations to treat childhood addiction.”
Grant emphasized the importance of making this program a permanent part of the educational system. “It is necessary in all schools and should be mandatory for all counselors. It is ongoing. It can’t be a one-off thing, and it’s especially needed at the beginning of a school year,” he added.
Other education professionals are echoing the call for action. Lorrie-Ann Vernal, head of the Guidance Counselling Unit at St. George’s College, welcomed the initiative and highlighted the need for schools to recognize and address childhood gambling.
“Given the school environment and the various aspirations, there are schools in denial just to save face, which does not help,” Vernal said, stressing the importance of facing the problem head-on.
Recognizing the ongoing nature of the issue, Rise Life Management Services announced last year that a follow-up study is being conducted to update these findings and inform future programs.
The initiative has garnered strong support from key stakeholders, including Vitus Evans, the executive director of BGLC. Evans highlighted the importance of protecting young people from the risks associated with gambling.
“Protecting our youth from the risks associated with gambling is crucial for fostering a healthier and more responsible future generation,” Evans said. “We are committed to working alongside educators and our partner Rise Life Management Services to ensure that our children are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions.”
Rise Life Management Services Programme Manager Richard Henry also emphasized the program’s preventative potential, noting that it could help steer non-gambling students away from the habit.
To strengthen the initiative further, Rise Life intends to engage teachers’ colleges in addressing the issue. By preparing future guidance counselors to tackle gambling addiction before they enter the teaching profession, the organization aims to ensure that schools are better equipped to meet these challenges.
As the push for a mandatory underage gambling prevention subject gains momentum, educators and policymakers are being called upon to prioritize the health and well-being of Jamaica’s youth. By addressing gambling addiction early, they hope to foster a safer and more informed generation.
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