00:00The future of 65 trainees of the military-led academic training program is yet to be determined.
00:07It will be based on pronouncements expected to be made by Minister of Defense Wayne Sturge at the end of
00:13this month.
00:14Those young men were looking to follow in the footsteps of the previous MILAD cohort,
00:18which sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate or CSEC exams this year.
00:25Preparations for the 2027 exams were underway.
00:28But came to a halt as the government suspended MILAD, pending a structural review.
00:35At this time, they have lost more than a month in preparing for the exam.
00:41Curriculum administrator of the program Llewellyn McIntosh is concerned over the impact the setback can cause.
00:48We've lost six weeks.
00:52Six critical weeks, not only is that, but you've lost the momentum.
00:57How are you feeling about this?
01:03Disappointment, I suppose, is the important word.
01:07But with a program designed for young people who come from marginalized communities,
01:12impoverished homes, and areas where crime is high,
01:16giving them a second chance at life, the loss of momentum can spell further trouble.
01:21You are on the verge of losing more than the momentum.
01:27Because, you know, their stuff comes into classes, they're not interacting with the teachers anymore.
01:38They've reverted, I suppose, to some of the things they used to do before.
01:44While some might compare what has transpired with MILAD to sister programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps,
01:51which remains closed after a year, the curriculum administrator is taking a different stance.
01:56He outlines that there are structural differences.
01:59A two-year residency with MILAD, as opposed to a duration of six months for the CCC,
02:05as well as MILAD being for males only versus a mixed gender program.
02:09The minister said that at the end of July, a statement will be made.
02:16Today is the 21st.
02:19I tend to be a patient.
02:21So you are waiting until the end of July to see what is said on my list.
02:27I am prepared to wait until the end of July.
02:31Many of the civilian staff, including teachers and social workers, were on three-month contracts,
02:37which were consistently extended.
02:40So there have been several three-month extensions.
02:44And that's how it has been for a while.
02:47How long ago has that been happening?
02:53Two to three years.
02:55As to what the results of the structural review will be and whether such issues as the short-term contracts
03:02will change,
03:03McIntosh remains hopeful.
03:06And I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that at the end of the month,
03:13we are told, okay, we will restart from the 1st of August.
03:18Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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