Twenty students of the Wolmer's High School for Boys, faced with academic, social and financial challenges, will soon be benefiting from a recently launched mentorship programme through the school's old boys association.

Khalil Stephenson, chair of the Wolmer's Old Boys Association (WOBA) mentorship programme, told The Gleaner this week that the society seems to be failing its boys, as evidenced by the 18 per cent of men matriculating to the University of the West Indies and those involved in crime.

Strengthen clubs

The WOBA says its strategy is to strengthen the student clubs, which will provide an avenue for the boys to express their creative talents and a structured environment where leadership, teamwork, community involvement, time management and confidence can be developed.

The programme will also provide the necessary academic support by remunerating teachers, professional educators and alumni to work with the boys on an individual basis after school and on weekends to improve their academic skills. This is estimated to cost $1 million for the first year.

As such, Stephenson has urged corporate Jamaica to come on board and assist with funding what he described as a necessary programme.

He also suggested that, in light of the plight of young men across the nation, similar programmes should be implemented in schools throughout the island.

Financial support

The WOBA said that, through discussions with stakeholders in the school, it has discovered there are approximately 100 boys dealing with significant academic, financial and social challenges.

Of this population, 80 per cent are in first to fourth form and will require financial support of $60,000 annually to meet daily expenses.

The remaining 20 per cent are fifth form students who will require $75,000. The total cost over the projected five-year period is approximately $7 million.

Stephenson said persons or organisations who want to assist the programme may contact the association at

wolmersboysalumni@gmail.com