National Youth Parliament Deputy Prime Minister Cyniya Ireland has called for cameras to be installed on all school buses and for the compulsory education age to be increased from 16 to 18 as part of a broader approach to youth development, school safety and crime prevention.

Ireland, who holds the youth parliament portfolios of national security, justice and legal affairs, made the proposals during Friday’s National Youth Parliament sitting as she supported the Education Equity, Youth Development and Protection Resolution 2026.

Ireland argued that education should be viewed not only in terms of examinations and qualifications but also as a national security issue, particularly when young people leave the education system without qualifications, employment or another structured pathway.

She pointed to Section 27 of the Education Act, which she said establishes compulsory education up to age 16 and allows that age to be changed by an affirmative resolution of Parliament.

“I suggest raising the age of compulsory education from 16 to 18,” Ireland told the Youth Parliament, questioning whether 16 remains an appropriate age for young people to be allowed to leave the education system.

Ireland used the experience of a former classmate to support her argument. She recalled that while the two were in third form, the student repeatedly spoke about leaving school as soon as she turned 16. Ireland said she recently encountered the former classmate, who spoke about difficulties finding suitable employment and regrets over leaving school.

“When I say I’m raising the age of compulsory education, I’m not simply telling young people to stay in school, but I’m telling them to stay connected,” Ireland said.

She said education beyond 16 does not necessarily have to mean remaining on a traditional academic path, pointing to technical, agricultural and other forms of training as alternatives.

Ireland also linked her proposal to concerns about youth involvement in crime, saying she regularly sees reports involving teenagers accused of serious offences such as murder and robbery.

She cited a 2023 International Labour Organization figure of 17.9% of young people being outside employment, education or training, describing that as nearly one in five.

Ireland acknowledged, however, that increasing the compulsory education age would not by itself solve youth disengagement.

“Raising the age of compulsory education will not automatically solve this problem, but the statistics tell us that youth disengagement deserves attention,” she said.

Her presentation then turned to security surrounding students travelling to and from school.

Ireland said authorities should pay greater attention to locations where students may be particularly vulnerable and argued that responsibility for their safety should not end at the school gate.

She called for cameras aboard school buses, along with rules governing who could access the recordings.

“All school buses will now be equipped with school bus cameras,” Ireland said during the Youth Parliament presentation.

She added that “clear privacy rules and procedures” should be established for accessing footage.

“Our responsibility does not end when the school bell rings,” Ireland said, arguing that children should be protected while travelling to school, while on school grounds and on their journey home.

Ireland said cameras could assist with monitoring and police could respond when incidents occur, but she stressed that prevention should be at the centre of public policy rather than authorities acting only after something goes wrong.

The youth parliamentarian also addressed the use of Spanish and educational opportunities. She supported expanding Spanish instruction throughout the education system and discussed the establishment of a Spanish language and culture institute and a public centre where people of different ages could learn the language.

Ireland ultimately framed the education resolution as broader than classroom policy.

“National security cannot only begin when there’s a crisis,” she said. “Sometimes national security begins in the classroom, on the school bus or simply on the playing fields.”

She added that while young people may require different educational and career routes, “not every child may need the same pathway, but every child needs a pathway.”

Ireland urged the Youth Parliament to focus not simply on keeping young people in school but on ensuring they remain “connected, prepared and protected.”

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Youth Parliamentarian Calls for School Bus Cameras and Compulsory Education Until 18.