Is there a link between low academic performance in today’s youth and crime?
That’s a hypothesis that has been offered as violent crime in Trinidad and Tobago continues unabated.
No one is being spared it seems, from the wrath of violent ‘mercenaries’ and the onslaught of arguably some of the most sophisticated weaponry available today.
One Criminologist has stopped just short of agreeing with the opening sentence.
Ramesh Deosaran says there needs to be an up-to-date independent study done on young people and crime.
He says the view that a low educational background automatically leads someone to become involved in crime is not mired in fact.
He maintained that while there are many views on young people and their involvement in crime, nothing can be stated for certain unless there is an independent analysis done.
“Those young people committing the crime, where did they come from … what are their demographics, what is their academic background?” he questioned.
He disclosed that a study done in juvenile homes found that the majority of them attended primary schools and came from single parent homes.
Deosaran said when you configure those demographics into the equation then one can say “the lower the education is the more likely you would commit crime”.
However he maintained that a low educational background does not automatically lead to involvement in criminality.
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