Mohamed Issa who co-ordinates ITCSSS (IT Community School and Subject Support) told us a little about how and why they started.
“A groups of parents started ITCSSS in 2002 because there was a large number of Somali children who were underachieving. Hundreds of young people have attended, some of them are now at university or have graduated. Many young people from BME backgrounds have lower than average grades and the Somali children have been the lowest in the past. The most important thing has been to change the attitude of parents and children towards education. It would be a real shame if study support ends now the children need it more than anything.”
The Messenger spoke to some of the young people who attend ITCSSS.
“Without study support I wouldn't be as academically able as I am today. I want to be a human rights lawyer.” Ayan Year 10.
“I've been coming to study support for more than 5 years. I've improved in many subjects and it made me more confident in school. If I couldn't come here I wouldn't push myself in school because there would be no one supporting me.” Maryam Year 11.
“Study support is important for me because I get extra support out of school, I don't want it to close. I'm not that good at science but study support helps me with that. It also helps me keep up with other kids at my school” Khalid Year 8
A letter written from Hamada, a young person from the ITCSSS, to councillors about closing study support:
Dear Cllrs Jackie Drayton and Julie Dore I am currently 16 years old and finishing off my last year in secondary education. During the recent couple of weeks I have been coming to the study support sessions in preparation for GCSE and even though I am fairly new, it is incredibly easy to see the growing improvement in my studies. It is obvious to see that if the study support closes down there will be an increase in the number of youths on the streets of Burngreave. This is not ideal for anyone and it is far more preferable that they do something academically beneficial.You could use the funding for other services such as police forces and healthcare, but surely there would be less of a demand on these services if the youth were kept off the streets? I urge you to reconsider your choices and keep funding study support. Yours sincerely Hamada, ITCSSS