The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda said that it is considering a proposal to increase school hours as a way to address the issue of loitering students in the streets of St John’s.

The proposal includes extending the school day by introducing sports, agricultural programs, and after-school classes for students needing additional teacher exposure time.

The discussion, which the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst said only began on Wednesday, follow legislative changes made by the government to solve the problem of youth violence by curbing the amount of time they spend outside of school and home.

According to Hurst, discussions with parents and the teachers’ union will determine the suitability of this initiative, being pushed by some ministers of government who believe that it will lead to more academically successful students.

“What we do know is that sporting activities are known to produce a healthier body and we are encouraging schools to engage in sporting activities and agricultural activities as well… so there’s some agreement that we [the Cabinet] will try to move forward on this, but bear in mind that there are many stakeholders,” he said.