Jeff Baron, the Minister of National Security, has emphasised the importance of making positive life changes to students at Port Royal Primary School and Dellwood Middle School.

He was speaking after the schools’ Great (Gang Resistance Education and Training) graduations.

He said he was “very pleased” to attend Great events, noting that “positively engaging and connecting with our children at an early age is a critical component to helping them make good lifestyle choices when faced with challenges”.

He continued: “Great in middle schools keeps an important promise from 2015’s Throne Speech.

“The expansion of this proven, successful programme to a wider audience of Bermuda’s young people strengthens the message of positive lifestyle choices at every opportunity.”

Great is a youth educational awareness initiative that teaches life-skill lessons to address antisocial behaviour and crime in Bermuda.

Part of the programme’s goal is to help students develop positive solutions and decisions when dealing with tough decisions.

Since the introduction of the programme in 2014, between 500 and 600 students have participated. The next Great graduation takes place on June 10 at Northlands Primary School.