The Technical and Vocational Education Unit has as its responsibility the supervision and development of Technical and Vocational programmes in schools. The unit ensures that these programmes offer students the skills, knowledge, attitudes, habits and values that are in demand in the society, and which consequently will contribute to the nation’s productivity goals. The unit monitors the Technical and Vocational programme in schools through five areas: Agriculture, Business Education, Home Economics, Industrial Education and Visual Arts. In addition the unit also helps to supervise the Technical and Vocational Work Experience Programme, Career Advancement Programme (CAP), Technical & Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Rationalization in Secondary Schools Project.

For further information please contact the:

Assistant Chief Education Officer

Technical and Vocational Education Unit

Ministry of Education and Youth

Caenwood Centre

37 Arnold Road

Kingston 5

Tel: 876-922-0040 (office)/292 – 4312 (CUG Cell)

Fax: 876-967-3975

The Core Curriculum Unit has as its responsibility the designing of holistic programmes for children at the Primary and Secondary levels.  The unit develops, supervises and monitors the essential curriculum offering for Primary and Secondary levels through six sections. These are Cultural Studies (Drama, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education); Functional Education (involving cross-subject and cross-grade co-ordination): Languages (Language Arts, Spanish and French); Mathematics & Information Technology; Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Integrated Science) and Social Sciences (Geography, History, Social Studies).

For further information please contact:

Ministry of Education and Youth

Core Curriculum Unit

Caenwood Centre

37 Arnold Road

Kingston 5

Tel: 876-922-8707

Fax: 876-948-7938

The Guidance and Counselling Unit ensures that the school facilities which are in place are effectively utilised for the total development of the individual student, to enable him or her to lead a more fulfilling life. The unit develops services and programmes for the personal/social, educational, and career development of all students. In addition, the unit coordinates the training and development of counsellors in schools and is responsible for several programmes including the HIV/AIDS Programme in Schools, the Programme for Alternative Student Support, the Safe Schools Programme and the Health and Family Life Education in Schools.

For further information please contact the:

Ministry of Education and Youth

Guidance and Counselling Unit

Caenwood Centre

37 Arnold Road

Kingston 5

Tel: 876-967-0146

Fax: 876-967-0146

The Independent Schools Unit has as its responsibility the registration and regulation of independent or private schools to ensure that they operate within the guidelines established by the Government. The unit advises private school managers how to effectively operate and manage their institutions, train their staff, and also provides educational materials for some of schools.

For further information please contact:

Ministry of Education and Youth

Independent Schools’ Unit

2-4 National Heroes Circle

Kingston 4

Tel: 876-612-5708

Fax: 876-967-1837

The Media Services Unit is the educational media production arm of the Ministry of Education and Youth. It has as its responsibility the development of educational materials in print, audio, and audio-visual formats to further enhance the teaching-learning process. Through this unit, materials such as: charts, textbooks, picture books, teachers’ guides, instructional audio CDs and DVDs are produced.  This is done through four areas: Print and Small Media, Television, Audio and Information and Communications Technology. The unit also has an Evaluation and Utilisation Section which evaluates all educational materials, including books for the Approved Primary and Secondary Textbooks Lists which forms part of the National Textbook Programme. The unit also partners with other units in developing brochures, fliers, books and manuals for internal staff use.

Educational Technology

The Educational Technology Section of the Media Services Unit is the section that is responsible for the production of materials in audio-visual formats to enhance the teaching-learning process. It also helps in developing materials for MoE staff to ensure efficiency, productivity and to enhance customer service. This is executed through four arms: Print and Small Media, Video Production, Audio Production and Information and Communication Technology.

Print and Small Media

The Print and Small media arm of the Educational Technology Section is responsible for the development of educational materials in print format. These materials include posters/charts, teachers’ guide, textbooks, brochures, flyers and readers. This is done in partnership with a team of illustrators, graphic artists, book designers, writers, educators and evaluators.

Video

The Video arm of the Educational Technology Section is responsible for the development of educational materials in audio-visual or video format. These materials include educational music videos, features/documentaries and digital stories. This is done in partnership with a team of videographers, actors, graphic artists and other video production personnel.

Audio

The Audio arm of the Educational Technology Section is responsible for the development of educational materials in audio format. These materials include audio books, songs and jingles. This is done in partnership with a team of educators, voice actors, writers and other audio production personnel.

Evaluation

The Evaluation section of the Media Services Unit has as its responsibility coordinating the review of textbooks and other educational materials, including books, CDs, DVDs, and ICT-based learning products, for the National Textbook Programme, and for use in Jamaica’s public schools This is done in partnership with educators who are experts in their respective fields or subject areas. The section also trains educators how to evaluate educational materials and utilise them to improve the teaching learning process.

For more information please contact:

Media Services Unit

Caenwood Centre

37 Arnold Road

Kingston 5

Telephone: 876-924-9128/922-8035

Fax: 876-967-4977

The Special Education Unit has as its responsibility the supervision of Special Education schools and units island-wide that are Government-owned or Government-aided, and those which receive special grants. The unit also supervises special education facilities in private homes and community-based schools and groups.  In addition, the unit offers curriculum supervision and monitoring services, and facilitates training, networking, assessment and programme planning. The unit monitors the special education programme for children through six areas: Hearing Impairments, Visual Impairments, Physical Impairments, Mental Retardation, Giftedness and Learning Disabilities.

For further information please contact the:

Assistant Chief Education Officer

Special Education Unit

Ministry of Education and Education

Caenwood Centre

37 Arnold Road

Kingston 5

Tel: 876-967-2312

Fax: 876-967-2312

The Student Assessment Unit has as its responsibility the implementation of a system for the objective and accurate assessment of students at the Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary levels. Through the assessment process the MoE can make proactive programmes, effect new teaching strategies and school leadership styles, and develop educational materials which will enhance teaching learning. The unit also monitors the assessment processes at other levels of the education system to ensure the equitable distribution of educational opportunities for personal and national development. It is also through the Student Assessment Unit that the National Assessment Programme is administered.

For further information please contact the:

Assistant Chief Education Officer

Student Assessment Unit

Ministry of Education and Youth

Caenwood Centre

37 Arnold Road

Kingston 5

Tel: 876-922-5680/4

Fax: 876-948-9240

The Tertiary Unit has as its responsibility the supervision of the tertiary educational institutions. These institutions provide higher level technical, professional and managerial skills that the country needs for national development The unit ensures that it is offered in an efficient, world-class, and cost-effective manner so that the manpower needs of the country are met and there are enough programmes for individuals to access life long learning. The unit provides guidance, scholarships and boarding grants to those who want to access tertiary education. It also administers a Teacher Exchange Programmes, helps to appoint staff to tertiary institutions and manages the budget of all public tertiary institutions.

For further information please contact the:

Assistant Chief Education Officer

Tertiary Unit

Ministry of Education and Youth

2-4 National Heroes Circle

Kingston 4

Tel: 876-612-6046

Fax: 876-948-5767

The School Feeding Unit has as its responsibility the management of the two components of the School Feeding Programme. Through the programme, the unit provides nutrition support in the form of meals and nutribun snacks to encourage greater and more regular school attendance along with enhancing the learning capacity of students. This is done in partnership with the Ministry of Education’s agency, Nutrition Products Limited (NPL).

For further information please contact the:

Director

School Feeding Unit

Ministry of Education and Youth

Caenwood

37 Arnold Road

Kingston 5

Tel: 876-967-4498

Fax: 876-967-4977

The Schools Operations arm of the Education Services Division oversees the supervision and quality assurance of all public Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary educational institutions. The Division is also responsible for the School Feeding Programme and the management and administration of the six regional offices of the Ministry.

For further information please contact the:

Deputy Chief Education Officer-Schools Operations

Ministry of Education and Youth

Building 1, 5th Floor

2-4 National Heroes Circle

Kingston 5

Tel: 876-612-5821

Fax: 876-922-2442

Curriculum and Support Services arm of the Educational Services Division develops plans, organizes, directs, coordinates input, and evaluates the curriculum for the Primary and Secondary levels. In addition, the section coordinates the activities of related units by exercising overall responsibility for the management of their areas of operation.

For further information please contact:

Ministry of Education and Youth

Curriculum and Support Services

Caenwood Centre

37 Arnold Road

Kingston 7

Telefax: 948-7938