Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Marlon Morgan, has announced that Cabinet will determine the course of action in reforming the Access to Information (ATI) Act.

He made the disclosure while delivering remarks at a public forum on ‘Enhancing Transparency: Examining the Access to Information Act and its Reform’, organised by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday (January 21).

Senator Morgan shared that while work on reforming the 2002 legislation was previously conducted by a Joint Select Committee of Parliament in 2011, the Ministry is now at a critical juncture to refresh those findings.

“While recommendations emerged from that [Joint Select Committee], we have also had the passage of time. The first indication the Ministry is seeking to give is that that matter of reforming the Access to Information Act is a determination that Cabinet is going to make as it relates to how we’re approaching it,” he said.

Senator Morgan noted that due to the extended passage of time, certain recommendations from the 2011 report may have become outdated, requiring refinement to align with recent global developments.

“This is a critical juncture… to effect a review, and the Ministry, at this time, is far advanced in relation to its review and consideration of the various exhortations – in some instances the various comments and the various position papers, including [from] the JFJ,” the Parliamentary Secretary said.

He added that the Ministry’s review will build on the recommendations from the 2011 Joint Select Committee report, with the aim of addressing the identified implementation challenges.

The Senator emphasised that the review is particularly timely, given the passing of the Data Protection Act by Government in 2020, which became fully effective in 2023.

“Based on the passage of time, the dynamism… of the ATI regime globally, and the newly introduced Data Protection regime, as well as international developments in terms of best practices pertaining to ATI reform, it is an opportune time to revisit the access to information framework to ensure it works effectively, fairly and transparently to protect citizens’ right to information, and strengthen governance,” he said.

In the meantime, Senator Morgan stated that the Access to Information Unit is set to intensify its operational improvements during fiscal year 2026/27.

He highlighted that ongoing training will be provided to officers to reduce backlogs, improve proactive disclosures, and make online information more useful. The training will also focus on implementing best practices from the requester’s perspective, deploying technology to streamline ATI processing, and enhancing service excellence in the delivery of access to information.

“As stakeholders can appreciate and agree, building institutional capacity and continuing to sensitise ATI responsible officers are critical and indispensable in building the culture we envisage… a culture where ATI is taken seriously, not just in talk, but… in action,” Senator Morgan stated.

To further improve stakeholder satisfaction and ensure public education on the ATI Act, he outlined several initiatives that the ATI Unit plans to implement.

These include continued education and engagement with the public through various media, community and school initiatives; launching a new ATI website in 2026; creating an online space for ATI stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing, which will go live by the end of March; and developing an ATI institutional report card framework to measure performance against certain metrics.

Additionally, during the first quarter of 2026, the ATI Unit will finalise the draft for the Access to Information Act Advisory Committee framework.

This outline will be submitted to Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, for approval and is intended to facilitate ongoing engagement between the Government and civil society stakeholders on ATI reforms and operational issues.

Senator Morgan reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ATI reform, to not only strengthen the legal framework, but also improve access to information by increasing transparency, good governance, governmental accountability, and public participation in national decision-making.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are recognised as full citizens, with equal rights to access, participation and opportunity.

“You can see our commitment in how we have been approaching post-Hurricane Melissa recovery,” she said during the official handover ceremony for the HEART/NSTA Trust’s Region I National Development Project at the Jamaica Society for the Blind in Kingston on January 15.

Dr. Morris Dixon noted that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), launched a cash assistance programme in December 2025 to support vulnerable persons affected by the hurricane, including individuals with disabilities.

“They have been targeting those who need assistance the most. They have been prioritising households that have suffered near total damage or total loss, and in addition to that, there is a special focus on key vulnerabilities… and that’s children, older persons, and persons with disabilities. So, in our Hurricane Melissa response, persons living with disabilities have been a focus,” she stated.

The Minister noted that Jamaica’s partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has prioritised vulnerable groups, particularly through the implementation of an emergency multipurpose cash top‑up designed to support households with children.

“With the UNICEF, through the support of the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), we have a digital voucher mechanism that’s embedded in the ‘I Am Able’ app, and that’s designed to reach children with disabilities and their families,” she explained.

Regarding rebuilding efforts in western Jamaica, Senator Morris Dixon emphasised that special attention is being given to assisting the most vulnerable, including persons living with disabilities.

Meanwhile, she noted that within the education sector, the Government continues to strengthen systems designed to support learners with disabilities.

“As a Ministry, we want to make sure every child receives the support through appropriate assessments, learning accommodations, and the tools that will allow them to engage meaningfully and confidently with their studies,” Senator Morris Dixon maintained.

She emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Government is inclusive in every aspect of the education system, noting that access to justice is another key area of focus.

“The Government is ensuring that all our clerks in the courts are trained in sign language. We are also working to put many more of our services and our documents in Braille to make it easier for persons who are blind or visually impaired,” Minister Morris Dixon shared.

She added that the Government has also implemented tax exemptions to support persons with disabilities.

“Employed individuals registered with the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities are reminded that they are eligible to apply for an income tax exemption. Section 12 (Y) of the Income Tax Act provides an exemption on emoluments of individuals with permanent physical or mental disabilities who are, nonetheless, capable of gainful employment,” Senator Morris Dixon outlined.

The establishment of a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) exemplary lab is in progress at Bustamante High School in Clarendon, at a cost of $15 million.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Kasan Troupe, made the disclosure at the official handover of computer labs at the Bustamante High School on Thursday, January 15.

“[Bustamante High] is one of the schools selected to get a TVET exemplary lab. We have invested $7.5 million already and we have another $7.5 million to complete the lab within this academic year,” she said.

Dr. Troupe explained that this is being pursued under the Ministry’s TVET expansion programme.

“We are also expanding technical and vocational education in our schools. We have a broader programme, which we call our TVET expansion programme. Bustamante High School has been selected to get a 21st century agriculture lab. They do the programme here but we want to bring them into 21st century skills in terms of how the smart room is connected, how they are going to use the technology in this room, in the field, how they are going to set up drones to do the watering, so they do not have to be physically there. That is the kind of thinking and exposure we are bringing to them,” she said.

The TVET expansion programme involves strategically investing in skills development by upgrading facilities, integrating modern technology, expanding course offerings in high schools and partnering with industry to create a workforce ready for 21st century jobs, ensuring relevance and promoting economic growth through practical industry-aligned training.

In addition, the Ministry of Education has made further commitments to fund the construction of security fencing around the school. The value of the project is $147 million.

“[This is to] ensure that the environment is safe and secure for the learners and the staff and also the property and equipment that we are investing in,” Dr. Troupe said.

The Permanent Secretary added that the Ministry is also assisting in funding the completion of two classrooms at the school.

“We are also going to be building out some classrooms. They have started work on two classrooms and the school is unable to continue resourcing that project. We have incorporated that in our 2026/27 budget space and our maintenance programme. The Ministry of Education’s region along with the technical officers will be leading that project and I have approved $15 million to complete that project, so the children can have more space,” she said.

Nearly two years after a fire severely damaged two Information Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories at Bustamante High School, the Clarendon-based institution is the beneficiary of modern facilities through public-private collaboration.

The restoration and expansion project was done at a cost of $20 million by the Universal Service Fund (USF) in partnership with e-Learning Jamaica Company (e-LJam) Limited, the Flow Foundation and the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information.

It involved infrastructure repairs, provision of upgraded equipment and enhanced learning tools designed to strengthen digital literacy, youth empowerment, and provide equitable access to technology.

As the lead implementing agency, the USF undertook the renovation of the labs, provided funding and overall project management, and deployed ICT resources, including connectivity devices.

The Flow Foundation contributed desks to accommodate 93 students and teachers, while e-LJam outfitted the labs with almost 100 laptops, three smart boards, and classroom chairs, ensuring that the spaces are fully equipped for modern teaching and learning.

Chief Executive Officer of the USF, Charlton McFarlane, in a message read by Corporate Planner, Nepatra Bennett, during Thursday’s (Jan. 15) official handover of the facilities, said that the project is in keeping with the agency’s mandate to promote the use of technology for economic and social development.

“It is what drives our broader mission to ensure that all Jamaicans, especially our young people, can access the tools and connectivity needed to participate fully in national development. Through collaboration with the Flow Foundation and e-Learing Jamaica, we committed to restoring and enhancing these facilities not simply to replace what was lost, but to build back stronger and smarter. The renovation of these computer labs …represents an investment in human potential,” he said.

Chief Executive Officer of e-LJam, Andrew Lee, said that the technology provided will advance the teaching and learning processes at the institution.

“We are trying to build a technology-based economy and a technology-based country, and this is the foundation. Having the technology within our schools enables us to move towards that knowledge-based country,” he pointed out.

Principal of Bustamante High School, Wayne Evans, told JIS News that the entire school community is grateful for the investment, which he noted will improve learning outcomes.

“The donation will really set us forward in terms of our IT-related subjects. It is a boost for those areas as well as in terms of facilitating content for different subject areas. Having these labs will deliver subjects in a way that is more interactive across all subject areas,” he added.

Technical high schools are being equipped with digitisation laboratories by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, as part of a national effort to modernise technical and vocational education and better align student training with labour market needs.

As part of the initiative, a digital construction lab is being established at the Stony Hill Technical High School in St. Andrew in collaboration with the HEART/NSTA Trust, which will oversee the procurement of specialised equipment, including 3D printers.

The lab, which will be located within the school’s industrial department, will be equipped with computers that meet the specifications for digital construction training.

Assistant Chief Education Officer, Technical and Vocational Unit in the Ministry, Shereen Davy-Stubbs, said the 3D printers will give students hands-on experience in manufacturing and applied technology.

“Our students will contribute to the manufacturing industry because there is a demand there,” she pointed out.

“They will create their ideas and produce the requisite pieces for the manufacturing industry,” she added.

Mrs. Davy-Stubbs noted that while Stony Hill Technical High will house the digital construction lab, all technical high schools will benefit from upgraded facilities tailored to their specific needs, with some focused on robotics or electronics.

“They selected the labs that they want based on their needs, and we have afforded them that opportunity,” she told JIS News, adding that the facilities will be commissioned once the upgrades are completed.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kasan Troupe, told JIS News that the digitisation programme focuses on retrofitting and modernising existing spaces rather than expanding physical infrastructure.

“It is not necessarily more space…but modern technology,” she said.

“All of our technical high schools will get a facelift with 21st Century, cutting-edge technology,” she pointed out.

She noted that the labs will provide students with modern, market-relevant skills, including 3D printing technology.

“Students can now make phone cases, glasses cases…anything they dream, they can now print…they can produce them for sale, which is why we speak about manufacturing. They can actually make things that we use every day,” she said.

Dr. Troupe said that the upgrades form part of a wider strategy to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and address skills gaps identified by the private sector.

“The school system has to respond to [those demands],” she noted. “We have to get our children ready for the demands of the 21st Century, which starts today,” she emphasised.

In addition to upgrading laboratories, the Ministry is providing grants to schools to support materials for student experimentation, teacher training, and ongoing maintenance of the facilities.

“We give resources to students, we give additional grants for them and continue to provide upgrades every year…so we give the schools additional resources to maintain the labs so that they don’t deteriorate too fast,” Dr. Troupe told JIS News.

The digital construction lab at Stony Hill Technical High School will complement the institution’s Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM) and Customer Engagement lab, which opened on January 9.

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has announced several changes to the administration of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP), to accommodate students impacted by the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October.

The Ministry has also modified the National Standards Curriculum, which is used in primary-level institutions and up to the grade-nine level.

Acting Chief Education Officer, Terry-Ann Thomas-Gayle, made the disclosure during a post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston, on Wednesday (January 14).

As it relates to the national curriculum, she explained that the Ministry has revised the targets or objectives that students need to meet to move to the next grade level.

“We have done a reprint of the curricula for grades one through nine, and we have sent it out in hard copies to the affected regions, and electronic copies are available for the other parishes,” Mrs. Thomas-Gayle shared.

She detailed that for Language Arts at the grade-six level, the objectives have been reduced from 138 to 90.

“In Mathematics for grade four, we went through and we looked at all the objectives for Mathematics at grade four. We had 124 objectives. We looked at the most essential objectives for Mathematics… that means the students must achieve these in order to move to the next grade level… and we saw where we had 48 such objectives,” she explained.

The Acting Chief Education Officer emphasised that while the objectives have been condensed to focus on those that are essential, there will be no disadvantage for students.

“I want to reassure the public that condensing to a smaller number of objectives, the students will not be at a loss,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Thomas-Gayle noted that following extensive consultations, the Ministry has finalised its sitting components for PEP.

At the grade-six level, students will sit the ability test, which will consist of 40 multiple choice items.

“The ability test looked at quantitative and verbal reasoning. You really need to be exposed to the curricula up to at least grade three to achieve this. So, this is not based on the grade-six curriculum,” the Acting Chief Education Officer explained.

She stated that grade-six students will also sit the Mathematics curriculum-based test (with numeracy items) and the Language Arts curriculum-based test (with literacy items).

The curriculum-based tests for Mathematics and Language Arts both consist of 60 multiple choice items.

The grade-six tests will be administered between April 29 and April 30, 2026.

“At grade five, our students will only do performance tasks in Language Arts and Mathematics. The performance tasks will see the students responding to four to six open-ended questions,” Mrs. Thomas-Gayle outlined.

She noted that the grade-five tests will be completed on June 10, 2026.

At the grade-four level, students will complete the literacy and numeracy tests on June 24, 2026.

Mrs. Thomas-Gayle emphasised that the placement mechanism for students moving to high schools will remain the same.

“Our grade-six students will be transitioning to high school using their grade-four PEP exam that they did in 2024, their grade-five PEP exam that they did in 2025, and the components being done at grade six in 2026,” she said.

The Acting Chief Education Officer noted that the Ministry will, however, use a new placement mechanism for grade-nine students transitioning to high schools, as the grade-nine achievement test for 2026 has been suspended.

“We have about 50 students maximum that we give this assessment to get to transition into high school,” she added.

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has indicated that all 1,010 of the island’s public schools, across the infant, primary, and secondary levels, are now operational, following the passage of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025.

The institutions are using different operational modalities, including face-to-face classes, remote lessons and a staggered approach to reopening.

“Within the seven most severely impacted parishes, we have 446 institutions. They are all up and running,” disclosed Acting Chief Education Officer in the Ministry, Terry-Ann Thomas-Gayle, during a post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston, on Wednesday (January 14).

The 446 institutions consist of schools across Region 3 (St. Ann and Trelawny); Region 4 (Hanover, St. James and Westmoreland), and Region 5 (Manchester and St. Elizabeth).

In Region 3, which has 123 institutions, 109 are currently operating in the face-to-face modality, while 14 are using the rotational schedule, with priority being given to students who will be sitting external examinations.

In Region 4, the most severely impacted region, there are 164 institutions, and 127 are operating in full face-to-face modality while 37 are using a rotational schedule.

“For Region 5, we have 162 institutions. We have all institutions open. We have 135 operating face-to-face, seven using rotational schedule, 19 using the reduced hours, and one school… I think it should be open by today… that was Ginger Hill. They were cleaning after the shelter was closed,” Mrs. Thomas-Gayle outlined.

She emphasised that the Ministry continues to overcome critical challenges such as infrastructure repairs, electricity restoration, and ensuring adequate water supply to keep the nation’s schools open.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth & Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has announced the rollout of a training initiative for youth, aimed at supporting recovery efforts in communities severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

The Building Resilience and Inspiring Development through Guided Experience (BRIDGE) initiative will be implemented through the HEART/NSTA Trust in parishes where efforts are under way to repair extensive damage done to buildings during the category-five hurricane in October 2025.

“The BRIDGE programme will equip 200 unemployed young people from St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, and Hanover with practical construction skills through guided work experience on active reconstruction sites,” Senator Morris Dixon informed.

She was speaking at the official handover ceremony for the HEART/NSTA Trust’s Region 1 National Development Project at the Jamaica Society for the Blind, in Kingston, on Thursday (January 15).

Dr. Morris Dixon explained that the trainees will receive hands-on instruction in roof repairs, steel fixing, and masonry with support from HEART-certified instructors, and visiting technical experts from countries, including Rwanda, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Guyana.

She noted that while participating in the programme, trainees will receive a stipend of $65,000 per month.

Meanwhile, the Minister urged the HEART/NSTA Trust to ensure that the programme is inclusive and accessible to all Jamaicans.

“As this programme is being implemented, I would like the Trust to give special attention… as much as possible… to members of the disabled community. We need to be able to get them to participate in programmes like this,” Senator Morris Dixon said.

The Minister thanked the HEART/NSTA Trust for developing the programme, while emphasising that, “all of us have to play our part in rebuilding the west”.

Face-to-face classes have fully resumed at Lacovia Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth, after months of disruption caused by infrastructural damage from Hurricane Melissa, even as restoration works continue on sections of the compound.

This was confirmed by Principal, Stacia Williams Brown, who noted that the institution is grateful to have fully resumed classes.

She told JIS News that the institution initially operated on a rotation system after reopening in November following the hurricane’s passage adding, “now we have invited all our students back to school.”

The Principal reported that student attendance is steadily improving, with 293 students currently enrolled at the institution.

She added that efforts continue to locate other students who remain absent, having been displaced by the damage to the school.

Mrs. Williams Brown explained that some relocated to other parishes to stay with family members.

She outlined the extent of the damage sustained by the school, noting that it affected key facilities used daily by students and staff.

“Our students’ bathroom was damaged as well as our administrative block, the fence… quite a lot of damage here on the compound,” Mrs. Williams Brown told JIS News.

She indicated that restoration works, being spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information through the National Education Trust (NET), commenced in December and have been advancing steadily since then.

Mrs. Williams Brown said the school’s administration is “hopeful that within the next three months, we will be back in our office space.”

She expressed appreciation to the Ministry for its support, as well as to the contractors undertaking the rehabilitation work, noting that the school community remains encouraged by the assistance being provided.

Students at Stony Hill Technical High School in St. Andrew are now benefiting from enhanced access to digital training and workplace-ready skills, following the official opening of an Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM) and Customer Engagement Laboratory at the institution.

The facility, valued more than $10 million, was commissioned on Friday (January 9) and represents a major investment by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information in advancing technical and vocational education.

It will serve multiple functions, equipping students with practical experience in electronic document preparation, database management, digital communication, and customer service, while providing teachers with the tools to deliver a curriculum that is dynamic and aligned with 21^st century demands.

The lab is expected to enhance workforce readiness among students and contribute to national development by producing graduates equipped with globally competitive technical skills.

Speaking during the official opening, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Kasan Troupe, stated that the new facility underscores the Government’s commitment to strengthening Jamaica’s human capital and preparing students for both local and global labour markets.

“The lab represents our investment in your capacity to shine… where your discipline will meet opportunity, where your curiosity will meet skills, and where your potential will meet preparation. You are not defined by where you have started, but by the choices you make,” she said.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Kasan Troupe, delivers the keynote address during the official opening of the Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM) and Customer Engagement Laboratory at Stony Hill Technical High School in St. Andrew on Friday (January 9).

Dr. Troupe emphasised that technical and vocational education must be regarded on par with traditional academic pathways, highlighting the growing global demand for competencies in digital documentation, records and information management, customer service excellence, and technology mastery.

“No longer [in a] … technical high school are you to feel as if you are secondary to any traditional high school in this country,” the Permanent Secretary said, adding that technical programmes provide the kind of learning the world is increasingly asking for.

Dr. Troupe urged teachers and administrators at Stony Hill Technical High to ensure the facility is fully utilised, encouraging them to embrace the technology and provide students with hands-on access to build mastery and confidence.

State Minister in the Ministry of National Security and Peace and Member of Parliament for St. Andrew West Rural, Hon. Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, welcomed the lab’s commissioning, describing it as a symbol of progress and opportunity for the community.

“It represents a commitment to the preparation of our young people with practical, hands-on skills needed for today’s workplace. This centre was created especially for you, and I want to encourage all of you to take full advantage of it,” she said.

Mrs. Cuthbert Flynn also urged that the institution be widely promoted as a school of choice across Kingston and the wider metropolitan area, while encouraging students to safeguard and preserve the facility.

Acting Principal, Debbie Dillon, described the laboratory as an historic milestone for the institution, bridging the divide between classroom instruction and workplace readiness.

“This moment represents, not just the opening of a physical space, but the opening of doors to opportunities, doors of excellence, and a brighter future for all of our students,” she said.

Student, Tatyand McKenzie, expressed gratitude for the new lab, emphasising its significance to academic growth and career development.

“Our school will do well with the resources in the EDPM and customer service field. We are excited to learn and grow with this,” she said.