Education stakeholders are underscoring the importance of playtime in the development of the nation’s children.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, asserts that young children’s brains require playtime.

“So often, we tell our children to just focus on the schoolwork. But play is an important part of their development, and it helps them with their gross motor skills. It also gives them an outlet when they’re stressed or when other things are going on, and it teaches them how to cooperate and be in groups,” she said.

Dr. Morris Dixon along with officials from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jamaica and the National Education Trust (NET) visited Calabar Infant, Primary and Junior High School in Kingston, in observance of National Children’s Day on Friday (May 16).

They engaged with the students in the Infant Department, using Imagination Playground Blue Blocks provided by UNICEF, skipping ropes, chalk and hula hoops.

“I remind parents, play is important. Let our children have the time to be children,” Senator Morris Dixon urged.

Head of the Infant Department, Marguerite Ellis, expressed gratitude for the toys, books, craft items and stationery, which were donated by NET.

“Every little goes a long way. Our aim here, in the Infant Department, is to develop well-rounded individuals and encourage children to be their best selves. Through play, they learn to develop their cognitive skills, their gross motor skills and their psychomotor development,” Ms. Ellis said.

She added that play encourages children to use their imagination, explore vocabulary and communication with each other.

“They also learn empathy, they learn problem-solving and creative expressions,” Ms. Ellis further shared.

Meanwhile, UNICEF Deputy Country Representative, Mohammad Mohiuddin, said the agency was proud to be a part of the initiative.

The play materials they provided are designed to spark creativity and encourage collaborative play.

“I am really excited to see the children’s participation, their courage and their confidence about play,” Mr. Mohiuddin said.

The streets of Morant Bay, St. Thomas came alive on Friday (May 16) as the National Child Month Committee (NCMC), in partnership various stakeholders, observed National Children’s Day.

The activities included offering words of affirmation, greeting school children and distributing tokens to celebrate and uplift Jamaica’s youngest citizens.

“This day is just as special as Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. It’s a day to honour and celebrate our children, to boost their self-worth and self-esteem, especially in today’s challenging climate. We want our children to know that they are our focus and that they are truly loved by us as adults,” Chair of the NCMC, Nicole Patrick Shaw said.

Volunteers wore bright sunshine yellow—the official colour symbolizing children, and distributed armbands bearing the inscription ‘National Children’s Day’ in yellow and blue, the colours of the NCMC.

Children’s day activities were also held in Kingston, St. Andrew, Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, and St. Ann, where NCMC committee members and volunteers handed out motivational stickers, armbands, snacks, water, juice, and fresh bananas.

Established in 1953 by the wife of the Governor-General, the National Child Month Committee was originally tasked with developing a theme and activities for Child Month each May.

Over the years, its mission has expanded to include year-round child empowerment, recognizing that building self-esteem, promoting mental wellness, and encouraging civic mindedness, must be a continuous effort.

For Child Month 2025, the Committee has coordinated a calendar of activities, including an Adolescents and Mental Awareness Day, Care Package Day, National Day of Prayer, and Children’s Day celebrations.

Beyond the month of May, the NCMC also marks Youth Month in November with academic awards and forums, that amplify the voices of young people and celebrate their resilience, particularly those who have triumphed over adversity.

“All our work centres on the belief that children have rights and a voice. We want to raise children who are not only resilient, but also civic-minded and empathetic. That means focusing on self-worth, mental health, and a strong sense of purpose,” Mrs Patrick Shaw stated.

“Whatever resources we have, we pour them back into our children. They are our present, and our future,” she added.

Child Month involves partnership from the Ministry of Education, Skills and Youth, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), and several non-governmental organisations and community groups.

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information on Friday (May 16) hosted its Child Conversation – Special Edition, at the Llandilo School of Special Education in Westmoreland, as part of Child Month celebration.

The goal of the activity was to provide an avenue for children with special needs to express themselves with confidence. It was also a call to action – for society to plan events that are more inclusive and cater to children with special needs.

In her remarks, Senior Director, Children’s Affairs and Policy Division at the Education Ministry, Hyacinth Blair, said the aim was to sensitize students about child abuse and how they can reach out if they become victims.

“Children with special needs are more vulnerable. They are victims of violence, likely victims of violence, even more than children who do not have these needs and therefore, we have to be more mindful of including them when we build, when we develop policies and programmes and when we put out information,” she stated.

“We tell them what child abuse is, what is wrong with it, and the fact that we as citizens, we as adults, have a responsibility to protect them and to ensure that they have a safe space in which you want to thrive,” she added.

The Llandilo School of Special Education serves western Jamaica through three units, the main campus in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, the Lucea Learning Centre in Hanover, and the Montego Bay Learning Centre in St. James.

The institution caters to individuals aged 6 to 21 years with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities.

Currently, the entity has over 230 students enrolled across its units, with some 130 attending the day’s activity.

During the event, students participated in workshops featuring art and craft, painting, singing, and other forms of self-expression. Play therapy and recreational activities including bounce-a-bout, inflatables and special treats like popcorn were also available.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Blair is calling for greater collaboration to protect children with special needs.

She stated that the Ministry is already taking steps with initiatives such as shadow support for those students who required individualized assistance.

“So, the Government, through the Ministry, does provide that support to the schools and to the children who have that need. However, it really takes a concerted effort and not just government entities, but…just about everybody has a responsibility to protect and to preserve and to help to develop children with special needs,” she added.

Principal of the school, Roy Reid indicated that the event advanced the theme of standing against child abuse.

He said the day’s activities will leave a lasting impression on the students and further the mission of the school and the Ministry to create a society where child abuse is not only condemned but actively prevented.

For his part, Youth Empowerment Officer, Jason Ricketts, encouraged the students to believe in themselves, persevere, and use criticism as motivation rather than discouragement.

Mr. Ricketts, who is visually impaired, also challenged educators and caregivers to amplify advocacy for disability rights.

“I don’t want anybody to use any excuse and say they can’t achieve anything in life. You’re supposed to work hard for it [and] believe in yourselves,” Mr. Ricketts noted.

This year, Child Month was observed under the theme, ‘Act Now! Stand Against Child Abuse and Exploitation’.

The Senate has passed legislation granting public officers born between August 1, 1961 and February 28, 1963, the option of retiring before reaching age 65 while still receiving full benefits.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, piloted the Pensions (Public Service) (Amendment and Validation) Act 2025 through the Upper House on Friday (May 16).

The Bill seeks to validate and confirm, as lawful, all the actions and omissions made by any person in relation to the grant of normal retirement of public officers during the period April 1, 2018 to the commencement of the Amendment Act.

Senator Morris Dixon explained that over 14 years, Green Paper No. 2, 2011, entitled ‘Options for Reform of the Public Sector Pension System’, was tabled, which proposed several measures to reform the pension arrangement for public officers, including increasing the normal retirement age from 60 to 65.

She noted that the decision to increase the retirement age for public-sector workers was driven by a combination of demographic shifts, economic considerations and the need to ensure the sustainability of the pension system.

“The reforms aimed to address the challenges posed by an aging population and the associated financial pressures on the pension system. By mutually extending the working years of public servants, the Government sought to reduce the pension burden and align retirement policies with increased life expectancy and workforce dynamics,” she noted.

Minister Morris Dixon said that there has been a steady rise in life expectancy, which now surpasses 70 years, meaning more Jamaicans are living well beyond the traditional retirement age of 60.

At the same time, the country has been experiencing a declining birth rate, leading to a smaller portion of young people entering the workforce.

“With a fertility rate of 1.9 births per woman recorded in 2023, this falls below the replacement level of 2.1,” she noted.

“In simpler language, Jamaicans are living longer but not having enough children. As a consequence, all things being equal, our population will decline. This demographic imbalance reduces the ratio of active contributors… in the public-service pension scheme, placing increased financial strain on public resources,” she added.

The Minister contended that without reform, the pension system would face mounting deficits, jeopardising the ability to provide for current and future retirees.

Moreover, as the Jamaican population ages, the demand for experienced professionals in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and public safety remains high.

Senator Morris Dixon said that increasing the retirement age, therefore, allows the Government to retain skilled workers for longer periods, helping to address talent shortages and ensuring continuity in service delivery.

This approach not only promotes institutional resilience but also gives workers more time to build up their pensions, she said.

“We have had to pivot with respect to retirement policy. This was done in a very consultative process. The Government, therefore, did not act in isolation. The development of the pension policy was rooted in dialogue and consensus. As part of the policy development process, stakeholder consultations were held, and a Joint Select Committee was convened in 2012 to discuss the proposed reforms,” the Minister said.

The Minister told the House that while staff associations and collective bargaining units representing public officers did not object to increasing the retirement age, they expressed concerns about the adverse implications of immediate implementation.

The Minister informed that the Government, in response, indicated that a phased approach would be adopted with a transitional period of 10 years.

This was to facilitate a smooth transition for public officers who attained retirement from 55 years up to 60 years, as at April 1, 2018, and would be preparing for retirement at age 60 years.
Senator Morris Dixon said on April 1, 2018, the Pensions Public Service Act 2017, came into effect.

She explained that the definition of normal retirement age in Section 2 and Section 14 of the Act introduced a new retirement age requirement, noting that pursuant to the first schedule of the Act, the retirement age gradually increased from 60 to 65 during the period April 1, 2018, to April 1, 2023.

“The Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Public Service Commission and Permanent Secretaries and other designated persons, acting pursuant to relevant Delegation of Functions Orders issued by the Governor-General under Section 127 of the Constitution, approved the retirement of public officers under the Act from April 1, 2018,” Senator Morris Dixon said.

“There was [however] an anomaly. There was a discrepancy between what was being implemented and what was actually in the schedule, and so, what this Bill is doing is trying to rectify that. Since the Act provides that public officers retire at age 65 from April 2023, it is proposed to amend the Act to give public officers born between August 1, 1961 and February 28, 1963 the option to elect to retire before reaching the normal retirement age of 65 and be given the full benefits,” she added.

The Minister further noted that this will not be considered or fall in the category of early retirement and hence, will be treated in the same manner as normal retirement and will give effect to the policy intent.

Constitution Hill Primary and Infant School in St. Andrew has transitioned from a multigrade to a single-grade institution.

A multigrade institution is one where a single teacher instructs students from different age groups, grades and abilities in the same classroom.

According to the Ministry of Education, Skills Youth and Information, there are 238 multigrade schools in operation.

Principal, Melicia Mathison, told JIS News that the multigrade model was used due to the school’s small population.

In 2010, the school had 45 students, and that number grew to 116 at the end of the former principal’s tenure in 2017.

With only four teachers, there were always two multigrade classes – one in lower school and another in the upper school.

Ms. Mathison explained that there was a merger between grades one and two or grades two and three as well as grades four and five or grades five and six.

“So, with the growth, we lobbied, wrote to the Ministry of Education indicating that our numbers are increasing, and as a result, when the class sizes are too large, it makes it hard to give individual attention to the students. Currently, we have 155 students, and that caused us to move from being multigrade to single grade,” she explained.

An excited Ms. Mathison told JIS News that the transition has been great, sharing that since September 2024, each grade has had its own teacher.

She underscored that even though a single-grade environment is ideal for students and teachers, a multigrade school has its benefits.

“You have students that are one grade level behind, so even when the other grade is learning, whatever learning deficits they have, that can be bridged. However, on the side of the teacher, it means that you have to be teaching two classes and doing two lesson plans,” she said.

Ms. Mathison explained that there are some topics that can be merged in mathematics and language arts, using differentiated instructions.

However, in upper school – grades four to six – there is a designated curriculum for each grade that must be taught separately.

Reflecting on the transition, she said: “It really has been a journey,” noting that space was a major constraint.

“I had a conversation with the staff and I’m like, we have to make this happen. We can’t build a room right now, and we are at that point, and they said, ‘Miss, we’re going single grade. We’re going single grade, even if it means to transform a room’. So, we transformed the staff room. The staff room now houses the grade-five students,” she added.

A total of 10,000 computers have been distributed to high schools to support technology integration.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, made the announcement during a statement to the Senate on May 9.

“Another 10,000 devices are being distributed to create ICT information and communications technology) labs at the primary level, and over 200 smart boards have been distributed to our schools to include our special education institutions by eLearning Jamaica,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

Additionally, all teachers have a laptop assigned to them to enable ICT integration.

The Minister further stated that with the kind assistance of the Digicel Foundation, 21 fully equipped STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Smart Labs have been established at the primary level.

“For the new fiscal year, $108 million has been allocated to provide audiovisual equipment at the secondary level,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

Meanwhile, $400 million has been invested in TVET (technical and vocational education and training) programmes to include upgrading of 50 labs and the establishment of five exemplary labs across the secondary schools.

For the 2025/26 fiscal year, approximately $800 million will be invested to support the delivery of TVET programmes to include lab upgrades and the establishment of future skills and technology labs in the technical high schools.

This year, the Government is investing more than $1 billion to provide breakfast for approximately 69,000 students in the Nutrition Products Limited programme in schools.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, made the disclosure during a statement in the Senate today (May 9).

“This is part of a broader $9-billion programme that aims to reach 200,000 children with a nutritious breakfast, snack and/or midday meal. We know that children cannot learn if they are hungry,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

She stressed that “no child should come to school and go through the day without a proper meal”.

Meanwhile, the Minister said the National School Nutrition Policy will strengthen and expand the Nutrition Products Limited programme and other school-based meal initiatives by improving meal quality and nutritional content, expanding breakfast offerings to reduce morning hunger and investing in kitchen infrastructure in schools where necessary.

“With this policy, we signal to every parent, every teacher, and most importantly, every student, that the Government of Jamaica sees them, hears them, and we are working for them. We are building a nation where no child is left behind because of hunger. We are building a nation where schools are not only places of learning but also environments of wellness,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

The National School Nutrition Policy is a comprehensive, multi-sectoral framework that lays out clear principles and actions to promote healthy eating and active living in all Jamaican schools.

It will ensure all students have access to safe, nutritious foods; limit the sale and promotion of sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods within school environments; mandate nutrition education across the curriculum; strengthen the school-feeding programme; and foster partnerships among schools, families, farmers, vendors, and communities to build a culture of wellness.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has praised the Principal and staff of Gregory Park Primary School in Portmore, St. Catherine, which she hailed as a model for educational transformation and excellence.

Senator Morris Dixon lauded the school for its remarkable turnaround, innovative teaching methodologies, particularly in literacy and numeracy, and its exceptional leadership.

Her comments came during a visit to the institution on Thursday (May 8), as part of a tour of four schools in the Ministry’s Region Six, which also included Cedar Grove Academy, Naggo Head Infant School, and Naggo Head Primary School.

She was accompanied by State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Member of Parliament (MP) for St Catherine East Central, Hon. Alando Terrelonge.

Senator Morris Dixon said based on Gregory Park Primary’s achievements, “This school is a special one.

“If you look at the data on this school, you would see that some of the outcomes weren’t what we wanted. But coming here and listening to the Principal and seeing the work of the teachers and interacting with the students, it is clear that we have really great leadership here and that we have excellent teachers at this school,” she added.

Senator Morris Dixon noted that, given not all students have received the ideal preparation for primary school, the institution is stepping in and providing the necessary interventions to support their development.

“When I saw the reading levels of so many of the children, I said, ‘yes, this is the right thing to do’. You understand, so much, how important reading is and you’ve already incorporated it,” she said, championing the school’s intervention programme, which was created by its Principal, Richard Williams.

Mr. Williams highlighted the institution’s proactive approach to foundational learning, noting that Gregory Park Primary has been prioritising reading and phonics instruction for grades one to three since 2018, well ahead of broader discussions in the sector.

However, greater intervention for numeracy and literacy at the school began years earlier when he was appointed Principal.

“When I started at Gregory Park in 2014, in that first term, I asked the teachers to do a reading diagnostic test for the entire school. But when we collated the data for grades one to three – we had 285 students between grades one and three – 187 students were reading below grade-one level,” Mr. Williams said.

He revealed that, based on these findings, he drafted a proposal for an enrichment centre, which was established in 2015. Consequently, the school’s literacy rate rose to 74 per cent the following year.

Mr. Williams added that he aims to raise this figure to more than 80 per cent in the coming years.

Similar interventions proved successful in numeracy.

“That year, 2014, 110 students did the numeracy exam, and only 28 students mastered. That was like 25 per cent,” Mr. Williams said.

He noted that the school saw significant improvement after introducing extra classes, securing support from a maths specialist, and his personally engaging in maths instruction.

“When the exam results came the following year, we moved from 25 per cent mastery to 45 per cent mastery, and in statistics, we had 100 per cent mastery,” Mr. Williams proudly shared.

He commended his teachers for their dedication, affirming that the school is on track to meet its targets for the current academic year, with encouraging results anticipated from recent Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations.

Senator Morris Dixon, who was impressed by the school’s achievements and its strategic intervention plans, described Gregory Park Primary School as a “great example for Jamaica of how we are going to transform our schools across this country”, underscoring its potential as a blueprint for national educational improvement.

Seventy-nine educators have been selected to receive the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education.

The biennial awards ceremony, to be held on May 28 at Jamaica House, will recognise 39 educators for 2023 and 40 for 2024.

Instituted in 2005, the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation is given to an educator who has served for a minimum of 15 years, displayed exceptional service in the teaching profession and has shown evidence of community involvement, innovation and creativity in service.

Among the 2024 recipients are Managing Director of the HEART/NSTA Trust, Dr. Taniesha Ingleton, and former President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association and Principal of Golden Spring Primary, Winston Smith.

National Mathematics Coordinator in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Lorna Thompson, and Professor Disraeli Hutton of the University of the West Indies, Mona, are among the 2023 cohort.

A posthumous award will be presented to the late Marsha Allen-Russell of Porus High School in Manchester, who was the second runner-up LASCO Teacher of the Year 2019/20.

The awardees from teacher training institutions are Sylvia Bryan and Dr. Claudette Barrett-March of Shortwood Teachers’ College; Dr. Sadie Harris-Mortley, Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College; Dr. Darien Henry, Montego Bay Community College; Professor Carol Hunter Clarke and Dr. Maureen Mullings-Nelson, The Mico University College; Anthony Norman and Dr. Monica Williams-Dempster, Church Teachers’ College; Dr. Jacqueline Thames of Moneague College; and Isaac Onywere of Bethlehem Moravian College.

Awardees were selected by a committee comprising officials from across the sector. Points were awarded to nominees based on predetermined criteria.

The persons receiving the highest number of points were selected for the prestigious award.

Award recipients are citizens of Jamaica, but in exceptional circumstances a non-citizen may be recommended for the honour.

The number of medals awarded in any year shall not exceed 40.