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Improved Performance In 2025 CSEC English and Maths

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information is reporting improvement in the performance of Jamaican students in the May/June 2025 sitting of Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) English A and Mathematics.  

Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, said 85 per cent of students received a passing grade in English A, while 44 per cent passed Mathematics.  

In 2024, 76 per cent and 39 per cent of students passed English A and Mathematics, respectively.  

“The regional average is 80 per cent of students passing English A. We have surpassed the region in English A. The regional average is 39 per cent of students passing Mathematics. We are above the regional average again, in Mathematics,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.  

She was addressing a press conference held on Friday (August 15) at the Ministry’s Heroes’ Circle offices in Kingston, where she presented a report on Jamaica’s performance in CSEC and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). 

Dr. Morris Dixon shared that at a meeting with the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) on August 14,  concerns were raised about performance in Mathematics across the region.  

“It is something, as a region, that we’re going to have to tackle. We in Jamaica have already started it and it is very encouraging to see that we are above the region and we are going to continue on that thrust. We are inching up towards pre-pandemic numbers. In 2019, we would’ve been at 54 per cent and so we are slowly moving back to that in terms of Mathematics,” Dr. Morris Dixon reasoned.  

Meanwhile, performance in English A has exceeded pre-pandemic levels as the 2019 pass rate was 82.8 per cent.  

Some 30,514 students were registered for CSEC, but only 93.9 per cent sat the exams.   

Pass rates for other subjects are Principles of Business – 90 per cent; Theatre Arts – 92 per cent; Visual Arts – 83 per cent; Agricultural Science – 86 per cent; Biology – 84 per cent; Information Technology – 88 per cent; and Food Nutrition and Health – 93 per cent.  

All Schools on NSLIP Record Improved Performance in CSEC English

All 56 schools on the National School Learning and Intervention Plan (NSLIP) recorded improved performance in Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) English, while 47 improved in Mathematics. 

This was noted by Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, during a press conference held on August 15 at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices in Kingston, where she presented a report on Jamaica’s performance in the CSEC and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) tests.  

“It says, Jamaica, that we can reach our children and we can get them to greatness,” she said.  

The NSLIP initiative includes additional teaching time during holidays, extra lessons, homework programmes, psychosocial and parental engagement, strict attendance monitoring, provision of digital learning resources, a robust accountability framework, and a focus on customised learning, based on assessment data. 

Some of the year-on-year pass rates for English are as follows:  

Charlie Smith High School – 13.1 per cent to 75 per cent; Bustamante High School – 12.1 per cent to 51.9 per cent; Fair Prospect High School – 9.5 per cent to 73.7 per cent;  

Greater Portmore High School – 21.3 per cent to 78 per cent; Merlene Ottey High School – 19.2 per cent to 85 per cent; and Glengoffe High School – 16.7 per cent to 82.8 per cent  

Dr. Morris Dixon highlighted a few of the 47 schools that saw improvements in Mathematics: Edwin Allen High School – 25.4 per cent to 74.1 per cent; St. James High School – 26.5 per cent to 40.5 per cent; Cross Keys High School – seven per cent to 40 per cent; Iona High – 29.2 per cent to 41.9 per cent; Marcus Garvey Technical High School – 11.5 per cent to 31.5 per cent; and Kemps Hill High School – 22.8 per cent to 29.4 per cent.  

“We still have more work to do but you can see that our schools are making the effort. Our teachers are working hard. Our principals are working hard. They’re working with us. We can’t, at the Ministry, just say, oh we’re going to do these interventions and they just happen. The school has to be receptive. The school has to do a lot of work to create the environment for the interventions to work, and they did,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

Administrative Activities September 1, Schools Closed September 2 and 3

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information (MoESYI) wishes to announce further adjustments to the start of the 2025/2026 academic year.

Following extensive consultations with key education stakeholders, including the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association (JISA), Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPSS), the National Parent Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), and the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ), it was agreed that the school year should begin as planned in order to avoid any extension of the school year.

Under the revised schedule:

•Monday, September 1, 2025 – Schools reopen as scheduled for orientation and other administrative activities. Students who do not require orientation will not be asked to attend school on Monday, September 1.

•Tuesday, September 2, 2025 and Wednesday, September 3, 2025 – All schools closed.

•September 4-5, 2025 – Schools resume orientation and other administrative activities using modalities determined by school leaders, as guided by local circumstances.

•Monday, September 8, 2025 – Full resumption of all schools.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. The Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, said, “We recognise the importance of preserving the integrity of the school calendar and our children’s education. This decision reflects the strong consensus among education stakeholders that the school year should not be extended, while still accommodating the democratic process.”

Minister Morris Dixon further commented: “Education is the foundation of our nation’s future, and we all know that every day in the classroom matters. By starting the academic year on schedule, we ensure our students have the full benefit of the school year, while balancing the need for schools to support key national activities such as the General Elections. This unique arrangement allows us to protect valuable instructional time, maintain stability for parents and students, provide flexibility to our school leaders to act and honour our commitment to delivering quality education without compromise.”

The National Parent Teacher Association welcomes the adjustments. “Parents across Jamaica welcome this decision. We understand the importance of our children returning to school on time, and we appreciate the Ministry’s efforts to safeguard the academic calendar. This approach strikes the right balance between supporting our country’s democratic processes and prioritising our children’s education. I encourage parents to closely follow their schools during the election week to ensure a smooth transition and to make the most of every opportunity.” — Mr. Stewart Jacobs, President of the National Parent Teachers’ Association

President of the Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association, Mrs Tamar McKenzie, also supports the decision. Mrs McKenzie said, “Independent schools are fully aligned with the Ministry’s decision to keep the start of the academic year on schedule. Our priority is to ensure continuity in teaching and learning, and this arrangement allows us to do so without having to adjust the end-of-year timelines. We believe this is a sensible, well-balanced approach that minimises disruption for students, teachers, and parents, while allowing schools to fulfil their civic role in the General Elections.”

School administrators have been urged to manage the transition smoothly and to communicate any challenges to their respective Regional Office.

Minister Morris Dixon further added, “I want to take this opportunity to encourage all principals and school leaders to remain vigilant during this period and to make decisions that are in the best interest of your students, staff, and the wider school community. You are empowered to assess your local circumstances and to determine the safest and most effective teaching and learning arrangements for your schools. Your leadership is critical to ensuring that the start of the academic year remains smooth, productive, and focused on student success.”

The Ministry of Education is committed to working closely with schools, parents, and all education stakeholders to ensure a seamless start to the academic year.

Education Ministry to Provide Targeted Psychological Support in Schools

In response to the growing mental health challenges faced by students across Jamaica, particularly those from trauma-affected communities, the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information is ramping up efforts to provide targeted psychological support in schools.

Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, told JIS News that the Ministry has entered into contracts with a number of psychologists and psychiatrists to provide direct mental health services to students in need.

“If there are children in the school that need support, you can refer them and the Ministry will pay for that support,” she said.

Dr. Morris Dixon reasoned that trauma and violence continues to impact students’ ability to learn.

“Sometimes we say, ‘Oh, look at that school, look at their performance.’ Did you ever stop to think that that school has children who have been traumatized from they were born, and their brains have been rewired in a particular way? They’re coming to school not really ready for learning and you have to undo that,” she explained.

She underscored that traditional guidance counselling is not sufficient to meet these complex needs.

To this end, she advised that the Ministry has begun piloting cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) interventions in select schools.

CBT is a more intensive therapeutic approach which is known to help children process trauma and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

The Minister stressed that this approach would follow a measured, data-driven model “you start small, you test it, see if it’s working and then you put more money towards it and expand.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Morris Dixon said the Ministry is exploring how to increase the number of guidance counsellors in schools.

“But also looking at other social workers in the system who could also provide more support to schools and to the families at the same time,” she said.

Male Educators Urged to Strengthen Leadership Capacity

Male educators are being encouraged to take deliberate and strategic steps to strengthen their leadership capabilities and positively influence the education sector and the wider society.

The call was made by Director of Regional Educational Services at the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Region One, Otis Brown, as he delivered the keynote address at the inaugural Leadership EmpowerMENt session of the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL)

The event was held at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters in St. Andrew, on Thursday (July 31), under the theme ‘Empowered Men: Improved Leadership’.

Mr. Brown challenged participants to envision their personal and professional growth and take practical steps towards achieving it.

“Get your vision board. Look at where you are now. Think about where you want to go. Look at what it will take to get you there and work towards it. Is it a master’s degree? Is it a PhD? Is it a promotion? What is it that you want? Set goals. Men should set goals too,” he said.

He also urged the use of the ‘Plan, Do, and Review’ (PDR) strategy as a framework for progress and leadership development.

Emphasising the importance of character, Mr. Brown underscored the need for integrity and courage among males in education.

“You have to try to live a particular kind of life with integrity and moral principles. Our children are expecting that we are going to be role models for them. So, integrity is important as a strong man,” he said.

Mr. Brown further encouraged men to lead with courage and responsibility, noting that families and communities rely on them for strength and support.

“Did you know that your wife, your children, your sisters, your mothers – everybody – they look to you for particular kinds of support? They want somebody strong to do the job,” he said.

He urged male educators to “disrupt the narrative” and embrace their potential, stating that “men were made to be great.

In his remarks, NCEL Director/Principal, Keriffe Clark, said the Leadership EmpowerMENt initiative targets three critical areas – mentorship, empowerment and networking.

“This initiative is grounded in the school of thought that males, particularly those working in a female-dominated sector, are important to the holistic development of others and serve as positive role models, not only in schools but in communities,” he said.

Further, he said it is designed to offer a safe and supportive space for male leaders and aspiring leaders to openly share challenges, explore solutions and build capacity and community.

Upgrading of Technical High School Labs Just a Start

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, says the specialised laboratories being build out at technical high schools is just a start, noting that all secondary-level institutions will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

“We start this year with the 15 technical high schools and then every year [after], we’re going to be doing more of these state-of-the-art labs.

“It’s not normal things we’re doing, because we’re thinking bigger for our children. The world is changing and we believe our children should be there,” the Minister said.

She was addressing a Primary Exit Profile (PEP) awards dinner hosted by Member of Parliament for St. Andrew East Rural, Most Hon. Juliet Holness, at the Hillside City Centre in Lower Halls Delight on Thursday (July 31).

The labs being provided at the technical high schools will equip students in specialised areas such as digital construction, mechatronics, green technology and robotics.

Minister Morris Dixon said that the Government is undertaking the expansion and upgrade of laboratory facilities in the selected institutions to prepare young people for a technologically-driven future.

Providing details about the labs that some of the institutions will receive, she informed that Dunoon Technical High in Kingston will be equipped with a facility focused on digital construction.

“We’re talking about the future of construction. All the latest technology will be in that lab in that school,” she said.

In addition, Herbert Morrison Technical High School in St. James will receive a mechatronics lab.

Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field that combines mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering to design and develop smart, automated systems such as those used in manufacturing processes.

The Education Minister pointed out that “in the future, many of our manufacturing companies are going to be using robots and automation, and so our children need to understand it.”

In recognition of future trends and technology, Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St. Ann will be equipped with a lab that is focused on renewables and green technology.

“So, they’re going to be looking at solar technology, they’re going to be looking at rainwater harvesting. All those new areas are what you’re going to have at Marcus Garvey Technical,” the Minister outlined.

She noted further that at St. Mary Technical High School, students will have access to a full robotics lab. “That is going to focus on industrial controls, which is about automation,” she pointed out.

Dr. Morris Dixon emphasised that the Government is doing the work required to raise the standard of every school in Jamaica.

Additional $2.1 Billion to Repair 266 Schools Damaged by Hurricane Beryl

The Government has allocated an additional $2.1 billion to repair 266 schools damaged by hurricane Beryl in July 2024.

An assessment of all institutions determined that 364 schools were impacted. Some 111 schools were severely damaged during the hurricane’s passage, for which $2.5 billion was spent to carry out repairs.

Schools which sustained moderate damage and minor damage were classified as priority two and three, respectively.

Addressing Monday’s (August 4) Regional Leaders’ Conference, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, disclosed that schools in priority groups two and three will be the focus of this round of repairs.

“The Ministry has been lobbying for those schools and I’m very happy that the Ministry of Finance [and the Public Service] has provided an extra sum of money for us to spend. We also have 47 whose scope of works expanded from the Hurricane Beryl initial allocation,” she said.

Dr. Morris Dixon said the allocation will also cover the cost of the expanded scope of works.

The conference was held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, under the theme, ‘Innovation in Practice: Transforming Teaching and Learning for the 21st Century – The Region One Experience’.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kasan Troupe, shared that as the Ministry awaited a second allocation, repairs were conducted at some priority one and two schools, from the maintenance budget.

“What that means is that the number of schools that needed attention reduced under tier two and three because we attended to them through our maintenance budget. It also means that we also delayed some of those schools that are already on the list,” Dr. Troupe noted.

She advised that the Ministry’s maintenance budget has increased, moving from $450 million to $628 million.

“That will help us to catch up with those schools that we delayed, because we prioritised the tier two and three schools that were damaged by Beryl,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary further advised that maintenance activities will take place at 202 schools during the summer holiday.

“We have $100 million that we have set aside to treat with termites and that is about 103 schools that will be impacted in the first round,” Dr. Troupe said.

Parents Encouraged to Purchase Affordable Books Aboard the Logos Hope Docked in Kingston

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, is encouraging parents to take advantage of the variety and low price of books aboard the Logos Hope to further develop their children’s interest in reading.

Dr. Morris Dixon was speaking during a visit to the vessel on Wednesday (July 23) with students and their chaperones from the Louise Bennett-Coverley Primary School.

The Minister’s comments followed an update provided earlier at the Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC) press conference that as of September 2025, reading will be reintroduced as a timetabled subject for grades one to three in primary schools across the island.

Logos Hope is docked at the Cement Coal Pier in Kingston until August 19 and will head to Montego Bay where it will remain from August 22 to September 14.

“One of the things we spoke a lot about this morning… was the importance of reading. And we have changed our curriculum in Jamaica to emphasise reading from grade one to grade three. In the Ministry we printed books, so every child will have a stack of reading books,” Dr. Morris Dixon informed.

“So, we say to parents that you can supplement that. Come on Lagos Hope and get books for the children. It is going to be very helpful to them and their futures. Parents who want their children to become leaders, books [and] reading [are] absolutely important,” the Minister emphasised.

Logos Hope is known as the world’s largest floating book fair, loaded with more than 5,000 book titles for sale at discounted prices.

Managing Director of Logos Hope, Edward David, shared similar sentiments with Dr. Morris Dixon on the impact of reading on children’s futures.

He explained that the Logos Hope project remains relevant despite global digitalisation and the ease of access to certain books on the Internet.

“I think it’s very good for us to know that one book can shift a mindset and shape a future. Because the world has changed so much and people – younger generations – [are] so much on the screen…. people often ask how is a ship project like this still valid? But… people still like to have a hard copy in their hand. As they read, they underline, they highlight, and they take notes,” he maintained.

Mr. David further pointed out that while it is unfortunate that the ship is visiting Jamaica during the summer break, he is urging parents to still bring their children to the ship, get them a book and encourage their children to read.

The Education Minister was also joined by Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Andrew East Rural, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness. They also toured the book ship.

Mrs. Holness highlighted an additional benefit for students in her constituency who are able to visit and experience Logos Hope.

“It’s far more of an experience for some of my children because they live in the mountains. And so, there are many persons from my constituency, coming to look at the books on a book ship, and they’re like, ‘okay, I’m seeing the sea, the ocean for the first time. I’m seeing a ship for the first time’. So, it’s a wonderful experience for some of our children,” Mrs. Holness said.

ETOC Outlines Dual Reform Strategy to Strengthen School Boards Across Jamaica

Two major efforts are currently under way to reform school boards across Jamaica.

Chairman of the Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC), Dr. Adrian Stokes, outlined these during ETOC’s Press Conference at Jamaica House on Wednesday (July 23).

Noting that governance is critical to the proper functioning of any education system, Dr. Stokes emphasised that improving the cadre of individuals seeking to serve on school boards is essential to advancing educational outcomes.

“To achieve this, we are making the application process for serving on a school board very transparent, similar to what obtains in the wider public sector. Soon, individuals who wish to serve on a school board will upload their CVs [curriculum vitae] and other relevant information to a website managed by the Ministry [of Education, Skills, Youth and Information],” he explained.

The ETOC Chairman shared that applicants will be vetted to ensure they are fit and proper, with the ultimate goal of aligning individual competencies with the specific governance needs of each school.

Dr. Stokes said the second critical reform relates to legislative changes, noting that the current composition of government-operated school boards can produce a perverse outcome – where an institution effectively governs itself.

“This means that members from a school who are appointed to the board can effectively control the board’s decisions. This is an obvious conflict and goes against well-established good governance principles. The goal is to ensure that the rules applicable to government-run schools are similar to those that apply to church-run schools,” he stated.

Dr. Stokes pointed out that Jamaica’s education system is relatively decentralised, with significant responsibility delegated to school boards to oversee institutional performance.

He said this underscores the importance of how school boards are selected, noting that several key factors must be considered.

These factors, Dr. Stokes said, include competence and intellectual diversity, rules governing board quorum, and the process for selecting chairpersons, all of which are essential to ensuring the proper composition and effective performance of school boards.

ETOC has been tasked with monitoring the implementation of 365 recommendations outlined in the Professor Orlando Patterson-chaired Jamaica Education Transformation Commission (JETC) report.

The recommendations cover seven pillars of transformation – governance and accountability; early childhood education; teaching, curriculum, and teacher training; tertiary education; technical and vocational education and training (TVET); infrastructure and technology; and finance

Jamaica Library Service Engages Hundreds Of Students In ‘keep Reading Alive’ Summer Programme

The Jamaica Library Service (JLS) summer programme is now under way with hundreds of students across the island being engaged under the theme ‘Keep Reading Alive in 2025’.

This initiative, which is being held during the months of July and August, aims to foster a love for reading, creativity, and critical thinking among children.

It involves collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information.

The Education Ministry, in a bulletin, said that the summer programme, which aligns with its literacy objectives, offers a variety of interactive, educational, and creative activities for children at the JLS’s parish or branch libraries. These include reading circles, authors’ corner, sports day, music sessions, art and craft workshops, think and draw, and much more.

The activities are carefully curated to promote literacy, creativity, and social engagement, making summer both meaningful and enjoyable for young learners, the Ministry said.

Parents, guardians, and school communities are encouraged to support children’s participation in this exciting programme. Interested patrons can contact their nearest parish library or the JLS headquarters at 1-876 926 3310-2 for more information on registration and participation.

The schedule for the JLS summer programme is July 14 to 25 – Kingston and St. Andrew, Clarendon, St. James, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Trelawny, Portland, St. Thomas, Hanover, and Westmoreland; July 21 to 31 – St. Ann Parish Library; and August 11 to 22, St. Catherine Parish Library.

The JLS summer programme offers an engaging and educational environment for children aged four to 14 years.