In an effort to make information more easily available to the public, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Kasan Troupe, is encouraging personnel with jobs relating to information access to be more open, accessible and accountable.

During her address on International Day for Universal Access on Monday (September 28), which is also being celebrated during the Ministry’s Right to Know Conference 2026 at AC Hotel, Kingston, Dr. Troupe made the call.

She encouraged public-sector officers to change their notion of wanting to keep information back and being responsible to the public.

“Colleagues, you are not simply processing requests. You are helping to build a culture; a culture in which citizens know that they can ask questions, a culture in which the public officers understand their responsibilities, a culture in which government information is treated as an important public resource,” Dr. Troupe said.

“It is a part of customer service to have information readily available and to respond. For public officers, I think this requires a shift in how we think about information. The question should not always be, ‘Why should we release this information?’ We should increasingly ask the question, ‘What information can we make available and how can we make it easier for people to find and understand that information?’ That’s the job,” she said.

She noted that access to information can help move public discussion beyond speculation and towards evidence, the foundation to understanding trends, evaluating programmes and generating knowledge.

Dr. Troupe also reminded them that public-sector workers have a responsibility to report publicly, because it is public funds that are paying them. However, she noted that in some legitimate circumstances in which information cannot be disclosed based on law, transparency should not depend entirely on the process.

“For civil society, information supports meaningful engagement with the government and the communities. And for citizens, it can answer something as simple as ‘What is happening and why is this happening?’ Where information can be proactively made available, that should be part of how we approach the public service,” Dr. Troupe said.

“What we do is not private work. It’s public work and we are accountable to the public, and so we have to make sure information is at our fingertips so we can make sure the public is fully aware of what is happening on their behalf… . There is value in all of this, because better informed citizens can engage more meaningfully,” she said.

At the event, there was a wide array of public-sector interests, primarily persons who are a part of departments that are responsible for information sharing and informing the public.

There were public officers responsible for facilitating public access to information, researchers who need reliable information to better understand Jamaica’s society, and civil society organisers who use information to engage the Government and advocate for change.

“Those may appear to be very different interests, yet there is something that connects us all. Information matters and the right to know matters, because people cannot meaningfully participate in society if they cannot access information. They need to understand what is happening around them. They need to have access, and so this is important for any country to be driving this portfolio,” she said.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has issued a call for private-sector leaders to actively collaborate with the Ministry and align investments with future workforce demands.

Speaking at the High-Level National Digital and AI Skills Roundtable on Tuesday, (September 29), at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Dr. Morris Dixon highlighted some of the structural shifts under way in Jamaica’s education system but noted that a partnership with the private sector is required to advance the workforce transformation.

“Nearly 40 per cent of the skills required in jobs are expected to change by 2030. Four out of 10 jobs will have to change… . Our task is bigger than training for training’s sake. The policy mission of the administration is to build a skills system that is connected directly to economic opportunity,” Dr. Morris Dixon stated.

She pointed to improvements in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations as evidence that foundational critical-thinking skills are already taking root in primary schools, yielding higher-calibre students at the high-school level.

To sustain this momentum, she emphasised that institutions like the HEART/NSTA Trust must adapt to better serve the productive needs of the Jamaican economy.

“So, this new model that we’re looking at, we have to ask industry some questions as we do our work in the Ministry of Education,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

“We have to ask what do you need? What occupations are becoming difficult to fill?… What kinds of skills are becoming more valuable?… And perhaps most importantly, what skills do you anticipate needing three or five years from now?” she questioned.

She noted that with the answers to these questions, the education system can be adjusted, especially at the high-school level, to meet industry standards.

The High-Level National Digital and AI Skills Round Table was hosted by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), in collaboration with ‘iamtheCODE’ Caribbean, the local arm of the Africa-led global movement, iamtheCODE Foundation, which was founded by Lady Marieme Jamme.

Co-Founder of iamtheCODE Caribbean, Mariame McIntosh Robinson, echoed the urgency for cross-sector coordination, citing World Bank data showing that while 36 per cent of Jamaica’s workforce (ages 25-64) holds a Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) accreditation, limited formal digital skills training accompanies it.

“Access to capital is often cited as a constraint to business growth. But lately, the whispers have crescendoed into an outcry where businesses are saying, I can’t find access to human capital. So… our goal is to ensure that we make our mark pulling people together to make a difference from a human capital standpoint,” Mrs. Robinson pointed out.

She detailed the progress of iamtheCODE Caribbean, which was launched last year in Jamaica.

The self-paced, fully remote learning platform provides a customised eight-module curriculum balancing technical computer coding language training with soft skills like design thinking, communications and project management.

Mrs. Robinson announced that applications for the second cohort of the initiative are currently open and will begin in November.

It builds on the success of cohort one, which included 160 learners, 90 of whom completed foundational HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and 40 completed all eight modules.

“While iamtheCODE focuses on girls and women across the world, for Jamaica, we made it clear at the beginning that we have an equal focus on men and women, boys and girls, because of what we’re trying to strive for in our society,” Mrs. Robinson added.

Jamaica is the 89th country to join the global iamtheCODE movement, which aims to empower one million women and girls with digital and STEAMD (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Design) skills by 2030.

Students at Roger Clarke High School, in Balaclava, St. Elizabeth, had improved performance in this year’s CSEC examinations, with the pass rate climbing to 75.6 per cent, up from 59.67 per cent in 2025.

State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Hon. Rhoda Moy Crawford, outlined the performance at the school’s 50th anniversary ceremony and officially opened a new cosmetology lab on Thursday, October 1.

She also noted that the overall pass rate stood at 54.9 per cent in 2024 and moved to 59.67 per cent in 2025.

She urged parents to make the school a first choice for their children, pointing to dedicated staff members who are “so passionate in moving your students” up the academic ladder.

The celebration was held under the theme ‘A Golden Journey: 50 Years of Inspiring Change Through Integrity and Achievement’.

Established in 1976 as Balaclava High School, the institution was renamed in 2015 in honour of the late former Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth North Eastern and former Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke.

The new cosmetology lab, funded by the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, the Co-operative Credit Union and the Scotiabank Foundation, is expected to give students hands-on training.

“This lab will give students the opportunity to connect theory with practice, develop competence and confidence,” Ms. Crawford said.

She added that cosmetology can lead to employment, further training and entrepreneurship.

According to the State Minister, the lab shows the value of partnership in education, noting that businesses, alumni and community groups can contribute through funding, equipment and mentorship.

In the meantime, Ms. Crawford said that the Ministry continues to push for technical and vocational education. This also includes greater involvement with the HEART/NSTA Trust in secondary schools, so more students graduate with recognised skill certification alongside academic qualifications.

“A lot of the persons who have their skill certificates… are earning far more than those who have pursued academics at universities,” she underscored.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, is urging young people to adopt a culture of giving blood regularly, noting that more persons are needed to give blood routinely to help save lives.

The Minister was addressing the mixer for the first cohort of student ambassadors to be inducted into the ‘You’re Somebody’s Type Blood Donation Youth Ambassador’s Programme’, held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew, on Monday (October 5).

The initiative is being undertaken through collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) to increase awareness about the importance of regular blood donation.

Senator Morris Dixon said Jamaica must move away from waiting until someone is critically ill and requires blood before mobilising donors.

“We have to do much more in giving blood donations and you, as young people, you’re going to have to start this revolution in Jamaica where we do it more often,” she said, noting that Jamaicans are frequently asked through WhatsApp messages to donate blood for persons in urgent need.

She encouraged the students to make blood donation a routine act of community service, pointing out that their efforts could have an impact beyond the persons they directly reach.

“You are saving lives when you do it,” she said, adding that a student may influence another person to donate, who may, in turn, encourage someone else to give blood.

“It still comes back to you,” the Minister said, while encouraging the young ambassadors to continue serving in their schools and communities.

Senator Morris Dixon also described students as leaders and said the country needs more young people who are willing to give back. She congratulated the ambassadors for accepting the responsibility and encouraged them to continue participating in school clubs and other activities that contribute to their communities.

Meanwhile, student of Immaculate Conception High School, Elena Chin, said the programme had helped the students to understand the human impact behind every request for blood.

“Behind every unit of blood needed is a person, a family, and a story,” she said, noting that blood shortages can affect surgeries and other critical medical care. She said testimony shared during the event demonstrated how blood donations can restore opportunities and improve quality of life, adding that she hoped recipients could return to school, work and their passions.

She said the ambassadors have accepted a responsibility to educate their peers, challenge misconceptions, use social media and start conversations about blood donation in schools, communities and families. She said the students intend to use creativity, teamwork, dedication and leadership to build a culture in which donating blood is viewed not as an occasional act but as a regular service to others.

State Minister in the Education, Skills, Youth and Information Ministry, Hon. Rhoda Moy Crawford, is thanking teachers for their hard work and dedication to the development of the nation’s students.

She said educators are among Jamaica’s greatest asset.

“As a teacher myself, I understand first-hand, the sacrifices that teachers have to make, I understand the level of commitment and dedication it takes,” she said.

“Behind every improvement we celebrate is a teacher who gave extra time, tried another strategy, encouraged a child to persevere, and refused to accept that a student is not improving,” she noted.

Ms. Crawford was addressing the World Teachers’ Day church service on Sunday (October 4) at the Church of God Prophecy in Spanish Town, St. Catherine.

She noted that this year’s World Teachers’ Day observance is significant because it marks 60 years since the adoption of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers.

It establishes international standards for teachers’ rights and responsibilities, their preparation and professional development, and the conditions needed for effective teaching and learning.

“Sixty years later, the profession continues to evolve,” Ms. Crawford said, noting that teachers are now navigating digital technologies and artificial intelligence, responding to increasingly diverse learning needs, and supporting students with social and emotional challenges.

“Yet, even as the tools and circumstances change, the importance of the teacher has not diminished. If anything, the complexity of education today reminds us why well-prepared supported and valued teachers are indispensable,” the State Minister said.

She noted that the education transformation agenda depends greatly on teachers.

“We can always introduce new technologies, improve infrastructure, strengthen curriculum and develop new programmes but it is the teachers who will bring about the needed transformation,” she said.

“They are the ones who will have to transform physical spaces and resources into meaningful experiences that can ensure the advancement of our students,” she pointed out.

During the function, awards were presented to outstanding teachers from Region 6 (St. Catherine) under the Quality Education Circle (QEC) initiative. These teachers were recognised for excellence in teaching, innovation and professional leadership and making a meaningful impact on learners, schools and communities.

The church service included the launch of the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (JTEC) Week 2026, which is being observed from October 4 to 9 under the theme ‘Building a Future-Ready Jamaica Through Higher Education’.

The week will highlight opportunities, share sector developments, and celebrate student success across Jamaica’s higher-education sector.

Ms. Crawford said that a future ready-Jamaica needs strong educators at every level of the education system.

“[We need] teachers preparing our youngest learners and those guiding students through secondary and tertiary education. Together, they build the knowledge, character and capabilities Jamaica will need,” she added.

National Coordinator for Safety and Security in Schools, Richard Troupe, says the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information is committed to preventing bullying in schools and ensuring safe learning environments.

He was speaking during a church service to mark the start of National Anti-Bullying Week 2026 at the Boulevard Baptist Church in Kingston on Sunday (October 4).

“For the Ministry, bullying prevention forms a part of our wider responsibility to ensure that our schools are safe spaces for teaching, for learning and for development,” he said.

Mr. Troupe noted that several approaches are being undertake, including school safety interventions, conflict resolution and restorative interventions and forging partnerships with government agencies and other stakeholders.

These measures, he said, recognise that creating safer schools requires the involvement of students, educators, parents, the church, communities and the wider support system of children.

Mr. Troupe noted that bullying can be physical or verbal, and involve intimidation, repeated teasing, exclusion, spreading rumors and deliberately humiliating another person.

He said that these behaviours are increasingly extending into digital spaces, where harmful comments, photographs or videos can be shared quickly and significantly increase the harm experienced by a child.

He urged parents and educators to listen to children, take their concerns seriously and pay attention to changes in behaviour.

“We must also intervene early, helping children who display bullying behaviour to understand the impact of their actions and develop healthier ways of managing conflict,” he said.

He noted that students have an important role to play in addressing bullying, encouraging them to report incidents to a teacher, guidance counsellor, dean of discipline, principal, parent or another trusted individual.

Mr. Troupe said National Anti-Bullying Week provides an opportunity for schools to strengthen conversations about bullying and cyberbullying, reinforce reporting mechanisms and remind students of the support available to them.

He assured that the Ministry remains committed to working with schools, families, communities and partners to ensure that every child can learn in an environment where they feel safe, respected and supported.

National Anti-Bullying Week is being observed from October 4 to 10 under the theme ‘Kindness Run Di Place; Bullying Nuh Have No Space’.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Marlon Morgan, says Winston Jones High School is slated to benefit from repair works following damage to sections of its buildings caused by Hurricane Melissa last October.

Senator Morgan said that as stewards of the students’ affairs and leaders within the education sector, the Ministry remains committed to addressing their concerns, noting that many students from lower-income households and communities located far from the school make tremendous sacrifices to access education.

He was speaking during the institution’s commencement exercise and 50th anniversary celebrations, held on the school’s campus in Prattville, Manchester, on Wednesday (October 7).

Meanwhile, Senator Morgan assured his audience that the national rural school bus service would be expanded over time to better serve students such as those attending Winston Jones High, adding that newly manufactured buses would be incorporated into the fleet as the Government continues to partner with parents to help ease their financial burden.

“[Additionally], we continue to provide support to schools in rural Jamaica as it relates to connectivity, including reliable Internet and broadband access. With respect to service provided by our telecoms partners and satellite Internet through Starlink, we are able to ensure that, although many of you are in rural communities, you have access to broadband. This makes it possible to do research and puts you on par with other parts of Jamaica,” the Parliamentary Secretary stated.

In the meantime, Senator Morgan urged students to reject violence in schools, conduct themselves in a manner that would make their parents, school and community proud, and develop strong interpersonal skills to support their personal growth and future success.

“We do not want to see Winston Jones High School students being featured on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook or any other platform for undesirable behaviour or involvement in brawls. Be prepared to stand up, stand out and do the right thing,” he maintained.

Member of Parliament for Manchester Southern, Peter Bunting, who also spoke at the event, encouraged students never to underestimate what is possible in their lives, noting that their present circumstances do not determine their future.

 

National Coordinator for Safety and Security in Schools, Richard Troupe, says school safety is a right for all students that goes beyond the absence of physical danger, permeating all facets of school life and operations.

Mr. Troupe was delivering remarks on behalf of portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, at the National Anti-Bullying Day Forum at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on Wednesday (October 7).

Speaking against the background of the National Assessment of Perception of School Safety and Security, he noted the importance of a safe school environment in achieving positive educational outcomes.

He said that the assessment makes the link between students’ perception of safety and their academic performance.

He noted that a one unit increase in the perception of safety and security was associated with a 9.67 per cent increase in academic performance among high-school students.

“Creating safer schools is not separate from improving educational outcomes. When students feel that their school is safe… we create better conditions for them to participate and to achieve,” Mr. Troupe said.

The assessment also found that students at primary and secondary schools were experiencing bullying.

“The assessment found that the experience was relatively similar across primary and high schools, with 39.3 per cent of students at the primary level and 38.1 per cent of students at the high-school level agreeing that… students are always being bullied at their school,” Mr. Troupe noted.

He said that the findings highlight the importance of ensuring that “every child know that there is an adult who will listen, take them seriously, and help them to find a way forward”.

National Assessment of Perception of School Safety and Security was conducted in 2022 with reports generated in 2023.

It will be used to guide the policy approach to strengthening school safety and security, including reviewing the amended Safe School Policy.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), Dr. Warren Thompson, in his address, said that bullying must be addressed through a collective effort involving children, parents, educators and the wider community.

He said the response must go beyond reacting to individual incidents and focus on creating school environments where children feel respected and included.

“The kind of school environment we want for our children cannot be built on fear, humiliation or exclusion. It must be built on respect, empathy, inclusion and the courage to stand up when something is wrong,” Dr. Thompson said.

He encouraged children and adults to speak up when bullying occurs or is suspected, noting that assistance is available through the national child protection helpline.

Dr. Thompson said the public can call 211 if they know or suspect that a child is being bullied or abused and needs help.

For his part, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Jamaica Deputy Representative, Mohammad Mohiuddin, said that bullying should be treated as an issue affecting children’s fundamental rights and not simply as misconduct that requires disciplinary action.

“Bullying is not merely a behavioural issue; it is a child rights issue,” he said.

Mr. Mohiuddin said the effects of bullying can undermine children’s ability to participate fully in school and feel protected within their learning environment.

“It undermines children’s rights to protection, dignity, participation, and quality education,” he said.

He called for schools to establish clear prevention strategies, safe mechanisms through which children can report bullying, and timely support for those affected.

Mr. Mohiuddin also underscored the role of parents and caregivers in responding appropriately when children disclose experiences of bullying.

He urged parents and caregivers to listen without judgment, while encouraging young people to speak up and seek assistance from trusted adults.

“Addressing bullying requires more than policies. It requires a culture of respect. It begins with all of us,” he said.

The National Anti-Bullying Day Forum, held under the theme ‘Kindness Run Di Place; Bullying Nuh Have No Space’, brought together students, educators, parents and child-protection stakeholders for youth and adult sessions focused on understanding.

 

The Integrity Commission has launched an ‘Integrity Corner’ initiative in four primary and preparatory schools, providing dedicated spaces where students can learn about and actively engage with the principles of honesty, fairness, responsibility and ethical behaviour from an early age.

The initiative, currently being piloted at Alvernia Preparatory School and Mona Heights Primary School in Kingston, as well as McIntosh Memorial Primary School and Prattville Primary School in Manchester, forms part of the Commission’s broader corruption prevention and integrity education efforts.

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank, today (September 16), Director of Corruption Prevention, Stakeholder Engagement and Anti-Corruption Strategy at the Commission, Sashein Wright-Chin, described the Integrity Corner as a child-friendly interactive space within the school environment, designed to help students explore and express what integrity means in their everyday lives.

According to Mrs. Wright-Chin, the programme reflects the Commission’s belief that building a society grounded in integrity must begin with the development of values during childhood.

“Very often when we talk about corruption, the conversation centres on investigations, prosecutions, laws, sanctions and enforcement. While those measures are important, we must also ask ourselves how we prevent corruption in the first place,” she said.

A key feature of the initiative is its student-driven approach. Each participating school received an Integrity Starter Kit from the Commission containing posters, integrity storybooks and other educational resources to support the development of the initiative.

In addition to educational materials supplied by the Commission, students contribute their own artwork, posters, messages and creative projects to the Integrity Corner, allowing them to interpret and express the concept of integrity in their own voices.

“We do not want integrity to be something that is simply taught to children. We want them to engage with it, think about it and express it for themselves,” Mrs. Wright-Chin explained.

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, which has supported its introduction within participating schools and helped to ensure the programme is appropriate for the school environment.

Senior Education Officer, Core Curriculum Unit in the Ministry, Marlon Williams, who also addressed the Think Tank, said there was no hesitation on the part of the Ministry in partnering with the Integrity Commission on this initiative.

“When the Integrity Commission reached out to the Ministry almost a year ago, we did not think twice about the partnership. At the Ministry we are not just concerned about teaching the subjects; we are concerned about developing the whole child. And so, we saw it as an opportunity because what the Integrity Commission introduced is actually reinforcing some of the principles that we are teaching at the Ministry,” Mr. Williams said.

“Ultimately, this is about prevention. If we want to change attitudes towards corruption over the long term, we must invest in shaping values from an early age. We want integrity to become not simply something our children hear about but something they understand, practise and live,” Mrs. Wright-Chin said.

Some 500 educators are expected to receive training under the Nurturing Early Scientific Thinking (NEST) Programme, during the academic school year.

Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, made the disclosure during a post-Cabinet press briefing held on Wednesday (September 9) at Jamaica House.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) and the Scientific Research Council (SRC), to implement the initiative islandwide.

The MOU was signed by Executive Director of the ECC, Karlene DeGrasse Deslandes and Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister, Ambassador Rocky Meade.

“We will begin with a cohort of some 50 Early Childhood Commission master trainers, experienced practitioners from the Commission’s own network, trained not simply to teach science but to teach the teaching of science. Those 50 will reach 500 educators in this financial year alone. Each one of the 500 trained will stand every morning in front of a classroom,” Dr. Wheatley said.

“The maths is simple, which is also science. Fifty becomes 500, and 500 becomes something in the order of 10,000 Jamaican children in a single school year. The first 50 are not finished when the first 500 teachers are trained. They remain within the Commission, in the parishes, ready to train the next 500, and the 500 after that,” he added.

The Minister informed that the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund is providing $50 million for the acquisition of advanced Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) kits.

Dr. Wheatley also expressed appreciation to the SRC for applying its expertise to the procurement of the kits and to the next activity books.

“The memorandum we signed today gives this work a clear framework, defined roles, strong training, quality assurance, and continuity,” he said.

The NEST Programme is aimed at introducing science at the early childhood level.