Acting Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth & Information, Terry-Ann Thomas Gayle (right), shares a photo opportunity with (back row from left) Jodi Ann Mullings, Vice Principal, St. Mary’s College, Annmarie James; Akeem Mitchell; Christine Howell; Chief Executive Officer ,e-Learning Jamaica, Andrew Lee; Oral Gayle; Community Relations Education Officer, Kereen Reid; Monique Davis-Porter; and Principal, St Mary’s College, Ryan Williams. Seated is student, St Mary’s College, Nathaniel Perkins.  The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth & Information introduced the IXL Interactive Online Learning Platform as a targeted intervention to support 1,625 grade seven students experiencing challenges in English Language and Mathematics across 56 National School Learning and Intervention Plan (NSLIP) secondary schools. Funded through the Jamaica Education Project (JEP) and supported by e-Learning Jamaica Limited through the provision of tablets, the initiative seeks to improve student outcomes through technology-enabled learning. St Mary’s College has emerged as a leading school in the use of the platform recording more than 10,500 questions answered and over 200 skills mastered.

The importance of school gardens in strengthening food security, healthy living and environmental sustainability was underscored during the recently held National School Garden Grand Exhibition 2026.

Held at the José Martí Technical High School in St. Catherine, under the theme ‘From the Farm to the Table’, the exhibition showcased vibrant displays from participating institutions across Jamaica, highlighting the contribution of school gardens to nutrition and agricultural education, and recognition of outstanding projects.

Scores of schools received top awards, while several regions were recognised for their commitment to promoting agriculture and food production among students.

Regional Director in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Sophia Forbes-Hall, said the theme served as a powerful reminder of the need to promote food security, healthy nutrition, environmental sustainability and self-reliance among young people.

She noted that the project has grown beyond gardening by contributing to school feeding programmes, encouraging healthy eating habits, strengthening environmental awareness, promoting entrepreneurship and supporting Jamaica’s national food security and sustainable development goals.

The Regional Director commended principals, teachers, education officers, judges, sponsors and community partners for their commitment to the initiative while paying special tribute to the students, whose enthusiasm and creativity continue to drive the programme’s success.

Presenting the Chief Judge’s Report, Assistant Chief Education Officer, Dr. Olivine Evans, said this year’s exhibition recognised 67 schools that have successfully sustained their gardens.

She said that the project was expanded to include infant schools, primary schools, special education institutions and learning centres, making the competition more inclusive.

She noted that judging extended beyond the exhibition itself, with more than 70 judges from the Ministry, the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), Heart Foundation of Jamaica and other partners conducting on-site assessments at participating schools.

She said the judges assessed school gardens based on community involvement, garden quality, environmental management, biodiversity and curriculum integration. Displays at the exhibition were evaluated for visual appeal, originality, relevance to the theme and overall impact, while participating schools were also required to prepare creative dishes using produce from their gardens.

These culinary entries were judged on the use of garden produce, creativity, nutritional value, culinary quality and sustainability.

Dr. Evans highlighted several strengths observed during the adjudication process, including the high level of student interest, strong community involvement, well-maintained gardens, adherence to safety standards and the effective use of resources provided to schools.

She expressed gratitude to the judges, teachers, parents, students and partner organisations, including the World Food Programme, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Sagicor, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Heart Foundation of Jamaica (HFJ), for supporting the initiative.

The new special education diagnostic centre being built by the Government in Portland is expected to open in September.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, made the disclosure on Tuesday (July 7) at the Rotary Club of St. Andrew’s 60th Installation Ceremony held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

The facility, which is being set up at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), will eliminate the need for families in eastern Jamaica to travel to Kingston for developmental and educational assessments.

“People who live in Portland [and] St. Mary don’t have to come to Kingston to get their child assessed. They can now do it in Portland. They don’t have to travel this long distance to receive basic support for their children,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

“This is a part of our policy to have more diagnostic centres across the country,” she added.

Up to December 2024, construction of two other diagnostic facilities was completed at Church Teachers’ College in Manchester and Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College in St. James.

Relating her own experience as a parent of a special needs child, and the challenges faced, the Education Minister said that the Government is making the necessary steps to improve access to support, including policy measures.

Senator Morris Dixon said that the Ministry is also looking at increasing enrolment in special education training to adequately staff the facilities.

“I need people in there who can administer the diagnostic test and provide the reports, and there is a shortage of that in Jamaica. So, building the structure is one thing, staffing it is the other concern, and so we are intervening there in the supply of professional talent,” she noted.

She informed that scholarships are available for studies in areas such as educational psychology, clinical psychology, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.

There are also funding options for therapeutic care for children with special needs under the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Barry Wint Scholarship programme.

“So, if any of you have any young people thinking about where they want to go in life, given this data that we have globally, that there are going to be more special needs children that need care, this is an area I would hope you would encourage young people to go in, and there are scholarships that are available for them,” Dr. Morris said.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Marlon Morgan, has urged graduating high-school students to explore options for technical and vocational training as they plan for the next step of their educational journey.

“As you get into your summer holidays, I want you… to think carefully about the decisions you are about to make in relation to your next endeavour. At the available HEART/NSTA Trust, for example, we have a free programme of study up to the degree level, insofar as level-five certification,” Senator Morgan said.

He was bringing greetings on behalf of the Ministry, at the school-leaving ceremony for Gaynstead High School, held at the Shortwood Teachers’ College in Kingston, on Wednesday (July 1).

Senator Morgan pointed out that there are some households that may not be able to afford fees for universities and other places of higher learning.

He emphasised that skills training and certification provide another option for those students to continue their development and later have prospects in the job market.

Senator Morgan pointed out that there are free tertiary-level training opportunities available through the HEART/NSTA Trust.

“Go and register at the HEART/NSTA Trust so that you can access at no cost to you, basically, a programme of training that could take you up to level five, free of cost, which is the same as a first degree… . That has been made available to you through your Government and through the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information,” he detailed.

Meanwhile, noting recent advances and breakthroughs in technology that have narrowed disparities between nations, Mr. Morgan urged the graduates to use the opportunities and the possibilities that are within their reach to make the best of themselves.

“I’m talking about such things as artificial intelligence (AI). I’m talking about new media, avenues that you can use to learn, acquire knowledge, acquire skills, and go on to lead successful lives,” he urged.

The Senator emphasised that the students are now living in a world where based on information access and advances in technology, they can compete with their peers globally.

He added that they can “blaze a trail and lead successful lives, whether in digital animation, graphics, robotics, content creation, creative industries…you name it, the possibilities are endless”.

The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information will be investing $15 million to establish a smart greenhouse laboratory at Thompson Town High School in Clarendon during the 2027/28 academic year.

This was announced by Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kasan Troupe, during her address at the institution’s school-leaving ceremony on Tuesday (June 30).

For the upcoming academic year, Dr. Troupe announced that the school will receive a special grant of $6 million, along with a $1.5-million increase in its operational grant and an additional $1 million to support its industrial lab.

The Permanent Secretary also pledged to donate a 60-inch television to the institution from her personal funds.

“I have seen your Principal’s passion, and as the Permanent Secretary, it is my responsibility to support that journey… because the students here, they deserve it. They have made the sacrifice.

They have worked hard, and today we celebrate them in this transitioning exercise.” she affirmed.

Drawing on her own life and accomplishments, Dr. Troupe encouraged the graduates to work diligently in pursuit of success, reminding them that their starting point does not determine their destination.

The Permanent Secretary shared that, as a young student, she did not pass the common entrance high-school placement examination.

“I did not see my name in the paper… . I had that experience. But I am here to testify that it’s not about where you have started; it’s where you are going, and it’s also about what you do with the experience that you have got. You blossom, you bloom where you are planted,” Dr. Troupe said.

She noted that she attended Trench Town Comprehensive High School in Kingston, which, like Thompson Town High, was not regarded as one of the island’s top schools.

“But that didn’t stop my journey of excellence, and ought not to stop the journey for your boys and your girls,” Dr. Troupe told parents.

She noted that after leaving Trench Town High, she went on to attend The Mico University College and later the University of the West Indies, graduating at the top of her class with First Class Honours at each institution.

Today, I am the Permanent Secretary in the largest ministry in the government. This is the highest job in the public service in my country. So for that little girl from a school like Thompson Town… it can be done,” Dr. Troupe affirmed.

She urged the graduates to reject excuses and adopt a mindset of intentional excellence, emphasising that hard work and success are inseparably linked.

“Excellence and hard work are very good friends; you will not see one without the other. So if you want that intentional success, you must embrace hard work,” the Permanent Secretary maintained.

She emphasised that the Government has established mechanisms such as the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) to support students in achieving academic excellence.

“[The Ministry also] provides scholarships for young people every single year. All they have to do is to go on the website and apply. There are opportunities,” Dr. Troupe added.

She has been teaching for more than 20 years but was thrust into the spotlight recently with the release of this year’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP) results.

Dian Dennis is the teacher of the top primary-school PEP performer, Jasonnia Beadle, from Park Mountain Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth.

Mrs. Dennis has been teaching Jasonnia since last September when she entered grade six and is proud of helping to guide her to success.

She describes the top performer as quiet and reserved, who has to be called on to participate or respond in class but who is always correct when she does.

“She’s always on point; even if she doesn’t answer, everything is on point but if she gets it wrong, she always comes to ask, what was wrong with it. She is okay with explanations and her homework assignments are on point and perfect. She has never been late with her homework,” a proud Mrs. Dennis said.

The teacher spoke with JIS News when Education Skills, Youth and Information Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, visited the institution on June 25, to offer personal congratulations to the celebrated student.

The more than 400 students enrolled at the school were still on a high at the achievement.

Mrs. Dennis said that Jasonnia has an almost perfect attendance record but in the event that she is absent, she will call to request work that she has missed. She takes responsibility for her school work and is always reading or studying with other students. She is also consistent in her work.

“She has been performing at the top level from grade four and makes time for the Brownies club, is an avid reader and plays online games. She is not much of a playing child but she reads a lot. Because she is so focused, I expect her to keep on excelling,” Mrs. Dennis said.

The veteran teacher told JIS News that her star pupil is “intrinsically driven”.

“We have motivational sessions every morning and they repeat their affirmations. Jasonna is motivated and you won’t come into class to find her chatting or playing,” she pointed out.
Jasonnia will join her cousins at Hampton School for Girls come September, and Mrs. Dennis is expecting her to continue to excel.

With Josannia’s success, Mrs. Dennis, who has been at Park Mountain since 2009, said the expectation is for even greater accomplishments next year, telling JIS News that she is up to the task.

While noting the challenges, she said she is in the profession for the long haul and has no plans to leave the country or her Jamaican students.

Mrs. Dennis shared that everything she does is in the best interests of her students, noting that she is motivated when they do well.

“It’s not the salary that keeps me; it’s moments like these. It doesn’t matter the set of students I get each year, by the end of the year, I am extremely proud of them,” she told JIS News.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Hon. Rhoda Crawford, says graduating from high school is a defining milestone that propels students towards a lifetime of excellence.

Delivering the keynote address at the Hampton School Valedictory Service Class of 2026 in Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth, on June 21, Ms. Crawford told the graduates that not only should they be proud but should also consider themselves a very important part of Jamaica’s ever-evolving educational landscape.

“As you take this important step on your life’s journey, please note that courage and courtesy are not luxuries; they are the foundations on which we build a life of learning, leadership, and service,” the State Minister said.

“Know who you are, pursue excellence with purpose, and let discipline and character be your compass as you navigate the opportunities ahead,” the State Minister continued.

Ms. Crawford emphasised that education is an all-important catalyst for social advancement, adding that the Hampton School with its rich tradition of excellence shows what can be achieved when communities invest in “our young women”.

“As Jamaica moves through converging challenges, our graduates must carry courage and courtesy into every classroom, workplace, and community. We must empower every student to reach higher levels, knowing that integrity and perseverance will sustain success beyond the classroom,” she added.

As Hampton marks 168 years of forging leaders, State Minister Crawford spoke of resilience, self-knowledge, and the essential role of education as a catalyst for social advancement and praised Hampton School’s enduring reputation for excellence and the collaborative effort of parents, teachers, and alumni in sustaining high standards across generations.

She urged graduates to stay the course and to take the values that have been instilled in them to higher education and the job market, emphasising that character and discipline are as crucial as academic achievement.

Reflecting on her own youth, Ms. Crawford described formative experiences that reinforced the connection between moral development, access to education, and public service.

She argued that education is inseparable from leadership and community service, a message she said resonates with Hampton’s mission to cultivate not only scholars but principled young women prepared to contribute to Jamaica’s future.

Ms. Crawford urged graduates, families, and educators to maintain environments that nurture excellence and courtesy.

Eight schools across Kingston and St. Andrew will be outfitted with hydration stations as part of the Hydrate Caribbean Jamaica: Healthy Students, Healthy Futures initiative.

The project aims to increase students’ water consumption, reduce dependence on sugary beverages, and foster healthier lifestyle choices while promoting sustainable habits through the use of reusable water bottles.

Beneficiary schools include Tarrant High, Clan Carthy High, Kingston Technical High, Pembroke Hall High, Edith Dalton James High, Oberlin High, Papine High, and Mavis Bank High.

The National Education Trust (NET) is partnering with Newport Water Limited, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Diabetes Association of Jamaica to facilitate implementation of the project, which is scheduled to begin in July.

Addressing Thursday’s (June 25) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at Clan Carthy High School in Kingston, Deputy Chief Education Officer for Curriculum and Support Services in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Winnie Berry, noted that discussions about education often focus on curriculum reform, teaching quality, student performance, and assessment outcomes.

“These are important areas of focus. However, learning does not take place in isolation from the broader conditions that affect our students on a daily basis. A student’s ability to participate, concentrate and engage meaningfully in the classroom is influenced by a wide range of factors, including health and well-being,” she said.

Dr. Berry emphasised that ongoing research consistently indicates how hydration supports concentration, attention, and overall cognitive functioning.

She further explained that when students are unable to stay adequately hydrated throughout the school day, their ability to fully participate in learning activities may be compromised.

“The initiative is further strengthened by an educational component that encourages healthy lifestyle practices and increased awareness of personal health and wellness. While the act of accessing clean drinking water may appear simple, the cumulative effect of creating healthier school environments should not be underestimated,” Dr. Berry said.

She urged the students at the beneficiary schools to take full advantage of the hydration facilities provided.

“Pay close attention to the health messages that accompany this initiative. Developing positive habits at an early stage can have lasting benefits throughout your educational journey and beyond,” Dr. Berry underscored.

Newport Water Limited Project Lead, Sheridan Greaves, explained that the initiative originated in Barbados.

“Since 2020, this programme has accumulated 5.1 million bottle fills in Barbados. These are not bottles that had to be recycled and collected. These were bottles… that didn’t end up in our landfills… didn’t end up in our oceans and gullies,” he explained.

Mr. Greaves said he is anticipating the positive impact the initiative will have across the eight beneficiary schools and throughout Jamaica, as the entity pursues corporate sponsorship to support its expansion.

“I would like to thank the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their significant contribution to Hydrate Caribbean. They took the extra step to provide funding, not only for the stations themselves, but for stainless steel reusable water bottles for each and every single student at these eight schools, as well as 13 schools back home in Barbados,” Mr. Greaves disclosed.

Meanwhile, Senior Vice Principal at Clan Carthy High School, Laurel James, said the institution is deeply grateful to be selected as one of the pilot sites for the project.

“It is a commitment to the long-term well-being of our students. By providing accessible, purified drinking water, you are actively supporting our health, improving our daily concentration and encouraging habits that will last us a lifetime,” Mr. James said.

He encouraged students to make the conscious choice to drink water, stay hydrated, and care for the station that has been generously provided to their school.

The Government has earmarked $310 million to rebuild and strengthen St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS)in Santa Cruz.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, made the announcement while addressing the school’s graduation ceremony on June 25, held under the theme ‘Through Challenges We Rise: Embracing Resilience and Achieving Success’.

Dr. Morris Dixon said the investment is part of a broader, multibillion-dollar national effort to rebuild more than 400 schools that sustained damage when the category-five Hurricane Melissa swept across the island in October last year.

“We have 400 schools that have been damaged across Jamaica and all of them we are trying to build back at the same time. You know, that’s a very difficult feat; it’s very hard,” Dr. Morris Dixon outlined.

The Minister pointed out the scope of work being carried out at STETHS, such as redesigning the male and female dormitories with reinforced concrete roof slabs and additional supporting columns to improve structural stability to better withstand future storms.

Also, the damaged teachers’ cottage and the principal’s residence are being upgraded, while the grade-11 block will receive reinforced purlins beneath new 24-gauge industrial roof sheeting, she noted.

Dr. Morris Dixon said additional strengthening works will be carried out across the campus to withstand high winds, heavy rainfall and other extreme weather conditions.

In the meantime, the Minister said that STETHS will become home to Jamaica’s first high-school mechatronics and robotics laboratory when students return in September.

She indicated that the state-of-the-art facility forms part of a $400-million investment by the Ministry, using funding from the HEART/NSTA Trust, to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in technical high schools across the island.

“We believe that our students at STETHS, or any of the other technical high schools in Jamaica, must have the best technology at their fingertips,” Dr. Morris Dixon underscored.

Addressing the graduating students directly, the Minister encouraged them to mirror the resilience being built into their school’s walls.

She acknowledged that life would bring setbacks and moments of disappointment but urged them to keep moving forward and to view closed doors not as failures but as redirections.

To celebrate the outstanding performance of Primary Exit Profile (PEP) students of Park Mountain Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, visited the institution on Thursday, June 25.

The visit was particularly special, as 11-year-old Jasonnia Beadle of the school had emerged as Jamaica’s top primary school student in the PEP examinations.

Dr. Morris Dixon celebrated the achievement by donating a laptop to both Jasonnia, the school’s Head Girl, as well as the school’s Head Boy, Najhay Nish, who secured a spot at Munro College.

The Minister said that both students alongside their peers were proof that talent and potential exist across every part of Jamaica, regardless of how remote or rural the community might be.

“I’m so glad you get to be highlighted, to get all this publicity because it was hard work. It’s not just something that just happened. It is something that has taken place because of the leadership and the school community,” Dr. Morris Dixon outlined.

She praised the students’ maturity and confidence, noting that their comments reflected the quality of teaching and preparation taking place at the school, despite the impact of Hurricane Melissa in October last year.

The Minister also commended the principal, the school Board and the teaching staff for transforming the institution into an “elite school”.

She noted that the school’s Mathematics and English initiatives, which she observed during a previous visit, have clearly borne fruit and that this achievement is a direct result of deliberate actions and strong leadership.

“So, what I’ve learned from interacting with the head boy and the head girl, who is that number-one primary student, is that success can be had in our schools where we put in the initiatives,” Dr. Morris Dixon explained.

“Also, the parents are very involved, the PTA is here and involved, and that says a lot. So, you have a school with excellent leadership, you have excellent teachers, you have a community that is involved – that is how we get success,” she added.

Dr. Morris Dixon pointed out that the Government remains committed to supporting schools across the island, so that more students can realise their potential and achieve academic excellence.