Improvements have been made in several subject areas by students who sat this year’s secondary-school external examinations, according to the Ministry of Education and Youth.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, addressing a press conference today (September 7), pointed out that, “notwithstanding areas of challenges and concern, we also saw some improvements, and we will continue the efforts to ensure that our students are enabled to pursue their education and career goals”.

The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) tests were administered through the Offices of the Overseas Examinations Commission, in June and July.

For CSEC, Jamaican students were registered to sit 34 exams and of that number, 12 subjects showed improved pass rates when compared to 2021. Most notable among them are passes in Additional Mathematics, which increased by 12.3 per cent; English B, which increased by 9.1 per cent; and Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM), which increased by 7.3 per cent.

Nine CSEC subjects had an average pass rate of over 80 per cent. They are Agricultural Science – double award; Agricultural Science – single award; EDPM; Family and Resource Management; Food, Nutrition and Health; Industrial Technology; Office and Administration; Principles of Business; and Physical Education and Sport.

In CAPE, of the 35 subjects entered this year by all candidates in Jamaica, Unit 1 showed an average pass rate improvement in 15 subjects and unit 2 had improvements in 18 subjects. A pass in CAPE refers to the attainment of grades one to five.

On the other hand, students’ performance in CSEC Maths decreased by one per cent this year, when compared to the previous year, with a pass rate of 37.2 per cent. For English, a 69.9 per cent pass rate was attained, which is a 3.4 per cent decrease when compared to last year. CAPE Applied Maths also had a pass rate of just 56.2 per cent.

Overall, 30,331 public school students were registered for CSEC exams. 28,227 of these students, or 93.1 per cent, sat the exams and 83.5 per cent of them passed at least one subject with grades one, two or three. 1,155 entries were deferred.

In addition, 143 more students from public schools were registered for CSEC this year, in comparison to last year.

For CAPE, 11,649 candidates from public schools entered both Units 1 and 2. 183 entries were deferred for these exams.

Minister Williams commended students for the strides they have made in their education and for the perseverance to complete the external exams “under very trying and challenging circumstances”.

“I also want to encourage those who may not have done as well as they would have liked, to look for opportunities that will contribute to improved performance,” she urged.

The Minister also thanked teachers and parents for supporting the nation’s students in their academic pursuits.

The Ministry of Education and Youth is to spend $2 billion on textbooks this academic year, of which $1 billion is for primary schools and $1 billion for high schools.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, made the disclosure during the sitting of the House of Representatives on September 6.

“I am particularly pleased of the greater investment in textbooks at the high-school level. Prior to this last year, we were only able to invest $200 million at the high-school level,” Mrs. Williams said.

Textbooks will be available in the usual hard copy and e-book format.

She informed that the Ministry has worked with the principals in the schools to determine the mix of text versus e-book format.

“Distributions have begun and will continue to the end of September. For the e-books, the student will only need to download the book once and will have it on their device for the entire year,” Mrs. Williams said.

Regarding dress and grooming, the Minister said an initial consultation session with principals has been held about the vexed issue of dress and grooming in schools.

“We implore our parents to ensure their children obey the school rules. If our parents desire a change in a school rule regarding dress and grooming, these changes are done by a standard process,” Mrs. Williams said.

“I would implore our parents to attend Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) [meetings] where you can put the particular issue you have with the school rules on the table. Rules and regulations are set by a standard process,” she added.

Mrs. Williams said a parent cannot just say, nothing is wrong with sending his or her child to school in tight pants, when the school rules specifically describe the pants that should be worn.

“School rules are about discipline in school. School rules are about preparation for living in the wider society in which we have to co-exist with each other. There are rules everywhere in society that all of us have to obey. We must teach our children in our schools to obey the school rules,” she emphasised.

“If you believe the school rule needs to be changed, engage the process. Do not lock the school gate, do not bad up the teacher or principal. Engage the process. If the school says no pink hair, do not send your child with pink hair. Obey the school rules,” the Minister urged.

The main goal of transforming Jamaica’s education system is to close the inequality gap in students’ learning experiences and outcomes, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has said.

He noted that critical to accomplishing this objective is standardising resources and strengthening the accountability framework within the sector.

“The objective of the transformation is to keep the schools that are doing well, [doing] even better. But we have to focus on those sectors of the education system that are not doing well and lift up their standards, lift up their accountability and improve their output,” Mr. Holness said.

He was addressing the Office of the Prime Minister’s (OPM) Face-to-Face Townhall Meeting on Education, at Jamaica College in St. Andrew, on Friday (September 9).

Noting that the sector’s transformation is long overdue, Prime Minister Holness urged all stakeholders to support the process.

He said the Government will be emphasising accountability and efficiency in the delivery of education, to remove inequalities in the system and improve student performance across all institutions.

“That is what the objective is, because we’ve got to remove the inequality and inequities of the Jamaican society and start with equalising educational [outputs], not by tearing down those who are doing well, but by pulling [them] up,” he said.

‘The Reform of Education in Jamaica 2021 Report’ was launched in January 2022, with the Ministry of Education and Youth tasked to implement the recommendations.

Prior to this Report, there have been several others. They include the 2004 Taskforce on Educational Reform, the Education System Transformation Programme, which was started in 2010, and the 2012 National Education Strategic Plan.

The Children’s Advisory Panel (CAP) of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) is accepting new members this year, and interested youth are being encouraged to apply.

The body, which comprises members aged 13 to 17, is refreshed every two years to allow older members to make way for new persons.

“Right now, so many of our members have passed the age limit and the CAP is going to shrink significantly. We’re going to need people to fill the gaps,” outgoing Chair, Jessica Russell, told JIS News.

The CAP has a core function of providing feedback to the CPFSA and ensuring that children have an input in matters that will affect them.

“If there are any new laws that need to be instated or if there are any events that are going to have children, they (CPFSA) will ask us for our opinion,” Ms. Russell informed.

The panel’s other activities include, from time to time, the formation of its own projects and plans.

It was formed 10 years ago and mostly represents wards of the State, especially since the CPFSA monitors and supports these children.

“We have the Students’ Council in place for the education sector and they cover a lot of students; so, we decided to pay special attention to those in State care,” Ms. Russell pointed out.

A major event of the CAP is the biennial National Children’s Summit, which is intended to give the wards a platform to express themselves.

This was last held on August 18 at the National Indoors Sports Centre in Kingston, under the theme: ‘Beat the Odds, Chart Your Destiny’, with hundreds of wards attending.

Persons interested in joining the CAP can visit the CPFSA’s website for the relevant contact information. A parent’s permission is required, and an interview process is involved for all potential members.

Youth in State care are especially encouraged to apply and are asked to speak to the Director at their residential care facility.

“Any child who’s willing to step up to a leadership position is welcome to join, because CAP is a chance for you to grow as a person,” Ms. Russell said.

“For me, I was shy before and then I grew into the position. It’s such a rich opportunity. I’ve gotten the chance to meet so many different people and it’s also great because it shows that you’re involved in your community,” she added.

Educators across the island are being invited to participate in the Scientific Research Council’s (SRC’s) summer attachment programme next week.

The free five-day professional development initiative aims to advance the knowledge of teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Activities get under way on Monday (August 8) with a virtual workshop, which will be held over three days.

A two-day tour of the SRC, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and other entities within the Hope Gardens Complex will close off the programme.

Interested teachers are required to complete a registration form, which can be found on the SRC’s website and submit their résumé for consideration.

Coordinator for the Science and Technology Education Unit at the SRC, Kavelle Hylton, told JIS News that through the initiative, the entity is targeting improvement in students’ performance in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

She noted that while it is tailored for primary and secondary-level educators, early-childhood teachers are welcome to join to advance their knowledge in STEM.

Ms. Hylton noted that the professional development programme, which was on a break for seven years, has been given “a fresh look”.

“Most of our programmes target students but we understand that in order to make a greater impact, we definitely need to empower our teachers,” Ms. Hylton said.

She noted that the workshop component “is very important because it includes looking at integrating STEM into the curriculum for these teachers. It also looks at the industry and STEM careers”.

The session will include presentations by industry experts on topics such as tissue culture, food chemistry, and microbiology.

Ms. Hylton said that at the end of the workshop the educators will be able to create meaningful and engaging classroom experiences for their students.

“By learning the different techniques… teachers can implement them in the classroom to make [learning] more fun and bring science alive to create an interest in students to pursue a career in STEM,” she said.

In addition to knowledge building, the initiative aims to enhance the educators’ STEM-focused investigation skills.

“This is a very worthwhile programme for teachers, and I’m definitely imploring teachers to take this opportunity,” Ms. Hylton said.

She told JIS News that the organisation is looking to partner with teachers’ colleges and training institutions going forward and to have the workshop in-person next year.

The Savanna-la-Mar Primary School will benefit from financial assistance of US$10,000 per annum over the next two years under the revised Adopt-A-School Programme of the National Education Trust (NET).

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide the support was signed by representatives of Dreams To Reality (DTR) Foundation, Dequity Capital Management and the school, during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Education and Youth in Kingston on Thursday (July 28).

Acting Chief Education Officer, Dr. Kasan Troupe, who represented portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, at the signing, lauded the partnership as a “gift that will continue to give.”

“Education is a weapon that breaks the cycle of poverty and gives people the opportunity to transform their economic and social realities. You are not just touching the individuals who will benefit directly, but those who will benefit [indirectly],” she pointed out.

She said that the education sector requires “all hands on deck”, to provide students with opportunities that will enrich their learning.

Under the Adopt-A-School Programme, individuals and organisations are invited to identify schools within their geographical area that are in need of some intervention.

The objective is to promote partnerships for the development of the education sector.

Executive Director at NET, Latoya Harris, said that the Trust aims to connect “everyone who has a genuine interest in the development of [students] with institutions islandwide”.

“It’s important that we put our children front and centre, and how we [do it] is to make available to them resources and opportunities that they wouldn’t normally have,” she noted.

Chairman of the DTR Foundation, Garold Hamilton, who is a past student of Savanna-la-Mar Primary, welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the development of the institution.

“I consider [this] part of a legacy I’m trying to create in giving back to communities… not only the Westmoreland community but to whoever and whenever I can,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of Dequity Capital, Adrian Smith, noted that the collaboration with DTR is “one I was very happy about. I’m glad we could be a part of this [and] I know that we’re going to have a beautiful partnership”.

Principal of Savanna-la-Mar Primary, Megan Berry, expressed gratitude.

“We dreamt of this relationship, and today it is a reality. I want to assure [everyone] that your benevolence will undoubtedly impact thousands of lives for years to come. Thank you for believing in us,” she said.

During the pandemic, the DTR Foundation invested in schools across the island by donating more than 400 tablets, as well as providing 100 tablets to Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness’ Positive Jamaica Foundation, to help bridge the digital divide.

For assistance in adopting a school and to make other contributions to the education sector, interested parties can visit www.net.org.jm, email NET, [email protected], or call 876-485-9725.

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) officially broke ground for implementation of the Safe Passage Project at the Roehampton Primary School in St. James, on Thursday (July 28).

The project is being funded by the Government at a cost of $20 million and is expected to be completed in October of this year.

The Safe Passage Project aims to provide a safe environment for students as they traverse specific streets and bus stops that are surrounding, near to or on school campuses, as well as comprehensive public education and road-safety programmes to include staff, students and residents.

Scope of work for the project will include the construction of a sidewalk, bus stop, guardrails, U-drain/box culvert, 190 metres of fencing, traffic signals and pedestrian crossing.

The project forms part of JSIF’s Integrated Community Development Project – Phase 2 (ICDP II).

In his remarks, Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Homer Davis, who is also Member of Parliament for St. James Southern, thanked JSIF for implementing the project in Roehampton.

“School should be a safe space for all, not only for learning but also for play. When they (children) step out on the road, the necessary road and school signs must be there to protect them,” Mr. Davis said.

“The partnership between JSIF and these local schools couldn’t come at a better time, and I know the teachers and the students are very happy for this project. It is a project that is very far-reaching, very profound and it will uplift the way people behave,” he added.

For her part, Senior Manager of Social Development at JSIF, Mona Sue Ho, said that the project is for “our children and for our future. They deserve to work in the future, but for now as they are in school, they deserve the best possible learning environment, and they also deserve to get to school safely and to go back home to their parents and guardians safely”.

She added that the agency will also be working with the Ministry of Transport and Mining to have road-safety clubs in Roehampton Primary.

Principal of Roehampton Primary, Dane Julius, expressed gratitude to JSIF for the project.

“The safety of our children is of extreme importance to all of us, especially in a time when there are so many accidents on our roadways. This Safe Passage Project will not just cater to the students and staff at Roehampton Primary but will extend to other pedestrians who will [traverse] the roadway in this vicinity,” he said.

The project is set to benefit some 120 students, seven teachers and two auxiliary staff members of the school.

The tertiary education of children exiting State care will be fully funded by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), through its Transitional Living Programme (TLP).

This was noted by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CPFSA, Rosalee Gage-Grey, at the agency’s Transitional Living Expo for the Western and Northeast Regions, at the St. John Methodist Church Hall in Montego Bay, St. James, on July 19.

“There is a guarantee that once you matriculate to university or college, we will pay those tuition fees for you, so all you have to do is pass the exams and get into college, and the rest we will take care of,” the CEO said.

Mrs. Gage-Grey added that through the TLP, the CPFSA wants to ensure that the children in State care are prepared to take their rightful place in society.

“Whatever you want to be, we want to make sure that you are prepared to transition from our care. We want to prepare you for whatever, so if you want to go to college, if you want to do some skills, whatever it is, we are here for that support for you,” she pointed out.

Under the TLP, youngsters are exposed to different pathways to aid in their readiness for independent living. These include life skills, coaching, entrepreneurship, vocational and technical skills training, house accommodation for two years, as well as tertiary enrolment.

Wards who are unable to transition directly into tertiary programmes after leaving State care are provided the opportunity to participate in the agency’s Transition to Work Programme, under the vocational skills component of the project.

This is being done through private-public partnership at tertiary institutions, including the University of the West Indies Open Campus, The Mico University, and St. Joseph’s Teachers’ college, among others.

The expo was held as part of a series of events in commemoration of Transitional Living Week 2022, which was observed from July 18 to July 22.

It was aimed at sensitising about 700 children in State care, between 16 and 18 years old, as well as the public, to the agency’s TLP, highlighting its role and achievements in helping children to transition successfully from State care into adulthood.

For his part, Director of Programmes at the CPFSA, Warren Thompson, said the programme seeks to ensure that persons transitioning State care have access to their education and achieve something and “in terms of your education, we want to know that you are alright while you are going to school”.

“So, we pay your tuition; if you are living on campus, we pay your boarding; if we need to find housing for you, we try to find housing for you, we pay rent for some people; we have some transitional living homes where some youngsters apply for housing and are accommodated there. So, we are there to support you,” Mr. Thompson added.

Some of the services offered at the expo included passport, birth certificate and tax registration number (TRN) processing, bank account processing, HEART/NSTA Trust application processing, and free eye testing.

Organisations represented at the expo were the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Tax Administration Jamaica, National Commercial Bank (NCB), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Registrar General’s Department (RGD), Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College and Broadbent Eyewear.

The Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY) is reminding stakeholders that the Ministry does not facilitate the general transfer of students from one school to another.

In a bulletin released by the MOEY, it was stated that the Ministry will only assist with transfers in cases of proximity, where a student may have been placed at a school in which he/she would need to travel long distances from home.

Where parents are seeking transfers for children already placed in schools through the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) placement process, these parents/guardians are being reminded that it is their responsibility to contact a school that is willing to accept their child/children.

The procedure for transfer is parents/guardians submit a letter of request for transfer to the school, the accepting school should provide the parent/guardian with an acceptance letter, the acceptance letter should be taken to the school where the child was originally placed, the school administrator must provide the parent with a release letter.

In addition, the parent/guardian is then required to write a letter addressed to the Permanent Secretary, MOEY, requesting approval for transfer. This letter must be accompanied by the acceptance and release letters and should be taken to the respective regional office.

Finally, the MOEY, through the regional offices, will send approval letters to the accepting and releasing schools within one week from the date received.

For additional information, queries can be sent to [email protected] or call the Ministry’s regional offices across the island.

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) will observe its annual Transitional Living Week from July 18-22 under the theme: ‘Preparing now for a Better Tomorrow’.

Director of Children and Family Programmes at the CPFSA, Warren Thompson, told JIS News that the objective of the week is to give youngsters in State care the opportunity to be exposed to the various services that are available to them, including the Transitional Living Programme, which facilitates their shift to independent living.

The week will begin with a resume workshop sponsored by Massy Group on Monday (July18), which will include sessions on resume writing, personal branding, dressing for work and mock interviews.

Mr. Thompson said that the activity is targeted at young people in the Transitional Living Programme.

This means that they are enrolled in an educational programme, are getting some support from the CPFSA in terms of subsistence allowance and are being assisted with housing where necessary.

“They are out of the care system, but we are helping them to transition into independent living,” Mr. Thompson noted.

On Tuesday (July 19) the first of two transitional living symposia will be held at the St. Johns Methodist Church Hall in Montego Bay.

This will take the form of an expo with several entities on hand such the HEART/ NSTA Trust, the Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA), Registrar General’s Department (RGD), Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), National Housing Trust (NHT), educational institutions, business operators and financial institutions. This event targets youngsters in State care, between ages 16 and 18, who are preparing to exit childcare facilities.

Children’s officers assigned to the Transitional Living Programme will participate in an internal workshop on Wednesday, July 20.

“This is to ensure that everybody is clear on the components of the programme and the procedures,” Mr. Thompson pointed out.

The second symposium, covering the southern and south-east regions, will be held at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium, Jamaica College on Thursday (July 21). Representatives from several entities will be on hand to engage the youngsters.

The week will culminate with a virtual information session on Friday (July 22), which will provide an opportunity for those in care to ask questions about the Transitional Living Programme.

Also on the day, youngsters who have successfully transitioned over the years, will be hosted at a luncheon.

“They would have completed a programme of education, are employed or about to start working, no longer receiving a stipend from the CPFSA, no longer receiving housing support, but are successfully living independently without support from the State,” Mr. Thompson noted.

The Transitional Living Programme aims to ensure the independent living of Jamaican youth leaving residential State care at 18 years, and reduce risk factors such as unemployment, involvement in crime, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy.