JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information recently signed an agreement with Microsoft to provide administrative staff, teachers and students free access to Microsoft Office 365 tools, such as OneNote, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, across PCs, tablets and smartphones.

 

Education Minister Senator Ruel Reid during the signing said that the agreement with Microsoft is “a step forward in realising our mission of having a nation empowered by a dynamic system of care, education and training.”

 

“Now, more than ever, there’s an immediate need to accelerate the transformation of our education system, so we have students equipped with the knowledge needed to be productive members of our country in the 21st century, and teachers and staff that feel empowered with appropriate tools to transform the teaching-learning process,” Reid stated.

 

 

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI), in partnership with the National Education Trust (NET) and the University of Technology (UTech), is presently conducting inspections of infant, primary and secondary schools.

 

Some 971 schools are scheduled to be inspected under the Jamaica Safe Schools Project (JSSP), which is being managed by the World Bank to support the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) in mainstreaming disaster risk management in the regulation, planning, designing, construction and management of school infrastructure.

 

In a bulletin issued by the ministry, it was noted that the data-collection process from the inspections will be led by staff and students from UTech, who will function as supervisors and collectors, respectively.

 

The pilot phase of the project will be executed over the period June 26-29, with 45 schools in Kingston and five in St Andrew to be inspected.

 

The project began today with a team of at least two students from UTech going on site at selected schools to conduct the inspections.

 

This survey will comprise a site inspection of the compound, drawings and measurement of all buildings and an interview with the principal, or a senior member of staff.

 

The inspectors will need to access the buildings and the general compound to complete the inspections.

JIS: Students from 19 non-traditional high schools across the island have been honoured by the National Child Month Committee (NCMC) for outstanding performance and community service,  through its Academic Awards Programme.

 

Now in its fourth year, the Programme recognizes the accomplishments of young persons from non-traditional high schools in each parish, who have achieved academic excellence at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level and who demonstrate a spirit of volunteerism.

 

The award ceremony was held on June 23 at the Knutsford Court Hotel, in New  Kingston.

 

Recipients received a cash prize of $10,000, gift baskets, book vouchers and a plaque.

 

Speaking on behalf of State Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, Chief Executive Officer for the Child Development Agency (CDA), Rosalee Gage-Grey, congratulated the recipients and encouraged them to continue to pursue excellence.

 

“I have met some of the brightest and most outstanding students in our country, who are also positive role models in their communities and show characteristics that indicate they will grow up to make a positive contribution to society,” she said.

 

Chairperson of the NCMC, Dr. Pauline Mullings, who has served in the education sector for over 38 years, said rewarding children for academic achievement is good motivation for them to continue their pursuit of excellence in all aspects of life.

 

“When children are rewarded for their effort in school, it is a great motivation to get more reward. We see the pleasure on the faces of the children, parents and teachers and we are happy to do that for them,” she said.

 

Noting that many of these children excel despite significant financial and personal challenges, Dr. Mullings said the Programme aims to reward their perseverance and encourage them to continue their pursuit of excellence.

 

“This is important because many of the children from the non-traditional high schools are not really recognized for their efforts and hard work. We felt that this is something we want to do to motivate these children. Our main objective is to make these persons feel special and good about themselves, and that someone has taken the time to recognize the effort that they have made,” she said.

 

Sixth form student of Denbigh High School, in Clarendon, Jodian Clarke, who copped the award for ‘Top Student’, expressed her appreciation for the initiative.

 

“This award means a lot as we are given recognition for all the hard work and sacrifices made to pass our exams, despite the challenges we face. These awards will be a constant reminder to us to remain focused, determined and goal oriented as we move on to future endeavours,” she said.

 

CAPTION: Members of the National Child Month Committee (in background), with 19 recipients of awards at the handing over ceremony on June 23 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston. The students from non-traditional high schools across the island achieved academic excellence at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level and demonstrated a spirit of volunteerism. 

GLEANER: How prepared is a new principal for the job of school leadership? How effective can he or she be, moving from classroom teaching to supervising colleagues, to handling the demands of administrative duties? Effective leadership is among the most critical factors in the success of any school. However, perhaps more important is how school leaders are prepared before taking on the challenging demands of their roles.

 

Jamaica’s education system has been responding to these concerns through a strategic and transformative review of the education sector, culminating in the Task Force Report of 2004. One critical need identified was a demand on principals to increase the effectiveness of their schools through improved management, efficient use of resources, and better relationships with the community being served.

 

These competencies can hardly be achieved through graduate qualifying programmes but more so through targeted training and preparation.

 

The Aspiring Principals’ Programme (APP) was designed to prepare individuals for the task of the principalship before their being in the post. This initiative was developed from the background that despite studies on the critical role of school leadership and student success, Jamaica continues to promote to individuals to the post of principals who are good classroom teachers without first providing them with the requisite preparation. The APP now serves as an opportunity to attract talent, identify high-quality applicants, and ensure a ready supply of well-trained applicants.

 

 

 

MAJOR EXPENDITURES

 

 

According to Dr Taneisha Ingleton, acting principal director of the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL), effective leadership at any level requires major expenditures of effort and energy. “The competencies required are observable and demonstrable and can be taught, nurtured, or enhanced, and the Aspiring Principals’ Programme, jointly developed by the National College for Educational Leadership and the School of Education, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, is intended to do just that,” she says.

 

Training, she indicates, must be targeted deliberate and at specific contexts and situations. It must never be assumed that past experiences or qualification levels are equivalent to effective leadership behaviours.

 

Leadership development for our school and system leaders must be something that is guarded jealously and should happen before accessing the post. “Investment in training and development will create a competitive advantage for any education system,” she added.

 

For his part, Dr Disraeli Hutton, programme coordinator and lecturer in the School of Education, UWI, Mona, noted: “Improvement in the performance of schools will rest significantly on the quality of leadership provided by principals. It is based on this knowledge that the Aspiring Principals’ Programme was developed by NCEL in collaboration with the Mona School of Business and Management and the School of Education,” he said.

 

With the APP in place, it is envisioned that all new principals who assume the role of principalship in the Jamaican school system will be provided with the competencies to make a difference in school performance. The School of Education, Dr Hutton says, is committed to this goal and will continue to work with the critical stakeholders to provide the highest level of training for both incumbent and aspiring principals.

 

The National College for Educational Leadership has been consistent in its mandate to provide quality leadership development interventions for its stakeholders. The Aspiring Principals’ Programme was developed in 2013 and was informed by the major findings from the Ministry of Education reports, including priorities outlined in policy documents related to Education Transformation; the National Education Inspectorate reviews of eight key areas of school effectiveness; and the Jamaica Teaching Council Professional Standards for Educators. The programme addresses complex organisational theories and the practical nature of the principalship.

 

Ingleton outlined that the programme emphasises what constitutes school leadership capability for the Jamaican school context. She notes, “With every mistake made by leadership, a child is disadvantaged, and that is why rigorous preparation before assumption of duties must be better than any effort of remediation.”

 

The programme is accessed in face-to-face settings and engages participants around four critical modules, namely Transformational Leadership, Instructional Leadership, Community Leadership and Organisational Leadership. A Field Experience component is embedded in which participants solve organisational issues with the aim of heightening student learning. To date, NCEL has trained over 400 aspiring principals in its programme and will, this year, matriculate another 83 aspirants, who will be poised to lead schools more effectively in Jamaica.

 

– Article courtesy of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information

 

CAPTION: 

Dr Taneisha Ingleton

JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has expressed gratitude to the nation’s teachers for their extraordinary commitment and dedication to shaping the lives and sharpening the minds of the country’s children.

 

He was speaking at a ceremony held on Wednesday (June 21) on the lawns of Jamaica House, where 40 educators were awarded the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for their service to education.

 

“There is one thing that all our teachers share – an extraordinary devotion to duty and to nurturing the next generation. You have been role models, showing our children the importance of discipline and hard work and the importance of characteristics such as honesty and teamwork,” the Prime Minister said. 

 

He pointed out that teachers have stirred the imagination of students, enabling them to embrace the idea that “no matter the circumstances, an education is a tangible asset that will lead to wider spheres of achievement, accomplishment and service”. 

 

“Your examples of hard work and commitment to lifelong learning will continue to be an inspiration for years to come. I recognise all our teachers with a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for the dedication with which they continue to play their role in building a confident and vibrant Jamaica,” Prime Minister Holness said. 

 

For his part, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the annual awards ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to recognise excellence and to celebrate the accomplishments of persons who have spent decades in the classroom and education administration. 

 

“The fact is it takes a special calling to be a teacher. By choosing to enter and to stay in education, you have demonstrated your commitment to serve future generations of Jamaicans. As teachers, whether in the classroom on a daily basis or working in administration, you shape your students’ values and help them discover their aspirations in life,” Senator Reid noted.

 

He added that many of the nation’s teachers never get the public recognition they deserve, “and I am truly happy that at least some of you are being recognised for the first time today”.

 

The recipients, who have collectively contributed 1,428 years of service to education, were nominated by their peers, community members and elected representatives.

 

To be considered for the award, recipients must have shown evidence of community involvement, including participation in civic and club activities. Educators involved with uniformed groups and programmes that foster the development of the community and creativity in the service rendered, may also be considered.

 

Among the awardees is employee at the Education Ministry, Lena Buckle-Scott, who has contributed immensely to the sector in Jamaica and the wider region.

 

In an interview with JIS News, Mrs. Buckle-Scott said she was “thankful, blessed and extremely elated” to receive the award.

 

“I didn’t dream that I would be so awarded for my service, but God is good. He is a great God and I thank those who have recommended me. I accept this award on behalf of all my family members, who have served the education fraternity for so long and have not been awarded in this manner,” she noted.

 

University of Technology (UTech) Professor Colin Gyles, who has served the education sector with distinction for 29 years, was instrumental in establishing the Faculty of Science and Sports at the institution, as well as the schools of Natural and Applied Sciences, Maths and Statistics, and the Caribbean School of Sports Science.

 

He told JIS News that he feels humbled by the recognition.

 

“Sometimes we do what we have to do without thinking about any recognition or anything like that. But when it is recognised, it does make a difference and makes one feel good and motivated to serve even more,” Professor Gyles said.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (seated left) and Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (seated right), share a photo opportunity with the recipients of the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for service to education at the award ceremony held on Wednesday (June 21) on the lawns of Jamaica House. The 40 recipients, who have collectively contributed 1,428 years of service to education, were nominated by their peers, community members and elected representatives.

JIS: Approximately fifteen hundred young persons yesterday (June 20) attended the orientation and registration for the first phase of the HOPE programme.

 

The HOPE programme is the Government’s flagship training and apprenticeship programme, which targets unattached youth, aged 18 -24, who are not in school or currently employed.

 

HOPE means Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment.

 

The orientation was held at the Jamaica College auditorium.

 

The HOPE programme is the Government’s flagship training and apprenticeship programme, which targets unattached youth, aged 18 -24, who are not in school or currently employed.

 

“We plan to continue this process of registering young persons so this is only the first step. We put out the advertisement aiming to get the first five hundred because we have spaces for five hundred to be placed,” explained Lieutenant Rickman.

 

He added that the programme provide opportunities for persons to be placed in positions where they can become good, responsible and productive members of society.

 

“The aim is for between 10,000 to 15,000 young persons for this financial year, to get involved and prepared through this programme for the workforce,” he added.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness introduced the programme during his contribution to the Budget Debate on March 21.

 

CAPTION: Hundreds of unattached youth attend the HOPE programme orientation and registration at Jamaica College yesterday (June 20). 

JIS: New categories and features have been added to the Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards for Excellence, which returns this November after a three-year hiatus.

For the first time, awards will be presented for excellence in Innovation, Science and Technology and Environmental Protection.

 

These are in addition to the traditional areas of Agriculture, Sports, Youth-In-Service, Arts and Culture, Journalism, Entrepreneurship, Academics and Leadership.

 

Making the announcement at a press conference at the Ministry’s National Heroes Circle offices in Kingston on June 19, State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, explained that the new categories were created to “send a clear signal to our young people that those are the areas to embark upon”.

 

“Those are areas that are very important to our growth agenda, and they are important to our country in general,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, the category of Journalism will now include e-Journalism in recognition of the increasing distribution of content via the Internet, while Social Entrepreneurship has been added to the Entrepreneurship award category.

 

A special Jamaica 55 award has been created for 55 young persons who have demonstrated outstanding and consistent voluntary service at the community level.

 

The awardees in the Jamaica 55 category will be eligible for project grants from the Ministry to further their community and youth development work.

 

Mr. Green noted that the decision to reintroduce the PM Awards was to fittingly recognise young people’s critical role in transforming Jamaica.

 

He is encouraging youths between the ages of 15 and 29, who excel in the various areas, to apply for the awards before the August 31 deadline.

 

Jerome Cowans, who received the Award for Excellence in Leadership in 2011, said the national recognition has empowered him to continue his work in helping young people in his community. Jerome started a homework programme to help at-risk youngsters.

 

His has gained recognition for his leadership skills from her Majesty the Queen, former United States President Barack Obama and the Nelson Mandela family.

 

Introduced in 1998, the Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards for Excellence was created to recognise young Jamaicans who have excelled and contributed to national development in various areas. Since its inception, 165 awards have been conferred.

 

Nomination forms can be accessed at the Ministry’s website at www.moey.gov.jm, www.youthjamaica.com and at Youth Information Centres islandwide. 

 

CAPTION: State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (left) is in discussion with former Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards recipient, Jerome Cowans, at a press conference to announce the return of the awards at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle office in Kingston on June 19

JIS: Parents are being urged to support children who want to pursue careers in the creative industries.

 

Dean of the School of Visual Arts at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Miriam Hinds-Smith, said it is important for parents to encourage children to develop their artistic talents.

 

She noted that there are a range of careers available to persons who pursue professional studies in the field.

 

“Parents, I appeal to you, trust the decisions of your child. Support them. Not just financially, but have those conversations that explore what it is they are interested in,” she said.

 

Mrs. Hinds-Smith was addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank at the JIS head office today (June 20), to raise awareness about the importance of the creative industries to national development.

 

Dean of the School of Dance, Kerry-Ann Henry, who also addressed the Think Tank, said the Edna Manley College is undertaking various strategies, in an effort to ensure greater accessibility and flexibility in course offerings.

 

She is encouraging parents to visit the college for information about its various programmes.

 

“We are looking at different ways of offering our programmes and how persons can access them. We are also (going into high schools) for recruitment sessions, and to get students to be thinking a lot earlier about whether the arts is a good area for a career,” she informed.

 

Ms. Henry said the college wants to raise awareness about the viability of careers in the arts, which will enable graduates to be productive citizens while pursuing their passion.

 

She pointed to the need for increased support for studies in the creative field, through scholarships and grants.

 

“At Edna, you can define all the things that you want to become. You will define that experience… and that is why you should come to the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, so you can create your own pathway, to reimagine, reinvent, rediscover and to paint a path through the world that you will leave a legacy on,” she said.

 

Mrs. Hinds-Smith, in the meanwhile, said the college is committed to maintaining integrity in its programme offerings, through constant assessment and monitoring of courses, feedback from clients and adhering to global and regional standards.

 

“We are constantly in a space where we assess and develop and rethink to respond to our clients. What we provide at the college is a service, and for us to be meaningful, our service has to be relevant,” she said. 

 

CAPTION: Dean, School of Dance, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, Kerry-Ann Henry, addresses a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank at the agency’s Head Office in Kingston on Tuesday, June 20 

 

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is reminding secondary-school principals to adhere to the school support contribution policy in the 2017/18 academic year.

Under the policy, implemented in 2016, the Government abolished the payment of auxiliary fees, and increased the funding to the high schools from $2.6 billion to $5.3 billion.

For the upcoming academic year, the allocation will be further increased to $7.2 billion.

The policy stipulates that contribution from parents cannot be made mandatory and must not be a requirement for registration, school access, graduation, examination slips, application to sixth form or access to any public service at a public education institution.

In addition, no more than $5,000 is allowed to be charged for registration packages for new students.

Schools must ensure that discussions are held with parent-teacher associations as it relates to the contribution amount being requested from parents.

This amount must be approved by the Ministry, and parents must not be forced to pay any contribution.

Meanwhile, the Ministry will begin disbursement of funds for 2017/2018 starting June, in order to ensure that institutions can make adequate preparations for the opening of school.

The second disbursement will be made in September, the third in December, and the final payout in April 2018.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid.