JIS: Persons enrolled at the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) Adult Education Centre (AEC) on East Street in Kingston, will soon benefit from three additional classrooms to be constructed with an $18.2 million grant provision from the Government of Japan.

 

The six-month project, which also includes restrooms, a staffroom and a computer room, will assist in boosting the JFLL’s capacity to accommodate more students.

 

Funding has been provided under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Programme.

 

The grant agreement was signed by Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Masanori Nakano, and JFLL Executive Director, Worrel Hibbert, at the East Street centre on Sunday, March 12.

 

The signing was witnessed by Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid.

 

In his remarks, Senator Reid thanked the Japanese Government for their generous donation which he noted was one of several provided for the development of Jamaica’s education sector through the Grassroots Human Security Projects Programme.

 

“I am particularly pleased with this one as it (will) facilitate an increasing demand for the JFLL’s adult education offerings here at the East Street Adult Education Centre,” he said.

 

The Minister noted that the assistance was timely, given the spike in the number of adult learners outside the target zone for which the centre catered, who want to be registered.

 

This, he attributed in large part to the JFLL’s introduction of the High School Diploma Equivalency (HSDE) programme.

 

Ambassador Nakano, in his remarks, said the Embassy endorsed the project after seeing the great need of the JFLL to expand the East Street centre’s infrastructure to accommodate the growing demand for its services.

 

“I understand that currently the AEC has an enrolment of 301 adult learners, which more than doubles the capacity for 150 adult learners. Additionally, nearly 200 new adult learners are also on a waiting list in addition to other potential adult learners from the parishes of St. Catherine, St. Thomas, Clarendon and St. Mary, who are also seeking registration at the centre,” the Ambassador said.

 

Noting that this was the first collaboration between the Embassy and the JFLL, Mr. Nakano expressed the hope that the project would serve to benefit the participants and the wider society.

 

The East Street centre was designed to serve the needs of adult learners in some 20 communities in Central and Western Kingston, and St. Andrew.

 

When completed, the facility will be the model Centre of Excellence for adult education in Jamaica.

 

It will also consolidate JFLL’s two other AECs, located at Darling Street and Bell Road in Kingston, for cost efficiency, teaching and learning effectiveness.

 

Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Programme supports initiatives proposed by various bodies such as non-governmental organizations and local government authorities for development projects at the grassroots level.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (third left), and Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Masanori Nakano (second left), display the symbolic cheque for $18.2 million in grant assistance from the Japanese Government for expansion of the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) Adult Education Centre on East Street in Kingston. The signing took place at the centre on Sunday, March 12. Others, from left, are: JFLL Chairman, Warren Newby; Executive Director, Worrel Hibbert and Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Manager, Lurene Wright. The funds have been provided under the Government of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Programme.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information intends to strengthen the number of mathematics specialists in primary schools, thus assisting children to develop a better appreciation for mathematics at a young age.

 

The announcement was made by the minister, Senator Ruel Reid, at the National Mathematics Teacher of the Year awards ceremony at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge at The University of the West Indies, on Monday. The minister commented that there are not enough teachers specialising in mathematics in primary schools, noting that the focus of teachers in the primary system is often too broad.

 

“What we have when we look at the primary sector…are generalists; that’s part of the problem,” Senator Reid said.

 

He noted that there was a tendency for teachers at the primary level to be stronger in English and the social sciences, leading to better student performance in those subjects. He said that in order to compete with the rest of the world, including Asia and Europe, Jamaica needs better trained mathematics teachers and noted that although the ministry has implemented initiatives such as scholarships for people wishing to pursue a teaching degree in mathematics, they will take time to bear fruit.

 

“As persons retire from the education system, we have to bring some specialists into the primary system to make sure we have a very strong start,” he outlined, noting that maths teachers will also have to leverage technology to improve teaching and learning.

 

He raised that point within the context of the ministry’s overall thrust to increase the deployment of maths coaches to primary and secondary schools from 40 to 70 in recent times; and the provision of 168 scholarships to student teachers pursuing secondary mathematics education. This is in addition to 30 scholarships granted last year, and about 200 scholarships which have been made available for 2017.

 

Some 150 principals and heads of departments have also been trained in mathematics.

 

“If we were to solve Jamaica’s maths problem that would lead to some unleashing of some high-level trained Jamaicans, attracting high levels of investment into this country,” Reid posited.

 

“If that were able to happen, it would see our GDP per capita moving from US$5,500 to US$60,000 per year. Teachers would have a big, fat salary and a big pension when they retire. Are you connecting the dots?” he asked the mathematics teachers in the audience.

 

Along the same vein, Permanent Secretary Dean-Roy Bernard underscored the economic importance of mathematics to development. He noted that although it’s the basis for science disciplines and even the social sciences, it’s also important to the arts and other non-science based studies and pursuits.

 

“For adults to function well in an increasingly complex world, they require a basic level of numeracy. These are important life skills that help with determining personal finance; financing a mortgage; budgeting and negotiating contracts; and handling data,” he explained.

 

Commending the work of the mathematics teachers in the audience, Dr Tamika Benjamin, national mathematics coordinator in the ministry said there is need for a culture change in the attitudes towards maths in the country, pointing to the overwhelming fear of the subject.

 

“Each day I go about my personal and professional business, I encounter personal experiences that just show how important it is for us to change this culture that permeates our classrooms and impacts the ability of teachers to help our children learn even the simplest things,” she said.

 

Dr Renee Rattray, senior manager, learning, development and culture at The Jamaica National Group, the parent company of the awards’ sponsors, JN Bank, said teachers need to find a way to engage students so that they think about mathematics differently. In reference to the recent launch of JN Foundation’s Science Genius Jamaica project, which allows students to create dancehall songs using purely science and mathematical content, she says the teaching of mathematics needs to be applicable.

 

“We, therefore, need to make mathematics real for students because it’s not as foreign as we think,” she said.

 

The 2017 Mathematics Teacher of the Year award was won by Neisha Grant Lawrence of Crescent Primary School in Spanish Town, St Catherine, who the judges praised for her style of engagement. The other finalists were: Leesan Salmon, Aabuthnott Gallimore High School; Tarique Tomlinson, Godfrey Stewart High School; Ann-Marie Plummer Wright, Bethabara Primary School; and Rosemarie MacFarlane Morris, St Catherine High School.

 

The award is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Education and JN Bank.

 

CAPTION: Mathematics Teacher of the Year Neisha Grant Lawrence (third right) of Crescent Primary School in Spanish Town displays her tophy in the presence of (from left) Dr Tamika Benjamin, national mathematics coordinator; Dr Renee Rattray, senior manager, learning, development and culture at the Jamaica National Group; Senator Ruel Reid, minister of education; Vernon James, vice-president, Insurance Association of Jamaica; and Dean-Roy Bernard, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education.

 

JIS: The Government of Japan has provided grants totalling $24 million (US$195,817) to fund expansion of the Highgate Primary and Junior High School in St. Mary and Middleton Primary School in St. Thomas.

 

The provision of $14 million (US$113,603) to Highgate Primary and Junior High will fund the construction of two additional classrooms that will increase the institution’s complement to 13, thereby decreasing challenges with overcrowding.

 

Middleton Primary School will benefit from a new canteen and food-storage area, to be built at a cost of $10 million (US$82,214).

 

Both allocations have been provided under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects and initiated through a partnership forged between the National Education Trust (NET) and the Japanese Embassy in Jamaica.

 

Agreements formalising the provisions were signed by Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, and Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Masanori Nakano, on March 9, at the Ambassador’s official residence at Paddington Terrace in St. Andrew.

 

Senator Reid, who welcomed the provisions, noted the collaboration between NET and the Embassy, which is facilitating educational development projects in Jamaica.

 

“This partnership is aimed at meeting primary-education needs at schools in greatest need. This has resulted in NET securing several grants under the Grassroots Human Security Projects,” he added.

 

Senator Reid thanked the Japanese Government for its continued support of Jamaica’s development, particularly in education, pointing out that “your partnership is contributing to tangible improvements in the lives of many of our children”.

 

Senator Reid also lauded NET on its work in fulfilment of its mandate, “to mobilise financial and quality resource investments for schools in Jamaica”.

 

Meanwhile, Ambassador Nakano expressed the hope that the grant will help to alleviate problems with overcrowding at Highgate Primary School, “and will be fully utilised to further enhance your educational activities”.

 

He further added that the new canteen at Middleton Primary School “will accommodate the needs of all the students, who will be able to eat in a safe and secure environment”.

 

“Jamaica has great potential for (achieving) further economic and social development as a progressive nation. This is why we are working with teachers and staff at your respective schools, as well as personnel from the Ministry of Education, to provide you with a better school environment. It is my strong belief that education is key to develop a nation and a people,” Ambassador Nakano said.

 

NET’s Director for Donor and Partnership Management, Latoya Harris, said the allocations to both schools were indicative of what could be achieved through the “power and strength of partnerships”.

 

Both school Principals, Jennifer Crawford of Middleton Primary, and Adassa Henry of Highgate Primary and Junior High, welcomed the provisions, noting that they will go a far way in enhancing the delivery of education to the children at their institutions.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left), looks on as Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Masanori Nakano (right), and Principal of Middleton Primary School in St. Thomas, Jennifer Crawford, sign an agreement for a $10-million (US$82,214) grant to the institution to construct a canteen. The signing took place at the Ambassador’s Paddington Terrace residence in St. Andrew on March 9. The sum has been provided under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects Programme.

JIS: The Mocho Primary and Infant School in Clarendon is to get a state-of-the-art resource centre, which will be utilised by five other schools in the area.

 

Principal of the school, Tina Reid, told JIS News that Jamalco has provided funding to retrofit the teachers’ cottage to house the facility.

 

She said the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has approved the plan, which will enable the cluster of primary schools to have access to advanced services and equipment.

 

Ms. Reid said she has a passion for education, and she willingly gave up the building for a greater good.

 

“We are talking about all the children benefiting; community members (and) other schools coming in to utilise the equipment to enhance teaching and learning,” she pointed out.

 

She said the resource facility, on which work is set to commence by the end of March, will be a holistic centre for development.

 

Ms. Reid informed that assessment of special education students will be done at the centre. Currently, children from the parish, who need to be assessed, have to travel to the nearest facility in Mandeville, Manchester.

 

She said the centre will also incorporate the school’s numeracy-based activities and the literacy programme for parents, so that they can be more involved in the education of their children.

 

“It will… provide various resources that cater to development,” she added.

 

CAPTION: She said the centre will also incorporate the school’s numeracy-based activities and the literacy programme for parents, so that they can be more involved in the education of their children.

 

JIS: The St. Richard’s Early Childhood Education Centre in Kingston has been expanded at a cost of $13.2 million provided by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sport and Education (CHASE) Fund.

 

Play equipment was also purchased for the young students.

 

The two new classrooms and bathroom were dedicated at a ceremony held on March 9.

 

In his address, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, commended the school Board and other stakeholders for their effort in catering to the learning needs of the students.

 

“St. Richard’s Early Childhood Centre has had an impressive record of partnerships and should be improved upon and certainly borrowed by more institutions of learning. It is a model of cooperation by the Ministry, CHASE Fund, its Parent-Teachers’ Association (PTA), staff and the school Board,” he noted.

 

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CHASE Fund, W. ‘Billy’ Heaven, noted that the Fund, which has donated some $37.4 million since 2005 towards the development of the St.

 

Richard’s Basic School, remains committed to the development of the early-childhood education sector.

 

“We at CHASE view early-childhood education as an investment… . It allows for better citizens, workforce and less crime in the society,” he said.

 

He pointed out that the school’s new facilities will contribute to certification requirements of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC). The school is poised to receive full certification this August.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right) and Chief Executive Officer of the Culture, Health, Arts, Sport and Education (CHASE) Fund, W. ‘Billy’ Heaven (second right) cut the ribbon to open two new classrooms constructed at St. Richard’s Early Childhood Education Centre, Kingston, by the CHASE Fund. The ceremony was held on March 9. At left is Acting Pastor for the St. Richard’s Catholic Church, His Grace, Archbishop Emeritus Donald J. Reece and in the background is His Grace, the Most Reverend Kenneth Richards, Archbishop of Kingston.

JIS: The Portmore-based Genesis Daycare and Learning Centre is the first early-childhood institution in St. Catherine to be certified by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC).

 

Senior ECC Inspector for the parish, Yvette Edwards-Wilson, said she is pleased with the collaborative efforts of the Commission’s field officers and the Genesis team in ensuring that the facility attained the Standards for the Operation, Management and Administration of Early Childhood Institutions.

 

The 12 operational standards relate to staffing; developmental and educational programmes; interactions and relationships with children; physical environment; indoor and outdoor equipment, furnishing and supplies; health; nutrition; safety; children’s rights, protection and equality; interactions with parents and community members; administration; and finance.

 

“It is a great feeling of accomplishment, because I saw the hard work of the team and the Principal/Operator of Genesis Daycare and Learning Centre, Doreen Hayden-Brown,” she said.

 

She noted that there was need for intervention from a sponsor, and VIP Attractions was approached to assist. The entity provided $34,913.92, which was used to improve lighting in the classrooms.

 

Business Development Manager at VIP Attractions, Ka-el Clarke, said the company was happy to help.

 

She applauded the operator and staff of Genesis Daycare and Learning Centre for playing a pivotal role in shaping lives from an early age.

 

Mrs. Hayden-Brown expressed appreciation for all the support in ensuring that the school attained the standards for certification.

 

“I am very grateful for all the efforts. Initially, I was aware of the Early Childhood Commission standards but was not keeping up with them with any degree of urgency. But with each inspection, I tried to improve on the required standards,” she said.

 

“I did not realise, until recently, that I had to attain 100 per cent of the standards; it was an eye-opener,” she noted.

 

Genesis Daycare and Learning Centre has been in operation since September 1999 and has 15 children on roll ranging from four months to three years old.

 

The ECC has been promoting the certification of all early-childhood institutions as part of its mission-critical legislated requirements.

 

A series of regional certification fairs is among the strategies being utilised to increase awareness among operators of facilities.

 

The next fair is scheduled for Friday, April 28 in St. Catherine, which falls in Region Six.

 

Approximately 300 basic schools are being targeted for certification by 2019.

 

CAPTION: Business Development Manager at VIP Attractions, Ka-el Clarke (left), hands over a cheque valued at $34, 913.92 to Operator of Genesis Daycare and Learning Centre, Doreen Hayden-Brown, to assist with repairs to the lighting at the facility. Sharing the moment (from right) are Early Childhood Commission (ECC) Senior Inspector for St. Catherine, Yvette Edwards-Wilson; ECC Development Officer, Simone Ellis-Dixon, and ECC Inspector, Tanya Rose-Reid. Genesis Daycare and Learning Centre is the first early-childhood institution in St. Catherine to be certified by the ECC.

JIS: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, is urging Jamaicans not to fear mathematics but embrace it in order to solve complex issues.

 

“Maths is important, and we as a people should not be afraid of mathematics. We must conquer it. We must make it fun and be able to apply it to some of the problems in our own personal lives and in the general society,” he said.

 

The Minister was addressing the opening ceremony of the National Mathematics Expo at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) on March 9.

 

The National Mathematics Expo forms part of the fifth staging of National Mathematics Week, which is being observed from March 5-10, under the theme ‘Math Counts’.

 

Steps are being taken by the Ministry to improve the performance of students in mathematics by, among other things, increasing the number of teachers qualified in the subject.

 

In this regard, Mr. Reid noted that trainee teachers have been offered mathematics scholarships since 2015 to pursue the subject at training institutions.

 

“We really don’t have a lot of specialist mathematics teachers in the system. At the secondary level, you have about 1800 teachers who are actually delivering mathematics, but only 300 have specialist training at the degree level, which is not acceptable,” he said.

 

National Mathematics Coordinator, Dr. Tamika Benjamin noted that mathematics is important because it continues to play an increasing role, especially in the fields of science, technology and engineering.

 

Dr. Benjamin said it is necessary to change the culture and attitude towards mathematics, especially the fear associated with the subject. “In Jamaica, we struggle to get most of our children learning, but not just learning – mastering mathematics,” she pointed out.

 

She said the staging of the annual expo is part of the Ministry’s approach to aiding students to overcome the fear and “to help (them) recognise that maths is something used in everyday life”.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (2nd right), engages grade-10 student of the Spanish Town High School in St. Catherine, Chamoya Williams (2nd left), in a mathematics exercise on a tablet. Occasion was the National Mathematics Expo at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies on March 9. Looking on are (from left) National Mathematics Coordinator, Dr. Tamika Benjamin; and grade-eight student of the Calabar Infant Primary and Junior High School, Roshane Hylton.

THE GLEANER: Education, Youth and Information Minister Senator Ruel Reid said the Government would be constructing five high schools across Jamaica over a five-year period, beginning in the 2018-2019 financial year. One billion dollars is to be budgeted each year over the five-year period.

 

Reid made the announcement while delivering the main address at the handover ceremony for 10 classrooms constructed with funds from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund at the Old Harbour Primary School in St Catherine yesterday.

 

“Now that we have extended the opportunities for every student to get a high-school education, there are not enough high schools, so we need to build some more,” he said.

 

“We have just completed the current cycle of the education system transformation programme, so next year, we are going to get the funding in place so we can start the building programme to deliver these schools in five years,” the education minister disclosed, adding that five was not enough, but it would address some of the problems.

 

He said Old Harbour, Christiana, south-west St Ann and St James are among the areas where the schools will be located.

 

Meanwhile, acting principal of the Old Harbour Primary School, George Goode, said the construction of the 10 classrooms at a cost of $83 million, of which $4 million was provided by the community, will greatly help the school to scrap the shift system that has been in place for over 40 years.

 

“We are elated. Our children will now have more contact learning time with teachers, so we will see improvements in the literacy and numeracy capacities of our students,” Goode told The Gleaner.

 

 Education, Youth and Information Minister Senator Ruel Reid said the Government would be constructing five high schools across Jamaica over a five-year period, beginning in the 2018-2019 financial year. One billion dollars is to be budgeted each year over the five-year period.

 

Reid made the announcement while delivering the main address at the handover ceremony for 10 classrooms constructed with funds from the Jamaica Social Investment Fund at the Old Harbour Primary School in St Catherine yesterday.

 

“Now that we have extended the opportunities for every student to get a high-school education, there are not enough high schools, so we need to build some more,” he said.

 

“We have just completed the current cycle of the education system transformation programme, so next year, we are going to get the funding in place so we can start the building programme to deliver these schools in five years,” the education minister disclosed, adding that five was not enough, but it would address some of the problems.

 

He said Old Harbour, Christiana, south-west St Ann and St James are among the areas where the schools will be located.

 

Meanwhile, acting principal of the Old Harbour Primary School, George Goode, said the construction of the 10 classrooms at a cost of $83 million, of which $4 million was provided by the community, will greatly help the school to scrap the shift system that has been in place for over 40 years.

 

“We are elated. Our children will now have more contact learning time with teachers, so we will see improvements in the literacy and numeracy capacities of our students,” Goode told The Gleaner.

 

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

JIS: The Government has put systems in place to ensure a smooth sitting of the March 16 and 17 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

 

More than 39,000 students will sit the two-day test in 1,090 centres across the island.

 

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the Ministry has taken steps to ensure there is no leaking of test papers.

 

These include unannounced visits to the printing facilities and the storage of examination papers in a vault.

 

He informed that the packaging of the examination materials will be done in a sterilised area and under strict supervision.

 

Minister Reid also reported that support systems will be in place for special needs students.

 

He was addressing a press conference on Tuesday (March 7), at his National Heroes Circle offices in Kingston.

 

Meanwhile, the Ministry informed that over the past year, support was provided for primary schools whose GSAT averages for Mathematics and Language Arts, and mastery in the Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy test fell below 60 per cent.

 

He noted, further, that some 118 secondary and primary schools, which are part of an improvement initiative called Operation Turnaround, also benefited from intervention.

 

Operation Turnaround aims to engage volunteer educators to provide instructional support in literacy and numeracy to improve results in these areas.

 

“Students from the schools that have been targeted, who are preparing to sit national or key exit examinations in 2017, are being provided with the requisite support,” Senator Reid not

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, emphasises a point during a press conference on Tuesday (March 7) at his National Heroes Circle offices in Kingston to provide details about preparations for the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), among other matters.

JIS: Jamaica House Basic School is the latest and first institution in Kingston and St. Andrew to be certified by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC).

 

This means that the institution have successfully attained the ECC’s 12 operational standards.

 

These relate to staffing; developmental and educational programmes; interactions and relationships with children; physical environment; indoor and outdoor equipment, furnishing and supplies; health; nutrition; safety; children’s rights, protection and equality; interactions with parents and community members; administration; and finance.

 

Approximately 300 basic schools are being targeted for certification by 2019. Earlier this year, the St. Margaret’s Bay Basic School became the first institution in Portland to be certified.

 

At a function at Jamaica House Basic School on Tuesday (March 7) to recognise the achievement, ECC Chairperson, Trisha Williams-Singh said the standards are not difficult or unattainable for any of the schools.

 

“When you look at the most vulnerable in our society, you have to have standards. These standards must require care, strong leadership and effectiveness, because we are dealing with the most vulnerable… the children,” she said.

 

The ECC Chairperson noted that the certification of Jamaica House Basic School should send a strong signal to the other early-childhood institutions in Jamaica that they, too, can be certified.

 

The school’s Principal, Veronica Parkinson-Burnett, said the path to certification began in 2007 when she took over as the school’s head.

 

She noted that the journey was beset with challenges, but the school managed to overcome them through the support of committed parents, teachers and other stakeholders.

 

“The first inspection report was disheartening and I began working on the shortcomings. The second report was much better, but there was room for improvement. With all hands on deck, the school worked hard on the standards,” she said, while acknowledging the various contributors.

 

Jamaica House Basic School was established in 1974.

 

CAPTION: Early Childhood Commission (ECC) Acting Executive Director, Karlene Deslandes (left), presents the ECC certification to Principal of Jamaica House Basic School, Veronica Parkinson-Burnett, during a ceremony at the institution in St. Andrew on Tuesday (March 7). The certification signals the institution’s attainment of the ECC’s 12 operational standards.