JIS: Persons without formal qualifications, but with the requisite experience and vocational skills, will soon be able to access higher education.

 

This will be made possible through the National Qualification Framework of Jamaica (NQF-J), which facilitates the identification of various avenues individuals can take to higher education, depending on the level of these qualifications. It also facilitates mature entry into programmes.

 

The NQF-J, which was officially launched yesterday (February 15) at The Knutsford Court Hotel, in St. Andrew, is a new national policy for regulated qualifications in Jamaica’s education and training system.

 

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, explained that the NQF-J has been introduced as a way of standardising and improving the quality of training in Jamaica.

 

“The NQF-J is one way of bridging the gap between academic qualification and technical vocational qualification. The focus is on creating a track for the occupational degrees that is separate from traditional degrees or straight vocational qualification,” he added.

 

Senator Reid pointed out that the NQF-J should level the playing field “by neutralising all qualifications so multiple pathways and multiple assessments will allow all persons to be qualified by age 30.”

 

The Minister said that with the onset of globalisation and the mobility of the workforce in the Caribbean and elsewhere, it is necessary to put a system in place that standardises qualifications that are recognised at home and abroad.

 

He further informed that the NQF-J will provide a register in which all the qualifications in the general, secondary, post-secondary, tertiary or professional sectors in all eight levels offered in the Jamaican education and training system are housed.

 

“It is intended to improve access to work and further learning by ensuring that qualifications are relevant to employment and learning, and meet the needs of learners, the economy and education and training institutions,” he said.

 

The Minister noted that by providing greater transparency within the national qualifications system, the NQF-J will support greater progression and mobility for lifelong learning through education and training pathways.

 

“It will also enable flexible and individualised learning and employability through increased access to assessment and certification, and greater recognition and certification of learning and achievements,” he said.

 

In addition, the matriculation and articulation requirements of the NQF-J allow persons to get credits for courses done, whether through apprenticeship or in the formal system.

 

The Framework is one of the activities undertaken by the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (J-TEC), as part of the fulfilment of its mandate.

 

Meanwhile, Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, J-TEC, Maxine Henry-Wilson, said the establishment of the Framework is in furtherance of the Commission’s mission to improve Jamaica’s tertiary system, by working with institutions to ensure that they are internationally competitive, relevant and accessible.

 

“Jamaica is known for having a high quality, high calibre tertiary system, and we want to make sure we keep that tradition, but that we make it more accessible to all who have the ambition, even if they don’t have the qualifications yet,” she said.

 

The J-TEC is mandated to register, monitor and measure the performance of institutions which offer tertiary studies in Jamaica, including online delivery of programmes.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left), is greeted by Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (J-TEC), Maxine Henry-Wilson, when he arrived at The Knutsford Court Hotel in St. Andrew on Wednesday (February 15) to attend the launching ceremony for the National Qualification Framework of Jamaica (NQF-J). The NQF-J is a new national policy for regulated qualifications in Jamaica’s education and training system.

JIS: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Government has honoured its financial commitments to secondary schools under the non-mandatory fees policy and the institutions have complied with the measure.

 

The policy, which abolishes the payment of auxiliary fees, came into effect at the start of the 2016-17 school year in September. It discontinued the payment of mandatory fees by parents and instead accommodated voluntary contributions.

 

The budgetary support to schools for operational costs was increased from $2.6 billion to $5.3 billion, with the allocation per student moving from $11,000 to $19,000. Minister Reid said the funds were disbursed to the schools on time to allow for them to operate in an orderly manner.

 

Payments were made in June, September and November, the latter of which was a month ahead of schedule.

 

“We are ahead of our schedule and the final phase will be April, and we are well funded to be able to deliver on these commitments,” the Education Minister said.

 

He informed that funding for the next school year will be delivered in June.

 

Describing the change as a win-win for parents, the schools and the Ministry, Senator Reid said a positive relationship has been developed, where parents, without being forced, are making contributions to the development of schools.

 

He informed that support has been also been provided for non-establishment staff in order to meet needs at the schools.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (2nd right), addresses a press conference at the offices of the Overseas Examinations Commission in Kingston on February 14 to give an update on developments in the education sector. Others (from left) are: Chief Education Officer, Dr. Grace McLean; Permanent Secretary, Deanroy Bernard; and State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green.

JIS: The Labour Market Reform Commission has identified apprenticeship as one solution to some of the issues facing the labour market, such as high youth unemployment and low levels of certification.

 

This was disclosed by Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, at the opening of a two-day Labour Market Forum at the Spanish Court Hotel on February 14, to look at transforming the job market through apprenticeships.

 

The Government is looking to strengthen the national apprenticeship programme to ensure greater access to training, certification and employment opportunities for young people.

 

This will reduce the number of unattached youth and ensure that persons have job-ready skills.

 

Among the models being look at is the Australian system, which makes it mandatory for every youth who wants to transition into the formal economy to go through an apprenticeship programme that is supported by the private sector.

 

Dr. Henry noted that while various apprenticeship models exist, “it is for us as a country, Government, private sector, and educators, to define Jamaica’s apprenticeship programme within a coherent framework, with strong private sector buy-in and ownership.”

 

He said that apprenticeships must not only be seen as a job placement tool, but also a productivity tool that must be utilised to improve the prospects of the employer, worker and the economy.

 

“All of us as partners and stakeholders – public and private sectors – can contribute to empowering individuals and businesses, enhancing income security, and improving quality of life as vital pillars on the development landscape,” Dr. Henry said.

 

The Director General pointed to the need to ensure a certified workforce and for diversification of the programme offerings in educational institutions to include emerging occupational fields such as robotics, animation, criminology, forensic science, entrepreneurship, logistics management and aeronautical engineering and mechanics.

 

Meanwhile, the Director General said it is anticipated that the main outcomes of the forum will be to further the dialogue among critical stakeholders on the strengthening and expansion of the apprenticeship programme and to engage the private sector and industry groups in delivery and ownership.

 

He added that the insights of the team of panellists with their wide range of experiences with apprenticeship programmes locally and globally will help to broaden Jamaica’s perspective and help to chart the desired course.

 

“It is my sincere hope that the (forum) is enlightening and rewarding as we advance and improve our National Apprenticeship Programme and, by extension, Jamaica’s labour market to meet our national sustainable development imperatives,” Dr. Henry said.

 

The Labour Market Forum involved collaboration among the PIOJ, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the HEART Trust/NTA under the theme: ‘Apprenticeship for the XX1 Century: A Model for Latin America and the Caribbean’.

 

Participants engaged in discussions around transforming the labour market to promote social and economic development through apprenticeships.

 

The Labour Market Reform Commission is comprised of representatives of trade unions, employers, academia, and the public sector and is supported by a Secretariat, which operates out of the PIOJ.

 

It was established to assess the state of the labour market and propose policy prescriptions to facilitate reform to create a labour force that is adaptable to labour market information; increase the knowledge, skills and productivity of the worker; provide the worker with adequate social protection; and protect the employability and life earnings of the worker.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (centre); Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica, Dr. Wayne Henry (left); and General Manager of the Inter-American Development Bank, Country Department Caribbean Group, Therese Turner-Jones, enjoy a light moment at the opening of a two-day Labour Market Forum at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on February 14.

JIS: Over $56 million has been set aside in the 2017-18 Estimates of Expenditure for the continued upgrading and expansion of facilities at the University of Technology (UTech).

 

The allocation will provide for the completion of shared lecture facilities including installation of furniture and commissioning.

 

The project, which started in July 2008 and originally scheduled to end in December 2012, aims to enhance the university’s capacity to provide quality level education in Jamaica. After two extensions, it will end in September 2017.

 

Achievements up to December 2016 include completion of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the Environmental Laboratory, Student Union and Daycare, laboratory and electrical upgrading.

 

There was strengthening of institutional capacity in several areas. These include improvement in information and communications technology, income diversification strategy, human resource capacity, and enhancement of the quality of learning and teaching.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is working with stakeholders to ensure the delivery of a first-rate national apprenticeship system for Jamaica.

 

Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the system will be crafted from established models in countries such as Australia and Singapore.

 

He informed that under the proposed programme, grade 11 students can enter into an apprenticeship system or complete their formal schooling, after which it becomes mandatory.

 

He said the programme will “cut off the flow of unattached youth” as it provides for a “seamless education system.”

 

“In the Australian model, it is mandatory that every youth who wants to transition into the formal economy to go through an apprenticeship programme as supported by the private sector. That is the model I want to have. It therefore solves your social problem and mismatch in terms of your need for the kind of skills for the different job opportunities,” he pointed out.

 

Senator Reid was addressing Tuesday’s (Feb.14) opening of a Labour Market Forum under the theme: ‘Apprenticeship for the XX1 Century: A Model for Latin America and the Caribbean’ at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston.

 

He noted that the apprenticeship system will provide employers with a reservoir of certified and trained skills.

 

He informed that the pay for the apprentices will start at about minimum wage and once they transition into employment, the full-time compensation package will flow.

 

For her part, General Manager of the IDB Country Department Caribbean Group, Therese Turner-Jones, noted that an effective apprenticeship system can contribute to the transformation of the workforce and promote economic development.

 

She said it has the potential to address youth unemployment, increase productivity, and ultimately make the country more competitive.

 

Mrs. Turner Jones noted that countries with advanced apprenticeship programmes show a low level of youth unemployment.

 

She cited the United Kingdom, where 70 per cent of employers have reported increases in their productivity and the quality of their products and services as a result of an apprenticeship programme.

 

She said there is evidence in Brazil, which shows that trainees, having completed an apprenticeship programme, have a greater chance of finding a formal job and earn higher wages in the short and medium-term.

 

“Apprenticeships can provide young people with real jobs plus more practical accessible training than formal education. It can equip them with the ability to move forward in their careers and also develop their life skills,” she pointed out.

 

The two-day Labour Market Forum is being hosted by the Planning Institute of Jamaica in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the HEART Trust/NTA.

 

The main objective is to disseminate labour market information to a select group of participants to facilitate informed career choices, while at the same time influencing policy and programme development.

 

Participants will engage in discussion on transforming the labour market to promote social and economic development through apprenticeships. Previous fora have looked at various topics such as unemployment, insurance and labour market reform.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), makes a point to Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Wayne Henry, at the opening of a Labour Market Forum at the Spanish Court Hotel in St. Andrew today (February 14). The two-day event is being hosted by the PIOJ in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the HEART Trust/NTA.

JIS: Launched officially in November last year, a project to improve the competencies of employers, employees, retirees and students has garnered so much demand that the target for participants has been significantly increased.

 

The three-year Upskilling and Retooling Jamaica programme, implemented by HEART Trust/NTA, in collaboration with the Joint Committee for Tertiary Education (JCTE), targeted the training of approximately 3,000 persons each year. However, having trained 2,700 persons as at January 31, the target was moved to 10,000 per year.

 

This is according to JCTE Chairman, Dr. Cecil Cornwall, speaking at the launch of an Absorptive Capacity Programme recently.

 

He said a team of project officers has been going to communities across the island meeting with youth club leaders, children’s homes, Members of Parliament and councillors.

 

“They will be visiting every parish in Jamaica over the next few months to ensure that training is brought to the four corners of the country,” Dr. Campbell said.

 

He announced that large companies, such as Digicel Jamaica, have come on board, with the agencies to implement the programme with their employees.

 

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addressing the launch of the $30-million project in November, said it demonstrates the creativity being brought to the sector in offering relevant and practical programmes for persons, particularly youth.

 

“This launch comes in the context of greater demands by employers and employees for relevant training to meet the needs of the workplace. There is also the clamour for training by self-employed persons to enable them to do a better job in service delivery and increase their earning potential,” he said.

 

Senator Reid said this is also in line with a policy priority by the Ministry to promote and foster a culture of lifelong learning and professional development.

 

The programme, which the Minister said will help to equip the general labour force with skills to advance to high-paying jobs, while also improving the mindset of employees towards greater levels of productivity, will improve employee readiness, retention, and productivity, in particular, impacting sectors targeted by the Government for growth and expansion.

 

It includes technical skills and leadership training, managed through the Leadership Academy by the JCTE and the Professional Skills Academy by the HEART Trust/NTA. Professional development certification will be issued to participants upon successful completion of the programme.

 

The upskilling project is based on four specific principles – acknowledgement of the need to address skills deficits; creation of programmes aligned with occupational standards; investment in the workforce towards economic and employment growth; and creating public-private partnerships to increase access.

 

CAPTION: Chairman of the Joint Committee for Tertiary Education (JCTE), Dr. Cecil Cornwall (right), looks on as Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), is greeted by Chairman of the HEART Trust/NTA, Maxine P. Wilson (2nd right), ahead of the launch of an Absorptive Capacity Programme by the institution, in partnership with the Joint Committee for Tertiary Education on February 2 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston. At second left is Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid.

JIS: Schools across the island will join in the national observation of Jamaica Day on Friday, February 24, under the theme: ‘Celebrating Jamaica: Exploring Our Legacy In A Global Context’.

 

Senior Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Marlon Williams, who launched Jamaica Day at a recent ceremony at the Herbert Morrison Technical High School in Montego Bay, St. James, said the mission of the day’s observation is to encourage an appreciation for the nation’s cultural heritage, especially among students.

 

“Jamaica Day is an annual event designed to contribute to citizenship education and to enhance the appreciation for Jamaica’s rich heritage and culture which builds positive identity in our students and, by extension, our nation,” he explained.

 

The national Jamaica Day observation ceremony will take place at the Green Island High School in Hanover.

 

Mr. Williams said students and teachers as well as members of the society are expected to wear the national colours on that day, while schools are expected to be decorated accordingly.

 

“We are expecting that the Jamaican colours will be worn by everyone in all entities and sectors on that day as a symbol of our commitment to celebrating the many legacies that have made and are making Jamaica one of the greatest nations on earth,” he said.

 

Mr. Williams is also encouraging schools to research their history and on Jamaica Day they should focus the observation on their own legacies.

 

Jamaica Day, which is part of the Culture in Education Programme, was instituted in the nation’s schools by the Ministry of Education in an effort to celebrate what is called ‘Jamaicanness’ and the country’s contribution to the world.

 

CAPTION: Members of the Green Island High School Choir performing during the launch of Jamaica Day 2017 at the Herbert Morrison Technical High School in Montego Bay recently. Green Island will host the national Jamaica Day celebration ceremony on Friday, February 24.

JIS: The Government has approved $11 million to commence the pilot project aimed at strengthening the School Feeding Programme.

 

The funds are allocated in the 2017-18 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives.

 

Estimated at $60 million, the pilot project will run until March 2019, and will be carried out in four school clusters across the island.

 

It seeks to improve collaboration between Government, private sector and non-government organisations (NGOs) involved in school feeding, and mobilise communities to provide agricultural produce for the programme.

 

The Government is expected to provide $24 million for the initiative, with external entities such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) committing support.

 

So far, promotions for the programme have been done among school principals, teachers and other staff members, and community stakeholders.

 

CAPTION: In this file photo, Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), and Special Advisor, Robert Miller (centre), examine bulla cakes manufactured by Nutrition Products Limited, during a tour of the entity on Marcus Garvey Drive in Kingston on January 31. At left is Chief Executive Officer of Nutrition Products, Orville Lewinson.

JIS: Long-serving Principal of Herbert Morrison Technical High School in Montego Bay, St. James, Paul Adams, has been awarded the 2016 Outstanding Principal of the Year by the Jamaica Teaching Council.

 

The award was presented to Mr. Adams by Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, during a recent ceremony at the school.

 

“We are celebrating our 40th anniversary this year and it is the rule of thumb that when a school achieves, it must be called the Outstanding Principal Award. So, I collect the award on behalf of the institution,” said Mr. Adams.

 

Principal of Herbert Morrison since 2002, Mr. Adams tells JIS News that as leader of the school, he feels honoured to accept the award.

 

He says the recognition was made possible by the hard work of every member of the school community – academic, ancillary and security staff as well as the 1,200 students.

 

“When I came here, I found 15 teachers who were more qualified to be the Principal and there were about 20 persons who were brighter than me…what I could not carry out myself, I found somebody who could do it better and I let them do it. We got better results,” the Principal says.

 

Mr. Adams paid tribute to the founding Principal of the school, Lloyd Whinstanley, “who laid a solid foundation for the current leadership and even those to come.”

 

He also highlights the performance of students at Herbert Morrison in all areas, especially external examinations, pointing out that despite the many distractions, they have remained focused on getting a good high school education.

 

“These students are the greatest set of kids. Their behaviour is superb and their performance is top of the line. We have a no cell phone policy and what the students have done is to convert their cell phones into a resource library, so when you see them on their cell phones, you will see they are actually doing their schoolwork,” Mr. Adams says.

 

In a citation from the Jamaica Teaching Council, Mr. Adams, who served the Jamaica Teachers’ Association as its 47th President, was lauded for his astute management of the 40-year-old school, obtaining high marks in all areas and giving students a good secondary education.

 

“His efforts led to significant improvements in the areas of science, modern technology and technical and vocational education. He enabled his school to etch its way into pride of place on the landscape of high schools. His analytical and reflective abilities led him in 2004 to establish a sixth form using meagre resources. In time other, Principals emulated his courage and established their sixth form. Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations 2016 results have been outstanding – 100 per cent of students passed in 10 subjects,” the citation read.

 

The Education Minister, in paying tribute to Mr. Adams, cited the vision with which he has been leading the institution.

 

“Mr. Paul Adams has had the vision and foresight to have been able to go from the beginning all the way to the top, because we have at Herbert Morrison Technical grades 7 to 13. We need radical thinking and transformation and Mr. Adams has been a visionary and what we see now is an expansion of opportunities beyond grade 11. He has more students in grades 12 and 13,” the Minister said.

 

He added that the work of Mr. Adams and his team at Herbert Morrison has started the early positioning of the school to ensure that its students are ready to take advantage of opportunities which will come under the “fourth industrial revolution.”

 

“What is happening here at Herbert Morrison is very instructive of what we want to see happen across the education system and our country in transforming the education system for our children.

 

What I have said in simple terms is that we want all our students now to have education extended to at least age 18. Herbert Morrison is very much in sync with the global trends for the fourth industrial revolution,” Senator Reid said.

 

CAPTION: Education Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), presents Paul Adams, Principal of Herbert Morrison Technical High School, with his Outstanding Principal Award on behalf of the Jamaica Teaching Council.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information held a sensitisation session with critical stakeholders to discuss the upcoming merger of the National Youth Service (NYS) and Jamaican Foundation for Life Long Learning (JFLL) with the HEART Trust/NTA.

 

Addressing the session held on February 9 at the Jamaica College campus, Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the merger will “mainstream and integrate our training and education systems” in order to reach more persons through targeted training.

 

“What we intend to do in this merger is to look strategically at how we can pull these entities together under one umbrella so we can have more focus and more reach,” he said.

 

This, he said, will go a far way in addressing some of the social problems in the country.

 

Executive Director of HEART Trust/NTA, Dr. Wayne Wesley, noted that the merger, which is slated to take effect on April 1, comes at a time when the Government is focused on reforming the public sector to ensure greater levels of efficiency and effectiveness.

 

The move, which includes integration of the HEART Trust/NTA’s National Apprenticeship Board, will facilitate a national coordinating machinery for youth services; an integrated supply chain of education with increased access to lifelong learning opportunities; and greater access to training, certification and employment opportunities with a focus on youth and underserved communities.

 

“It is an opportune time for an event such as this as we face the choice of how best to invest resources to address the needs of current and future generations… the merger and the further integration of the apprenticeship programme is one step in that direction,” Dr. Wesley said.

 

He noted that the stakeholder group, comprised of senior managers, board members and staff, is a critical part of the merger and teams will be mobilised to work on each stage of the process, which includes the visioning exercise, the pre-merger, the due diligence and the planning and integration.

 

“With your help, the new organisation will continually assess the skills of our nation’s people with a view of ensuring they are equipped to take full advantage of the emerging opportunities,” he said.

 

“By leveraging our synergies in our programmes, policies, plans and processes, we will create an organisation that will provide skills and employment opportunities to improve the socio-economic conditions of our youth, and equip learners and employees and future entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and attitude for a prosperous nation,” he noted further.

 

The merger forms part of the Government’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

 

A key aspect of the programme is the reorientation and transformation of the public sector to reposition public resource allocation towards infrastructure, social protection and security-related spending.

 

It is anticipated that this will transform the public sector into being more efficient and delivery-focused; modernise the monetary policy framework and build the foundation for an eventual move to inflation targeting; bolster the resilience of Jamaica’s financial system; and implement initiatives that unlock Jamaica’s growth potential and promote private sector job creation.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), addresses staff of the National Youth Service (NYS), Jamaican Foundation for Life Long Learning (JFLL), the HEART Trust/NTA and the National Apprenticeship Board during a sensitisation session to discuss the upcoming merger of the entities, held on February 9 at Jamaica College in Kingston.