JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid is urging students to pursue academic studies and professions in non-traditional areas, such as agro-science.

 

He made the call during a founders’ day ceremony at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) campus located at Passley Gardens, Portland on January 28.

 

“The world of ago-science offers a multitude of career opportunities that should be grasped with both hands. As we move to understand the past and current trends in agriculture, we see that science and technology are crucial components to be used more efficiently if some of the opportunities are to be utilised,” he said in a message ready by Education Officer, Lebert Drysdale.

 

Minister Reid said the Government is creating the enabling environment to guide students in exploring career paths other than the traditional professions of law and medicine.

 

“New training opportunities as in the Career Advancement Programme, the thrust towards the Occupational Studies degree programme and the offerings of the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI)…are helping our young people to see that there are different paths of achieving individual prosperity and national development,” he said.

 

He added that students need not be locked in traditional perspectives that seem to limit or stymie their interest and capabilities.

 

In the meantime, Mr. Reid said the achievements of the College of Agriculture, Science and Education should serve as inspiration to all.

 

He said while the school was founded to train just a handful of young men in the “art and science of agriculture”, it has grown well beyond that and now have bigger and bolder visions.

 

Senator Reid added that in the first decade, the school had among its illustrious graduates, Dr. T. P. Lecky, an animal geneticist who became world renown after developing the Jamaica Hope and Jamaica Black breeds of cattle.

 

“We need more Dr. Lecky’s in Jamaica. And we need others who will see the opportunities that lie in the linking of traditional areas of training to the new and changing demands of the workplace. Of course, we will have to do that while making use of the still evolving world of information, communication technology,” he said.

 

The Education Minister also stated that the Ministry considers the work of the institution integral to its mission of providing high quality care and education in an innovative, inclusive and enabling environment thereby creating socially conscious and productive Jamaicans.

 

CASE is the only tertiary institution dedicated to the training of students in the art and science of agriculture and allied discipline.

 

The ceremony commemorated the 107th anniversary of the founding of the Government Farm School on January 25, 1910.

 

CAPTION: Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Lebert Drysdale (centre) looks on as recipient of the Distinguished Old Farmer of Excellence for 2017, John R. Gayle (left) greets Old Farmers’ Association of North America (OFANA) scholarship awardee, Moya Campbell during a founders’ day ceremony at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), campus located at Passley Gardens, Portland on January 28.

JIS: The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) is well underway with work to certify 300 additional basic schools meeting its 12 qualifying Standards, over the Board’s three-year tenure.

 

This exercise, when completed in 2019, will bring the number to 317, following last year’s certification of the first 17 of the approximately 2,700 early childhood institutions in operation.

 

The ECC’s Acting Executive Director, Karlene Degrasse-Deslandes, tells JIS News that 100 institutions, with an enrolment of approximately 10,000 children, are being targeted under the initial phase of the current certification exercise, which commenced last September and is scheduled for completion in August this year.

 

She says the agency is in the process of completing the certification of 22 of the 100 institutions shortlisted from 183 identified island wide.

 

The 22 are located in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James, Trelawny and Portland.

 

Mrs. Degrasse-Deslandes says these schools have attained between 90 and 99 per cent of the certification standard requirements, adding that the remaining 73 institutions’ state of compliance ranges between 70 and 99 per cent.

 

She tells JIS News that the factors and considerations influencing selection of the 100 institutions included, inter alia, the outcome of inspections detailing schools’ operations; and operators’/practitioners’ willingness to work with the ECC in implementing the Standards.

 

The Standards outline specific stipulations relating 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.

 

She notes the significant interest generated among practitioners/operators following last July’s certification of the first 17 institutions.

 

“We received a lot of calls from persons querying (how they too could get their institutions certified). So we sought to engage those initial institutions/practitioners displaying the greatest interest,” she points out.

 

The Acting Executive Director says the ECC, thereafter, reviewed each institution’s inspection report, adding that working in tandem with the entity’s inspectors and development officers, “we were able to choose the 183 schools and, from that, to get the 100.”

 

Mrs. Degrasse-Deslandes indicates that subsequent to finalizing the selections, the ECC undertook work to identify areas of institutions’ operations deemed in need of strengthening.

 

Notable among the focus areas was the need for more structured training in financial management and corporate governance, as well as heightened stakeholder awareness regarding child abuse and paediatric first aid, among other stipulations under the ECC Standards.

 

In this regard, she says several training sessions were staged for a number of practitioners.

 

These include money management training workshops for persons in parishes in the ECC’s Regions One and Two. Region One incorporates Kingston and St. Andrew, and Region Two – St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary.

 

“We will next be going to Region Five, comprising the parishes of St. Elizabeth and Manchester.

 

We have increased our drive to ensure that the Standards are user-friendly, so that persons can understand what they need to do to get their institutions certified,” the ECC Acting Executive Director points out.

 

Mrs. Degrasse-Deslandes says the ECC’s certification fairs have been pivotal in assisting practitioners, operators, parents and other stakeholders to better understand the Standards.

 

She explains that the concept, which was introduced ahead of the start of the 2016/17 academic year, last September, replaces the back to school fairs previously held which, she notes, focused only on general preparations.

 

“This (2016/17) year, we decided on a change. Based on the mandate of the new Board (of) having 100 ECIs certified by August, it meant that we needed to change the way we went about doing certain things,” she adds.

 

In this regard, Mrs. Degrasse-Deslandes says the annual exposition’s theme was revised to focus on heightening awareness about the 12 Standards, with emphasis on the performance criteria under each.

 

Two fairs have been staged so far. The first was at Jamaica College in St. Andrew in August, and the second at Lynch Park, Portland, in October. A third is slated for St. Elizabeth in February.

 

Mrs. Degrasse-Deslandes says the feedback from both partner stakeholders and beneficiaries to the fairs as well as the overall certification programme has been very positive.

 

“We had over 2,000 persons at Jamaica College and more than 500 schools represented. At Lynch Park, we had over 800 persons and 148 institutions represented, which was extremely good,” she adds.

 

Mrs. Degrasse-Deslandes notes that while the outturn for the inaugural fair was surprising, it was pleasing.

“We had persons from almost all parishes…some from as far as Westmoreland. I believe persons wanted to know what the certification exercise was about…and what they needed to do (regarding their schools’ compliance). It also gave the staff a chance to interact with representatives of a number of the schools at the outset,” she adds.

 

The Acting Executive Director also hails the support being provided by a number of stakeholder partner agencies and entities.

 

Among these are: the Child Development Agency (CDA); Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ); Jamaica 4H Clubs; Nutrition Products Limited (NPL); Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB); and United Way.

 

Mrs. Degrasse-Deslandes says efforts were made to have representatives from these entities on location to assist in explaining and administering activities and procedures supporting the performance criteria for each Standard.

 

“So we have had the police doing fingerprinting, public health officers doing food handlers clinics and the JFB explaining fire safety requirements and the importance of having a fire plan, and nutritionists from the Ministry of Health helping persons with their schools’ nutrition plans.

 

“These activities are designed to assist persons in attaining the Standards. So we brought these stakeholders together so that persons could access their services under one roof, (thereby enabling them to get) one step closer to certification,” she adds.

 

In acknowledging that the work to be undertaken with the remaining 73 schools “will be gradual”, Mrs. Degrasse-Deslandes says the ECC will do everything to ensure all 100 shortlisted schools are certified by August 2017, and is confident that the target can and will be met.

 

She emphasizes that the ECC Board’s focus on certifying the early childhood institutions over the next three years, “is ensuring that, over the long term, we have positive child outcomes.”

 

“We are speaking of a Jamaican child that can compete with any child anywhere in the world, at any time. So, we will tailor our interventions and our interactions, where necessary. Our children must be afforded the same start in order for them to get to where we need them to reach,” she adds.

 

For her part, ECC Chairperson, Trisha Williams-Singh, believes certification of the minimum 300 early childhood institutions is “achievable.”

 

“We are pretty confident because of the plans that have been put in place. Within the first six months of the Board’s tenure, we have identified the need for capacity building within the Early Childhood Commission. We have also looked at capacity building for the practitioners and deepening relationships with our partners,” she outlines.

 

Mrs. Williams-Singh says based on these and other key considerations, “I am confident that a minimum of 300 schools will be certified during the time of this Board.”

 

CAPTION: Early Childhood Commission (ECC) Chairperson, Trisha Williams-Singh (left), being updated on sector developments by Acting Executive Director, Karlene Degrasse-Deslandes.

JIS: State Minister in the Education, Youth and Information Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green, says the standards set by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) for the sector have to be very high.

 

“We are dealing with the most vulnerable of our society, children who need care and protection, so we have to set the standards high. Countries come to Jamaica to model our standards,” he notes.

 

The State Minister was speaking at a certification ceremony for the St. Margaret’s Bay Basic School in Portland, at the school on January 26.

 

The school has been certified by the ECC for having attained 100 per cent of the Commission’s 12 standards.

 

Mr. Green welcomed the school’s certification, arguing that those schools which have already been certified feel and look different.

 

The certification process requires early childhood institutions (ECIs) to satisfy the criteria under the ECC’s standards, which relate to health and safety (public health and fire safety reports and police records); and educational quality, including teacher qualification certificates. They must also pass a stringent inspection process.

 

St. Margaret’s, which has been in operation for the past 61 years, is the first school to be certified in Region Two, which includes Portland, and has over 89 ECIs.

Already, approximately 27 out of 2,500 ECIs have been certified by the Commission.

 

The State Minister said that parents and community members must play their part in helping ECIs to become certified.

 

He called on non-governmental organisations to “adopt a school or cluster of schools” in a similar manner to the help which One Jamaica Foundation offered to

St. Margaret’s to get certified.

 

One Jamaica Foundation is spearheaded by Ann-Marie Vaz, the wife of Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and Member of Parliament for West Portland, Hon. Daryl Vaz.

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Green reiterated that there will be a realignment in the Education, Youth and Information budget for this 2017/2018 fiscal year, which will target primary schools and ECIs.

 

“We’re going to be increasing the grants that we give to our primary schools significantly,” he said.

 

In her address, Mrs. Vaz said her organisation collaborated with the ECC to ensure that St. Margaret’s was certified.

 

“When schools are certified, it means that all children across the island will get the opportunity to start from a level playing field. We want to give all children the same opportunity,” she said.

 

For her part, Acting Executive Director of the ECC, Karlene Degrasse-Deslandes, said that the agency is working to get 100 ECIs certified.

 

She said it is important for ECIs to be certified to ensure that children get what is necessary for their holistic development.

 

Principal, Marcia Barnes, expressed gratitude for the help in getting the school certified.

 

CAPTION:  State Minister in the Education, Youth and Information Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green (third left), interacts with (from left): Dammi Hannigan, Dominique Parkes and Drew Stewart of the St. Margaret’s Basic School in Portland on January 26. Occasion was a ceremony organised by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) to announce the certification of the school.

 

JIS: The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) will be heightening its efforts to rationalise basic schools this year, even as it seeks to certify more institutions.

 

The rationalisation process involves merging clusters of basic schools, as well as subsuming some into infant departments of primary schools.

 

Acting Executive Director at the ECC, Karlene DeGrasse-Deslandes, said “the rationalisation process is essential if we are to ensure that more efficient and effective learning environments are created for children ages four to five.

 

She noted that the intention is to ensure that more children “have access to trained teachers in established certified Government-operated infant schools or departments.”

 

Mrs. DeGrasse-Deslandes said that rationalisation allows for greater collaboration with early childhood development partners and stakeholders to have ECIs meet the required standards for certification.

 

To date, 25 ECIs have attained certification status and it is expected that at least 100 more will be certified by August.

 

The ECC embarked on a series of regional certification fairs in August 2016, and to date two sessions have been held in Region One (Kingston and St. Andrew) and Region Two (Portland, St. Mary and St. Thomas), with more than 2,000 ECI practitioners benefitting.

 

In addition, 206 practitioners have been fingerprinted as part of the process to acquire police records, while 63 persons underwent medical examinations. This is part of the requirement for ECI staff in keeping with the standards for the operation, management and administration of ECIs.

 

The ECC will host the third certification fair in Region Five (Manchester and St. Elizabeth) on February 17 at the Idlers Rest Beach Hotel in Black River, St. Elizabeth. ECI operators, teachers, practitioners, parents, early childhood development partners and stakeholders are among the persons expected to be in attendance.

 

The event will provide opportunities for document submission, as well as information sessions on ECI operating standards.

 

CAPTION: Development Officer at the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), Alyson Orgill (left), provides information on the certification of early childhood institutions to a participant at the Region Two certification fair, which was held in Buff Bay, Portland, in 2016.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, joined hands with staff and students at the Mona High School yesterday (January 26) in mourning the loss of second form student, Darnell Foster.

 

Addressing a special devotion in memory of the youngster, who died after collapsing in Half-Way Tree on Monday, January 23, Senator Reid urged students to use the life and death of Darnell as a reminder to always practise love and peace.

 

“There is a message for us who are left behind and the question we must ask ourselves is, ‘What will we leave as our legacy on this earth’?” he said.

 

The Minister said he prays for the comfort of God for Darnell’s family, as well as the school community.

 

“How are we going to mourn (the loss of) Darnell and how are we going to remember his legacy as we reach out to his father and mother? We are going to not only love each other, we are going to be the catalyst of change to make Jamaica a better place,” he said.

 

Senator Reid also met with Darnell’s classmates and encouraged them to practise a healthy lifestyle and to be conscientious about their well-being.

 

Mona High School Headmaster, Keven Jones, expressed appreciation for the Minister’s visit and support.

 

“It is indeed a sad occasion. We would have preferred not to have to celebrate the life of Darnell in this way. But sadly he was taken away from us…but I am so heartened that the Minister and his team have visited us and we sincerely appreciate it,” he said.

 

Mr. Jones hailed Darnell as having been a good student who attended classes and was loved by his schoolmates.

 

“He also loved to smile. He had a great smiling face and he will be missed,” he added.

 

Students from Darnell’s former form class, 2N, used the special devotion to offer tributes for the boy they described as a good friend who was caring, loving, kind and peaceful. He was remembered as a good Spanish student who liked to play football, and would often share his lunch with his friends.

 

“You were a great friend from day one,” one student said.

 

“Darnell was a kind and generous person. In class, he was quiet and calm,” another of his friends said.

 

Member of Parliament for St. Andrew Eastern, Hon. Fayval Williams, and Councillor for the Mona Division, Andrew Bellamy, were also in attendance at the service.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, signs a condolence book for Mona High School student, Darnell Foster, at a special devotion at the school on Thursday, January 26. Darnell died suddenly on Monday (January 23) after collapsing in Half-Way Tree.

JIS: The National Youth Service (NYS) has assigned 17 tertiary graduates to the Office of the Children’s Registry and the Child Development Agency (CDA) to assist in clearing the backlog of reports.

 

The graduates, who are participants in the NYS Graduate Work Experience Programme (GWEP), commenced work at the agencies on January 23.

 

State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, who made the disclosure in a recent interview with JIS News, said this is one of several measures being actioned by the Ministry to streamline and strengthen the child protection sector.

 

The graduates – seven of whom are at the OCR and 10 at the CDA – have been assigned to the agencies on six-month internships.

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Green said the Ministry will be overseeing the expansion of the CDA case management software to facilitate a paperless system for tracking and managing cases.

 

The system will be reprogrammed to facilitate the OCR reporting requirements, which is largely paper-based.

 

“What we had decided from December is that the case management software would be expanded to facilitate the OCR requirements. Instead of having two separate case management systems, it will be part and parcel of what the CDA does.

 

“That will go a far way not only in terms of the real time referral but also in terms of tracking what is happening… and that will help with recordkeeping and for us to be (current with) what is happening,” the State Minister said.

 

A request for funding for updating the system has been submitted to be included in the budget for the upcoming financial year.

 

Meanwhile, the agencies are to be merged to facilitate greater efficiency in processing reports and in the investigation of cases.

 

Mr. Green said that plans are being fast-tracked to ensure that the merger is completed in the first quarter of the new financial year.

 

He further noted that this will assist in streamlining the country’s child protection services.

 

“It will break down some of the bureaucracy that makes communication difficult. In some of the parishes there will be shared space, so the officer that gets the report will occupy the same area with the officer who investigates the report and as such, there is communication (in) real time…that will go a far way in assisting that process…at the end of the day they have varied but dual roles to play in ensuring that our children are protected,” the State Minister said.

 

The Ministry’s internal audit division will also be investigating the reporting and referral mechanism of the OCR and CDA to ascertain the shortcomings and make recommendations for improving the system.

 

The OCR is mandated to collect reports of children who have been abandoned, neglected, physically or sexually abused and in need of care and protection.

 

The CDA investigates reports of child abuse, abandonment and neglect and ensure that these children receive quality State care. The agency also spearheads public education programmes to prevent child abuse.

 

CAPTION: State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green

The wards of the State, who were temporarily relocated to an Anglican church hall after fire destroyed the Clifton Boys’ Home in Westmoreland, last week, have been moved to another facility in the parish.

 

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information said in a news release yesterday that the new property, which is owned by the Wesleyan Holiness Church, is more spacious and better outfitted. It can accommodate up to 60 people and is available until October this year.

 

The ministry also said all 28 boys who were affected by the fire are back at school and that the Child Development Agency continues to provide support.

 

Fire destroyed the boys’ home in Darliston, on January 15, forcing the State to seek alternative shelter for the 28 wards that were being housed there. They were initially accommodated in the church hall, which was nearby and also owned by the Anglican Church that owns the property where the home was located.

 

According to the news release, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Floyd Green has expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support from Jamaicans.

 

“The focus is now on working with the Anglican Church, NGOs and private sector to build back the home,” he was quoted in the news release yesterday.

 

Contributions towards the rebuilding of the home can be made to the Clifton Boys’ Home Rebuilding Fund, NCB Savanna-la-Mar account #611098561 (Jamaican currency) or account #614525185 (US currency).

 

CAPTION: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Floyd Green has expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support for the boys affected by the fire at the Clifton Boys’ Home in Westmoreland. Photo: JIS

JIS: The Government remains resolute in creating the enabling environment that will allow Jamaicans to access continuous training opportunities aimed at equipping them for the 21st century labour market.

 

Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, made the declaration at a stakeholder meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston yesterday (Jan. 25).

 

He said the Ministry has already mandated the Board of the HEART Trust/NTA to do all that is necessary to broaden access to training and certificate programmes, particularly in technical and vocational areas.

 

“We are working on the national qualification framework, which we know is very important to this mission. Through the HEART Trust and UNESCO, we are working on the new technical, vocational, education and training (TVET) strategy, which speaks definitively to equipping all youths and adults with the skills required for employment, decent work and lifelong learning,” he said.

 

Mr. Green said the Ministry is mobilising its teams to ensure that Jamaicans are educated, trained and retrained to global standards. He said this is paramount as the country’s human capital plays a crucial role in achieving the national goal of five per cent annual gross domestic product (GDP) in four years.

 

“I think the mission is clear not only five in four, but making the lives of our people better. We remain optimistic that the target will be realised (and) exceeded. The success of the Economic Growth Council (EGC) is, in fact, Jamaica’s success,” he said.

 

Mr. Green said one of the central planks to the success of the initiative is the technical competence and competitiveness of the country’s workforce, which must be in “tip-top” shape to take advantage of the wide range of investment opportunities that will be available.

 

“Already, we all have heard and have seen investments in tourism, transport, bauxite, mining, manufacturing and business processing outsourcing (BPO). These new investments will bring new jobs but our workforce must be ready. It must be ready to meet those growing demands,” he said.

 

The meeting was organised by the HEART Trust/NTA to dialogue with Chairman, EGC, Michael Lee-Chin, regarding the role of the education and training system in achieving the national goal of five per cent annual GDP in four years. It was attended by key stakeholders in the education and training sectors.

 

Mr. Green said the engagement was critical in getting stakeholders to support the Government’s growth strategy, which aims at improving the lives of Jamaicans.

 

As the National Training Agency and the leading institution for skills development, the HEART Trust/NTA has a key role to play in the growth thrust.

 

CAPTION: State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (right), shares a light moment with Chairman, Economic Growth Council, Michael Lee-Chin, during a stakeholder meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston yesterday (Jan. 25).

JIS: The Heart Foundation of Jamaica is encouraging members of the public to get screened for Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), as this life-threatening condition affects both young and older persons.

 

The appeal was made by Executive Director of the Foundation, Deborah Chen, at the media launch for Heart Month on January 24 at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston.

 

SCA is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. As a result, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs, usually resulting in death if it is not treated immediately.

 

Symptoms of SCA include chest pain, racing heart, unexplained fainting, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue, dizziness and seizures.

 

The Executive Director told JIS News that the decision to focus on this medical condition stems from the increase in reported cases of SCA.

 

She is urging members of the public, particularly persons involved in vigorous physical activity, to get screened to determine if they are at risk for SCA.

 

Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, has commended the Foundation for its awareness initiative.

 

“We congratulate the Heart Foundation of Jamaica on using this forum for highlighting some of the risk factors, symptoms, strategies and lifestyle practices for prevention of SCA,” the Minister said in a message read by Acting Director of Health Promotion and Protection in the Ministry, Dr. Beverley Wright.

 

The Minister noted that cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in Jamaica. It is estimated that approximately 25 per cent of the population have risk factors associated with heart disease.

 

Under the theme, ‘Sudden Cardiac Death…Could it Happen to You?’ the Foundation will be hosting a series of activities throughout the Month to raise public awareness of the causes, symptoms and measures that can be taken to prevent and treat an episode of SCA.

 

Screenings for cardiovascular conditions are to be held at several Health Centres across the island. The month will also feature outside broadcasts and medical symposiums. The Foundation will also be hosting a CPR Training Day on February 25 to educate persons in basic medical treatment in case of an emergency.

 

For more information, persons can contact the Heart Foundation of Jamaica at: (876) 906-9407, (876) 926-4378 or email: [email protected].

 

CAPTION: Heart Foundation Board member, Maurice Anderson (left); Executive Director of the Foundation, Deborah Chen (second left); Consultant Cardiologist and Chair of the Foundation, Dr. Andrene Chung (third left) and Sports Medicine Specialist, Dr. Paul Wright (right), in conversation with Acting Director of Health Promotion and Protection in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Beverley Wright (second right), during the media launch for Heart Month (February) on January 24 at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston.

JIS: The Government provides public access to education for approximately 763,798 students or 71 per cent of the school age cohort (3-24).

 

Of this total, 613,136 students are enrolled across 3,000 pre-primary, 995 primary and preparatory schools and 180 high schools, both public and private.

 

This was disclosed by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, while addressing an Education World Forum in London, United Kingdom (UK), today (January 24).

 

He pointed out that the enrolment rates at the primary and secondary levels are impressive, with 99.8 for the pre-primary and 99.4 per cent at the primary levels, respectively, and 97.3 per cent at the secondary level.

 

There are over 150 vocational training centres and other private training institutions.

 

The Minister also informed that there are 17 tertiary institutions with an enrolment of close to 28,000 students and four established universities with approximately 75,000 students, with a gross enrolment rate of 28.9 per cent, adding that Jamaicans are also enrolled in several offshore universities.

 

Senator Reid said the Government of Jamaica is committed to the continued reformation and transformation of Jamaica’s education system.

 

“Jamaica’s education system has gone through a series of reforms over many years. These reforms have been primarily aimed at creating greater access to an education system characterised by quality, inclusiveness and equity, which are relevant for the real world context,” the Minister said.

 

He added that as part of the education transformation programme, the fundamentals and practice of teaching and learning have centred on developing curricula that equip students to respond and adapt to a rapidly changing world.

 

“The Jamaican system of education continues to do relatively well where access to early childhood, primary and lower level secondary education, attendance rates and youth and adult literacy rates is concerned,” the Minister noted.

 

Senator Reid said that Jamaica is committed to have in place a world-class education and training system that produces well-rounded and qualified individuals who will be able to function as creative and productive individuals in all spheres, both locally globally.

 

The forum is being held from January 22-25 under the theme: ‘Employment, Enterprise and Education – Meeting the Needs of All’.

 

Over 300 Ministers of Education and advisers representing over 80 per cent of the world’s population have gathered to debate future education policy.

 

CAPTION: In this file photo, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), adjusts the collar of a student at Spanish Town High School, during a tour of the institution.