Senator the Honourable, Ruel Reid, CD

Minister of Education, Youth and Information will address the nation on back to school matters on SUNDAY, September 4, 2016.

RADIO: On TBC at 8:30 pm and all other radio stations at 8:00 pm

TV: CVM at 7:00 pm, LOVE TV at 8:00 pm and TVJ at 9:30 pm

JIS: Discussions are under way between the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information for the installation of a closed-circuit television (CCTV) system that links the Transport Centre with various high schools in the Corporate Area.

 

This was noted  by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, during a back-to-school conference for Region One at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston, yesterday (August 29).

 

“You as principals, right there in your office, will be able to see which of your children are out there loitering and we can deal with that,” he said.

 

Senator Reid said this forms part of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) strategy of the Government, which aims to provide internet access to public-sector entities.

 

The Minister noted that the strategy is also part of the Ministry’s approach to providing a safer environment for students and to dissuade them from loitering.

 

In the meantime, he said special constables will be assigned to the Transport Centre in Half-Way Tree to ensure that there is no loitering in the mornings, afternoons and evenings for students.

 

“This will ensure that they move with dispatch from the transport centre to our schools,” Mr. Reid added.

 

He said discussions are under way with the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) to reconfigure bus routes that eliminate the transport centre stop altogether for students.

 

“As it is configured, the traffic is designed to pass through the transport centre which creates a problem; so what we have asked them to do is to create special school bus routes so those buses that are picking up the students wouldn’t have to pass through the centre,” the Minister explained.

 

For the rural area, he said discussions are under way to devise a school bus system as well.

 

Over recent years, some students in the Corporate Area have used the Transport Centre as an area for loitering and to misbehave.

 

The conference was held under the theme ‘Growing Better Schools for Better Communities: A Policy Imperative’.

 

CAPTION: The Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre 

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says that all is in place for the start of the 2016/17 academic year on Monday, September 5.

 

“We (had) started the period of preparations from early and, certainly, where the secondary (schools) are concerned, they were way ahead because we started from June,” he said in an interview with JIS News.

 

“Where the primary and the other categories are concerned, we have also delivered all that we need to in terms of funding,” he noted further.

 

Minister Reid informed that furniture is being distributed to schools that require such items, adding that “a lot of infrastructure and maintenance work has occurred”.

 

Turning to the matter of textbooks, Mr. Reid said these are also being disseminated to schools.

 

“We are looking forward to a very smooth start of the school year and, of course, a very exciting and productive school year,” he told JIS News.

 

The Education Minister said that while he does not anticipate any major problems for the start of the new school year, if issues arise, they will be promptly addressed.

 

“I am not expecting any hiccups, but in human systems there will always be (glitches), but I think those will be very minimal and we will respond to those concerns if they exist,” he said.

 

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

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has announced that the National Age-Four School Readiness Assessment shows that 92 per cent of children at the early-childhood level are at the required learning development stage and eight per cent within the international standard.

 

The Minister was speaking at the J. Wray & Nephew (JWN) Foundation scholarship awards ceremony, held on August 24 at the company’s corporate office in New Kingston.

 

The assessment tool was developed and administered collaboratively by the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) and the Student Assessment Unit in the Ministry of Education to identify weak areas and undertake remedial interventions as well as make referrals for physical and emotional challenges displayed by the children.

 

This assessment, done by the teachers, will determine the readiness of four-year-old children to transition to the primary-school system.

 

It was used for the first time this year on May 10 and 11 in early childhood institutions across the island.

 

The Minister said the initiative is in line with the Ministry’s objective to foster quality education standards “from the womb” to the tertiary level.

 

“We have to build a robust and resilient education system from the base for persons to have a strong education from early up to age 29 and beyond. We have to ensure that children have a sound education from infancy,” he emphasised.

 

The assessment will become an annual activity.

 

Meanwhile, through the JWN Foundation scholarships, more than 100 families will be relieved of their back-to-school expenses.

 

Bursaries totalling $10 million, book vouchers and back-to-school supplies have been awarded to 85 secondary and 37 tertiary-level students.

 

The scholarship programme is open to students from the communities of Seaview Gardens and Waterhouse in Kingston and Appleton in St. Elizabeth, as well as the children of J. Wray & Nephew staff.

 

Chairman of J. Wray & Nephew, Clement Lawrence, said the programme, which is in its 10th year, is the company’s contribution to social development through the education sector.

 

“This represents a $2-million increase over the value of the scholarships offered last year and reaffirms our commitment to positively shape lives through education,” he said.

 

For the scholarships,  applicants must maintain a ‘B’ average and be recommended to the programme by a community member, church pastor or a member of the St. Andrew South Police Division, which is affiliated with the Foundation.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), is presented with a token on behalf of J. Wray & Nephew (JWN) Foundation, by scholarship recipient Lenworth Hydol, during the Foundation’s annual awards ceremony, held on August 24 at the J. Wray Nephew Limited’s corporate offices, in New Kingston. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), is presented with a token on behalf of  J. Wray & Nephew (JWN) Foundation, by scholarship recipient Lenworth Hydol, during the Foundation’s annual awards ceremony, held on August 24 at the J. Wray Nephew Limited’s corporate offices, in New Kingston. 

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says to maintain strong and effective leadership in schools, the Ministry has been spearheading capacity-building initiatives for Principals.

 

The Minister notes that, to date, more than 700 principals have received training, with another 200 to be added by year end. This is being done through the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL).

 

Mr. Reid was speaking at the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) 52nd Annual Conference at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel & Spa in St. James, on August 24.

 

“We are heartened by the scores of teachers who have been expressing an interest in the Aspiring Principals Programme,” he said.

 

The Minister explained that in keeping with various recommendations, the Ministry has been re-engineering its systems in a bid to improve accountability, levels of efficiency and the quality of service offered to stakeholders.

 

He pointed out that under the broad umbrella of Education Transformation, “we are in the final stages of restructuring into a policy, a ministry with new operational arms”.

 

“The proposed Central Ministry will set policy, standards and provide system oversight, quality assurance and monitoring to ensure effective implementation of policy,” Mr. Reid said.

 

He noted that, already, the Ministry is seeing the results of the restructuring that has taken place, and that through the National Education Inspectorate (NEI), “we have been able to examine the offerings of all Jamaican public primary and secondary schools and have made recommendations which many of you are currently implementing”.

 

The Minister said that since publishing its baseline report, the NEI has gone back into the field and will, in a matter of weeks, be releasing details of inspections of close to 100 schools.

 

“Colleagues, I want you to pay close attention to these reports,” Senator Reid urged.

 

He added that the Ministry remains committed to the development of teachers and will, during the upcoming academic year, continue the investments at both the in-service and pre-service levels.

 

Mr. Reid said the Ministry is providing 1,400 scholarships for both pre-service and in-service teachers in Math, Science, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) subjects, so as to ensure that adequate numbers with the right qualifications are available for the system.

 

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

JIS: Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is committed to ensuring that there is universal access to secondary education.

 

He said although government has limited resources and there are challenges, education should be a right for all children.

 

He also stated that children should be entitled to a place in primary school a good quality high school regardless of their background or ability to afford it and the country should provide that for every child.

 

Speaking at a GSAT awards function at the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday, August 24, Prime Minister Holness said the Government is trying to put this in place by initiating a no tuition fee policy at the secondary level.

 

He added that, “We understand the cost of education, but we also understand the cost of ignorance. If we are going to see the fulfilment of all our children, we need to have an education system that caters to their various skills and abilities.”

 

According to Mr Holness, what we believe as the foundation of the Jamaican State, society and culture is continuously being challenged by information all over the world.

 

To address this, there has to be constant reinforcement of the values of the Jamaican society, and these must be taught in schools by bringing back Civics into the education system.

 

“We have to strengthen our value system so that our students can place the bombardment of information they receive in context so they can become better individuals with strong character to withstand the turbulence of the world in which we live in.”

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Michael Holness, O.N., M.P.

 

JIS: The Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) is reporting that the country’s adult literacy rate is now at 87 per cent.

 

Deputy Executive Director and Director of Education Services at the JFLL, Dr. Grace-Camille Munroe, said this is very positive, as the island is coming from a rate of 50 per cent in 1974.

 

She noted, however, that Jamaica is still lagging behind some of its Caribbean neighbours.

 

Dr. Munroe, who was addressing a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on August 23, said that in terms of Jamaica lagging behind, this affects the country’s productivity and competitiveness.

 

“According to organisations such as the World Bank and the World Economic Forum, Jamaica needs to do more,” she emphasised.

 

“Therefore, the JFLL is modernising and expanding what we offer to ensure that where people live, move and have their being, they have access to education.  Education is not just about literacy and numeracy; it is about life chances, it is about equipping adults to be able to make effective decisions that will impact  their lives, their families, their workplaces and their communities,”  Dr. Munroe said.

 

She pointed out that in 2014, the JFLL embarked on an ambitious endeavour  by  revising the more-than-40 year-old curricula, modernised its instructional material and retooled the offices to ensure that all who access JFLL programmes islandwide are better able to fend for themselves and move on to higher learning.

 

“So, we are on a mission to refocus our energy and rebrand ourselves,” Dr. Munroe said.

 

The JFLL, which has 34 centres islandwide, provides the opportunity for a second chance to adult learners to be able to find a better job or to transition to post-secondary education.

 

One such avenue is its High School Diploma Equivalency (HSDE) Programme that was launched in September 2014. This programme is geared towards adult learners 17 years and older.

 

The programme targets students who leave high school without certification, school dropouts, persons who want to access skills training, unattached youth and persons who are incarcerated.

 

CAPTION: Deputy Executive Director and Director of Education Services at the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL), Dr. Grace-Camille Munroe, addresses a JIS ‘Think Tank’ on August 23.

JIS: The education sector has received more than 1,000 pieces of school furniture from the Joseph Assignment Global Initiative (JAGI).

 

They were handed over today (August 23) by representatives of the group to officials of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, at its Heroes Circle offices, in Kingston.

 

Commending the JAGI for its work across the globe to make education and other amenities accessible to the most needy, Senior Education Officer at the Ministry, Paul Ashley, said the gift is a boost for those schools which the Ministry is giving priority.

 

“Your presence is a most timely one, as the Ministry is engaged in back-to-school preparations, and this gift will go a far way in filling some very critical needs,” he said.

 

Mr. Ashley told the officials of JAGI that they can be assured that the “furniture will be placed in the schools with the greatest need”.

 

The Senior Education Officer with responsibility for school operation said the furniture will be maintained to serve the children for many years.

 

JAGI helps to address global issues by providing medical assistance, housing, school, water and other services to several countries, with support from their partners.

 

“We thank them (sponsors) for their commitment to making sure that God’s children are educated, and we are excited to be here, to partner with you for the betterment of your youth,” said Founder and Chief Executive Officer of JAGI, Dr. Alexis Felder.

 

CAPTION: Senior Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Paul Ashley (left), and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Joseph Assignment Global Initiative (JAGI), Dr. Alexis Felder, display the receipt for more than 1,000 pieces of school furniture that the group presented to the Ministry, on August 23, at the Heroes Circle offices of the Ministry.

 

JIS: Infant, all-age, primary and junior secondary schools across the island are to benefit from a 90 per cent increase in maintenance grants at the beginning of the new school term in September.

 

The announcement came from Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, at a Region Six Back to School meeting, held at the Cedar Grove Academy in Portmore, St. Catherine, on August 18.

 

The meeting was held under the theme ‘Growing Better Schools for Better Communities’.

 

Mr. Reid informed that at present, the allocation per capita stands at a little under $1,000, and that will be increased to a further $2,500 per capita come next financial year.

 

“We are dispatching the maintenance grant to your schools as we speak… . This sector is not at all being underserved,” Mr. Reid told the meeting.

 

The Minister indicated that in this school year, “every school which previously had a pit latrine, (it) will be removed once and for all. They will be a thing of the past”.

 

Addressing the recently released Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results, Mr. Reid suggested that parents, students and teachers must keep the tripartite relationship that had been established at the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) level.

 

“That same culture must continue into high school and more so on to the eve of those examinations,” he said.

 

 As it relates to school safety and security, Mr. Reid informed that the Ministry will be investing in several strategies to make schools safe.

 

“We’ve completed the training of some 1,000 safety and security officers. The areas covered under the training included human trafficking, roles and responsibilities of school resource officers and the issue of gangs in school,” he said.

 

Additionally, some 400 individuals will be recruited and trained as school security and safety officers.

 

The Minister reminded senior school staff to ensure their school build the entire person by “inculcating in students sound and moral values”.

 

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Maurice Smith, encouraged those in attendance to remain anchored during the new school term.

 

He reminded them not to abuse the power that has been vested in them and not to place unnecessary burdens upon themselves.

 

“We are servants of the people. We are operating in their (students) services. Do not walk around with the weight of the school on your shoulders. It will go on without you,” he said.

 

Region Six includes schools in St. Catherine and Clarendon.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), receives a gift from Principal of Tacius Golding High School, Lena Russell, at a Region Six Back to School meeting, held at the Cedar Grove Academy in Portmore, St. Catherine, on August 19.