JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says effective school management requires principals who are equipped with the requisite institutional leadership skills, rather than being adept at only instructional delivery.

 

Citing the mandatory National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL) training and certification for teachers aspiring to become school principals, vice principals and middle managers, the Prime Minister said this move by the Education Ministry is welcome.

 

Mr. Holness was delivering the keynote address at the 2016/17 LASCO Teacher and Principal of the Year awards ceremony, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on November 29.

 

The Prime Minister said that one of the education sector’s long-standing challenges is the appointment of teachers without the requisite administrative experience as principals and then retrofitting them with the skills to manage the schools.

 

Mr. Holness noted that each time this transition is done, the sector ends up with a three- or four-year gap.

 

“We are entrusting to our schools the precious minds, the human resource, the skills and competence of the future, so the management of the school (is) absolutely important,” the Prime Minister emphasised.

 

Mr. Holness said the attainment of academic certification alone is not adequate to reposition persons for institutional leadership positions.

 

“So, the idea behind NCEL was to create a staff college where persons who were existing school leaders and persons who… aspire to be school leaders had practical hands-on experiences of the standard operating procedures that the Ministry of Education had certified,” he added.

 

In this regard, Mr. Holness, a former Education Minister, lauded the Ministry’s decision as a “good move that will strengthen the management and leadership of our schools”.

 

The Prime Minister also commended the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) for endorsing the move. “This will make our education system much stronger,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the NCEL is pivotal in the thrust towards capacity building within the education sector.

 

He pointed out that the College’s mandate is to develop leadership within the system by providing strategic initiatives to assist administrators.

 

“Scores of principals have availed themselves of this opportunity to further develop their skills, and I would encourage others to do the same,” Senator Reid added.

 

St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Principal, Keith Wellington, and teacher at the institution, Kerene Nelson, copped the 2016/17 LASCO Teacher and Principal of the Year awards.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right), is greeted by Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (2nd left), on arrival at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on November 29, for the 2016/17 LASCO Teacher and Principal of the Year awards ceremony. Mr. Holness was the guest speaker. Others (from left) are: LASCO Manufacturing Limited Managing Director, Robert Parkins; and Deputy Executive Chairman of LASCO Affiliated Companies, Peter Chin.

JIS: Education, Youth and information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has reiterated the Government’s position that no student must be turned away from school because of non-payment of fees.

 

Addressing the ninth annual conference of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPAJ), held at St. Hilda’s High School in St. Ann on Saturday (November 26), Minister Reid said the Administration remains adamant that there should be no mandatory fees charged by schools.

 

“We want to make sure that there are no barriers for students accessing education at either the primary or secondary level,” he said.

 

He informed that in preparation for the 2017/18 academic year, a committee will be put in place to work with principals of all schools to ensure that the fee structure is standardised.

 

“We are at pains to say that uniforms, epaulettes, students’ handbooks…tie pins are not …to be on any voucher. The school must find other means…there are some schools that have gotten themselves into trouble by confusing the parents,” he noted.

 

On the matter of insurance for students, Minister Reid said this is being given consideration, noting that the views of the various education stakeholders will be taken on board.

 

“I am prepared… to look at how we are going to support those on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) to help them with their insurance. Those of you who are not on the PATH programme, we will have to discuss how you are going to fund that, but I cannot allow schools to bar students from attending school because they did not pay the insurance,” Senator Reid said.

 

The Education, Youth and Information Minister reminded the conference participants that PTA dues are also not mandatory and is encouraging such bodies to establish their own financial accounts separate from those of the schools.

 

CAPTION: The Ministry of Education’s main office, 2 National Heroes Circle

JIS: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Government will ensure that every child who enters the education system is given the kind of attention to maximise their potential.

 

Addressing the ninth Annual Conference of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPAJ), at St. Hilda’s High School in St. Ann on November 26, the Minister said changes are coming regarding the promotion of students each year and the manner in which their educational needs are addressed.

 

“You want to meet every single learner. No child should be left behind. Our children have different learning styles and so we are not going to hold kids back again under the Alternative Secondary Transition Education Programme (ASTEP). We are going to promote them, but with support. So, we are going to customise our lessons to meet the needs of every one of our children,” the Minister said.

 

Senator Reid also told the NPAJ representatives that the move to include more technology in the teaching-learning process will be intensified.

 

“More and more you are going to see the school system relying on ICT (information and communications technology). There is a concept coming soon called ‘flipping the classroom’, (where ) teachers can literally deliver their lessons, long before students arrive in the classes, as instructions, information and content in education are already in cyberspace,” the Minister noted.

 

He said there will be a role in the ICT component for parents to monitor and assist their children, especially with their homework.

 

“As part of homework and parenting responsibility, to strengthen and make sure your students are well prepared, you are going to be seeing, soon, a culture where you as parents will have to supervise your children as they navigate and access these instructions online,” the Minister said.

 

Senator Reid emphasised that every school in the island should have a functioning parent-teacher association (PTA), which will play a vital role in upholding values and standards as well as to ensure that the lines of communication are always open to benefit the education system.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid addresses the 9th annual conference of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPAJ), held at St. Hilda’s High School in St. Ann, on November 26.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, in collaboration with the National Youth Service (NYS), will be hosting its inaugural ELEVATE Youth Festival, the final event for Youth Month 2016.

 

It is scheduled for Friday, November 25, from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the lawns of Devon House targeting youth in high schools and tertiary institutions.

 

According to Chief Education Officer at the Ministry, Dr. Grace McLean, this event is aimed at creating a space for youth to exchange knowledge and experiences, via panels and networking events.

 

She added that it will expose the participants to more granular business topics, and content-specific workshops, while inspiring, igniting and unearthing the vision, imagination and potential of young people by creating an enabling environment.

 

“This youth festival was conceptualised as a unique opportunity for the youth of Jamaica to explore the world of music, technology, art and youth lifestyle outside of the regular classroom setting,” she noted.

 

The event will see young people showcasing their talents in Art, Music and Technology.

 

There will also be exhibits, forums, workshops, and interactive sessions and entertainment.

 

Dr. McLean explained that the long-term vision is for ELEVATE to become the premier destination to discover and meet the world’s leading trendsetters, innovators, creators and influencers in the areas of music, technology, digital art and youth lifestyle.

 

“We are encouraging each of our high schools and tertiary institutions to see this festival as an opportunity to identify, harness and showcase the very best of Jamaican youth products and services to our nation, our region and the world,” she said.

 

Admission to the festival is free and school administrators are encouraged to have their students participate in this opportunity for exploration and learning.

 

The Ministry is willing to provide a subsidy towards the cost of transportation of students to the event.

 

CAPTION: Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Grace McLean

JIS: Sixteen outstanding youth leaders have been selected for the Youth Advisory Council of Jamaica (YACJ), which has been formed to facilitate youth involvement in the policy development and programming actions of the Government.

 

Speaking at the installation ceremony of the leaders, at the Office of the Prime Minister, in Kingston, on November 22, Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said youth must be given full and equal partnership in the decision-making process of Government, so that the outlook of the future is more reflective of the world in which they reside.

 

“This is something that we believe in firmly. I strongly believe that the youth of Jamaica must be at the centre of Jamaica’s development plans if we are to secure the nation’s prosperity,” he said.

 

Mr. Holness emphasised that the Government is committed to supporting the development of the nation’s youth, and the installation of the leaders to the YACJ represents a key national development strategy.

 

The Prime Minister noted that young people, who represent a significant part of the population, will play a role in how Jamaica and the rest of the world adapt to the many challenges that exist, such as climate change.

 

He said that the positive contributions of the youth will always be valued because they are vital to Government’s plans.

 

“They are the change agents and need to play a direct role in shaping and influencing the policies that will affect them. It is important that their voices are heard,” the Prime Minister said.

 

Meanwhile, Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the youth will play an integral role in finding solutions to certain problems.

 

“I charge you to help us change society. Together we’re going to build this country. You share our collective goals and dreams for a prosperous Jamaica,” the Minister told the young people.

 

He also urged them to support the National Values and Attitudes Programme, which is to be launched soon.

 

For his part, Minister of State in the Education, Youth and Information Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green, said the launch of the YACJ is the fulfilment of a dream to enable the youth to guide the plans of Government.

 

The State Minister urged the 16-member Council to plan not only for the future, but also for the present.

 

In his reply, Chairman of the YACJ, Aubrey Stewart, said the youth leaders accept the mantle of national leadership and will take the position seriously.

 

“We are meaningful and ready for action in this country. We believe that we can achieve more… (and) we are committed to growing this nation. We accept this challenge,” he said.

 

Mr. Stewart noted that the 16 youth leaders represent not only the voice of young people who are apathetic, hopeless, vulnerable and disabled, but also those who are enthusiastic.

 

The YACJ is being coordinated with the intent to facilitate dialogue between young people and all ministries, departments and agencies.

 

Its structure is geared towards the fulfilment of Goal IV of the Caribbean Community Youth Development Goals (CYDGs), which seeks to ensure and enhance participation in all levels of decision-making, programme implementation and oversight.

 

The YACJ also acts as Steering Committee for the National Youth Parliament towards ensuring that the deliberations of the Parliament are presented to, and discussed with the relevant decision-makers.

 

It is expected that for the 2016-2017 period, the Council will focus on achieving its objectives in relation to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information as well as its departments and agencies

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre); Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (second right), and State Minister in the Education, Youth and Information Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green (third left), with the 16 members of the Youth Advisory Council of Jamaica (YACJ), at the installation ceremony, held at the Office of the Prime Minister, in Kingston, on November 22. At right (second row), is State Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Senator the Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr.

JIS: The Government has launched the country’s first ever Youth Advisory Council of Jamaica.

 

The Council comprises 16 youth who will serve for the 2016-2018 period.

 

Speaking at the launch at Jamaica House, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the new group embodies the government’s commitment to treat youth as full and equal partners in the decision making process.

 

The Prime Minister said the government wholeheartedly supports the development of the country’s youth and will place it as a key component in the national development strategy. “It is not just about talking; it is about actual results and having organizations such as the national youth advisory council,” he emphasized.

 

According to Mr. Holness, young people represent a significant segment of the population, who will play a major role in Jamaica as it adapts to many of the challenges such as climate change and natural disasters.

 

He further added, “We value the positive contributions of our youth. They are the change agents and need to play a direct role in shaping and influencing programmes and policies that will affect them. It is important that they are engaged and their voices are heard.”

 

Prime Minister Holness revealed that the Council will help to facilitate dialogue between young people and Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies. For the period 2016-17, the focus will be on the achievement of its objectives in relation to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and its departments and agencies. The work of the Council will be subsequently expanded to consider other policies and programmes across government.

 

The Youth Advisory Council is chaired by UWI graduate Mr. Aubrey Stewart.

 

 

Around the world, November 17 is celebrated as International Students’ Day,

a day that highlights the significant role that students have played as change makers.

 

 

I have longbelieved that a student should be the conscience of society, willing to defend the less fortunate and to advocate not only for the rights of students but the promulgation of equal rights and justice.

 

On this International Students’Day, I congratulate our student-based organizations, especially the National Secondary Schools Council (NSSC) and the Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students (JUTS), and encourage them to deepen their resolve, strengthen their advocacy, and constantly lead the search for the solutions to our country’s gravest problems.

 

At the secondary level, the Ministry has carried out a comprehensive audit of all schools to ascertain the status of the Student Councils. By way of the Education Act, every secondary school is to have a democratically elected student council with a teacher representative selected by the students. Additionally, the Student Council representative is to sit on the school board. Where these are absent, the Ministry will be working with both the schools and the NSSC to install representation.

 

 At the tertiary level, we continue to support the revamping and revitalization of JUTS, including their constitutional review. Today they have introduced a new logo and will later host a Twitter town hall about student governance in Jamaica. I applaud these efforts, which only serve to strengthen their role as architects of a new Jamaica.

 

 Finally, it has come to my attention, that unfortunately at some of our major tertiary institutions, students who form groups affiliated to our major political parties are forced to operate in isolation or secret. Failing to recognize these groups and continuously leaving them out of the co-curricular transcript is a trend that demonizes political service.  It must stop.   I use this International Students’ Day to encourage our tertiary institutions to give political clubs the same regard and status as other service organizations.

 

We have a tremendous opportunity to change Jamaica. Our students have the talent and the vision, we will provide the platform. As we continue to Energize Youth this month, I encourage all students to commit to creating a new Jamaica, a Jamaica that will truly increase in beauty, fellowship and prosperity and play her part in advancing the welfare of the entire human race.

 

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

 

JIS: The National Education Trust (NET), set up under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, will coordinate the efforts of the Jamaica Diaspora Education Task Force (JDETF) to raise US$2 million.

 

The JDETF has partnered with organisations in Jamaica and the diaspora to raise the money to upgrade the infrastructure of early-childhood and primary schools in Jamaica.

 

This initiative will take the form of a competition in which Jamaicans living here and the more than three million living in the diaspora are invited to make monetary contributions to a school of their choice.

 

Addressing a JIS ‘Think Tank’ recently, Manager for Public-Private Partnership at the NET, Latoya Harris, said the fundraising campaign is an inter-parish competition among Jamaicans across the globe who will compete to raise funds for schools in their respective parish.

 

The drive was launched on November 1, 2016 and will last until January 31, 2017, with the declaration of each parish winner of the competition.

 

At the end of the campaign, the donations will be tallied and the parish that raises the most money will be declared the winner.

 

The ‘winning’ parish will receive funds to support the infrastructure development for a second school from funds collected.

 

According to Miss Harris, the Pledge2Build campaign was developed to raise money for capital improvement of early-childhood and primary schools across the island, but will also support other educational initiatives, such as the international teacher\education practitioner exchange programme, and the parental and community awareness programme.

 

She explained that the long-term objective of Pledge2Build is to develop a comprehensive five-year resource-raising plan to galvanise the Jamaican diaspora towards education development in Jamaica and create a major consortium of public- and private-sector entities as partners.

 

In addition, Miss Harris said there will the continued engagement of the Jamaican diaspora through effective communication, utilising existing channels, including the Government’s policy on engagement of the diaspora.

 

The Pledge2Build Campaign involves collaboration with I Support Jamaica, which is a crowd-funding platform that seeks to provide a simple, creative and secure avenue for Jamaicans residing locally and overseas, as well as friends of the island, to provide financial support to microenterprises and not-for-profit projects and programmes.

 

Elements for collection of funds for Pledge2Build are the Crowd Funding portal managed by JN I-Support; Western Union or direct deposits to a Jamaica National Account.

 

Other partners of the initiative are Jamaica National (JN), JN I-Support and JN Foundation; Victoria Mutual Building Society; Union of Jamaica Alumni Association; GraceKennedy Foundation; and Western Union.

 

For further information on the campaign, persons can visit the website: pledge2build.com, or email info@ pledge2build.com.

 

CAPTION: Manager for Public-Private Partnership at the National Education Trust (NET), Latoya Harris (left), addresses JIS ‘Think Tank’, recently.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says Spanish Town High School is among priority institutions to receive support to transition from the shift system.

 

Speaking during a tour of the school on Monday (November 14), Mr. Reid said the Ministry is committed to seeing how best it can remove all schools from the shift system through a two-year programme now under way.

 

He informed that additional funds will be provided in the budget for the St. Catherine-based school to support the buildout of new classrooms and facilities. He noted that the school was already provided with funding towards this move.

 

The Minister’s tour followed a meeting with teachers and other staff, where he extended condolences for the recent sudden death of teacher Shanorayo Hemmings-Neil.

 

“We are all in this business of education together, and when you have any unfortunate occurrences in our schools, it affects all of us and it’s important that I engage all the stakeholders on the ground to let them know that the Minister cares and that we will be working with them going forward,” he said.

 

He said the visit also gave him the opportunity to examine the school’s facilities and see how best the Ministry can respond.

 

Senator Reid gave a commitment to help the school with improvements of a reading room, which Mrs. Hemmings-Neil was instrumental in developing. He said the room will be equipped with computers and tablets.

 

He noted that the Ministry, in collaboration with the Sports Development Foundation, will also help with the upgrading of the playfield.

 

Teachers at the school will be benefiting from wellness and health activities, which will include therapy and counselling exercises as well as massages and health tips.

 

Senator Reid noted that the Ministry is looking to establish a wellness programme for educators through partnership with the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA).

 

“We need to support our teachers to reduce the stress levels that they undertake,” Senator Reid said.

 

Principal of the school, Ventley Brown, expressed appreciation for the visit by the Minister and his team and for the commitment of support.

 

Senator Reid was accompanied by Deputy Chief Education Officer of School Operations, Dorrett Campbell; Assistant Chief Education Officer, Guidance and Counselling, Fern McFarlane; and Regional Director for Region Six, Maxine Headlam.

 

CAPTION: 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 on Monday (November 14).

 

CAPTION: Education Minister, Senator Ruel Reid (centre) discusses the planned merger of the National Youth Service and Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning into the Heart Trust / NTA, at the Ministry’s National Heroes Circle offices Monday, November 14, 2016 with multilateral development partners and representatives from the education sector.

 

 Listening keenly are Mrs. Therese Turner-Jones (second left), General Manager, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); Alicia Glasgow-Gentles, (left), executive director of  Youth Upliftment Through Employment (YUTE); Dean-Roy Bernard, (fourth left), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information; Maxine Wilson, (fifth left), chair of the HEART Trust /NTA; Kareen Cox, Fundraising and Communications Specialist, New Employment Opportunities (NEO) for Youth in Jamaica Project and Barrington Bryce, project co-ordinator, NEO, Jamaica.

 

Also in attendance were Dr. Grace McLean, Chief Education Officer, Natalie Rochester, Monitoring Specialist NEO Jamaica, Annelle Dane Bellony, Education Specialist IDB, Wayne Beecher of the IDB’s Multilateral Investment Fund Specialist and Dr. Wayne Wesley, Executive Director, HEART Trust/ NTA.