JIS: The Government is looking at implementing legislation to make it illegal for children to be barred or denied access to education, particularly at the secondary level.

 

This was disclosed by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, during the July 26 sitting of the House of Representatives.

 

He informed that access to education is not defined as a right in the Charter of Rights, but noted that the Education Regulations and Child Care Protection Act place an obligation on the State to provide access to educational opportunities.

 

“As a matter of policy and law, therefore, Jamaican children are entitled to freely access public education up to age 18 and should be attached to an institution up to that age. If this then is the law, policy and social consensus, then no Jamaican child seeking to access publicly provided education should in any way be discriminated against, barred from or denied access to education,” he argued.

 

The Prime Minister said he has directed the Minister of Education, Youth and Information to examine the existing legislation with a view to make it illegal for any child to be denied a right to secondary education.

 

He said the Government has kept its commitment to the removal of auxiliary fees, and has increased funding to high schools from $2.6 billion to $5.3 billion.

 

“In keeping with these commitments, the first disbursement of monies has been deposited to all secondary schools’ accounts since the second week of June for the process of preparing for the upcoming academic year, a first in the history of Jamaica’s education system,” he said.

 

He noted that the disbursement of funds represents an increase from the previous $11,500 to a maximum of $19,000 per student and, as such, will provide additional support to the institutions.

 

 Mr. Holness said the Government acknowledges that parents play a critical role in supporting schools and has implemented guidelines for non-mandatory contribution.

 

“Therefore, parents are supporting co-curricular, sports and special school development initiatives. Parents can make full or partial contributions as they can afford. Whether traditional or non-traditional schools; contributions are optional and students cannot be denied access to attend school, services or classes,” he pointed out.

 

He urged stakeholders to partner with schools in order to ensure that the quality of education continues to improve even as the Government deepens its support for institutions.

 

“The removal of auxiliary fees is… not a forced promise but a reiteration of this Administration’s commitment to ensuring that every child can learn; every child must learn, through the provision of equitable access to core educational resources,” the Prime Minister said.

 

CAPTION:

Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness addressing the July 26 sitting of the House of Representatives

JIS: In May 2016, the Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid announced the removal of the payment of auxiliary fees to all secondary institutions. Since then, much debate has ensued about the implications of this removal.  This Government believes that education must be compulsory between the ages of your third and eighteenth birthday.

 

Already through the weight of legislation we have provided for free access to early childhood and primary education.  Access to secondary education is not defined as a right in our Charter of Rights but the Education Regulations and Child Care and Protection Act do place an obligation on the state to provide access to educational opportunities.

 

As a matter of policy and law therefore, Jamaican children are entitled to freely access public education up to age 18 and should be attached to an institution up to that age.   If this then is the law, policy and social consensus, then no Jamaican child seeking to access publicly provided education should in any way be discriminated against, barred from or denied access to education.

 

We are now therefore looking at making the right to secondary education explicit in law and I have directed the Minister of Education, Youth and Information to examine the existing legislation with a view to make it illegal for any child to be denied a “right” to secondary education.

 

I wish to reiterate that to help to safeguard the entitlement to education; this administration will keep its commitment to:

 

The removal of auxiliary fees; and

increased funding to the high schools from 2.6 billion to 5.3 billion dollars.

This government is serious about not compromising education; it is one of our guiding principles; when we took office in 2007, we doubled the amount of funding and again, we are doubling what obtained when we came in earlier this year. Government and indeed life is about making choices and this government will always choose to prioritize education.

 

When a child sits the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and is placed at the secondary level, this placement is based on performance; parents should not then be burdened with mandatory fees to send the child to the secondary place rightfully earned based on results.

 

Secondary education is an entitlement and students must be attached to an institution up to age 18 and all institutions that use public resources fall under government policies.

 

The basis of this policy of removing auxiliary fees is not to ask schools to function with fewer funds but for the Ministry to provide more support to schools by subvention, maintenance and capital works. Understandably, like when we did it in 2007; the removal of auxiliary fees has been met with opposition in some quarters. While the Government appreciates that the auxiliary fees assisted with the funding of schools; research revealed that there was only a 49% compliance rate across secondary institutions for the 2014/15 school year.

 

The philosophy is that public education should be properly funded by government while encouraging stakeholders to make voluntary contributions; effectively schools will now have more money with greater certainty. Schools should not be forced to charge fees for services that the Ministry should be providing.

 

Education is just too important to have any barriers to access. Parents are already funding aspects of students’ education in preparing them for school by providing lunch, books, bus fare and other items.

 

I must emphasize that schools will be held accountable for the provision of core services; and I am instructing the Minister of Education to ensure that there is increased monitoring and surveillance of the system to ensure value for money.  I am also highlighting the fact that all schools that are given public funds are subject to audit by the Auditor General and I will be asking for audits to be done at a sample of schools to guarantee that the appropriate and best use is being made of our limited public funds.

 

With our increased investment in education, the bar has again been raised and we expect to see not only universal enrolment but increased performance as well.  In keeping with these commitments, the first disbursement of monies has been deposited to all secondary schools’ accounts since the second week of June for the process of preparing for the upcoming academic year, a first in the history of Jamaica’s Education System.

 

The Government concurs that we will never be able to provide funding for every activity in schools. The Government also acknowledges that not all schools offer the same level of service; the Government’s role is not to prevent schools to be limited by a threshold of funding and offerings but to ensure that certain minimum core standards are available to all as we seek to improve the entire educational system.

 

The Government’s remit is to provide funding for the core comprehensive educational services being provided for the students to include; physical education, guidance and counseling, health and family life education, security and safety, plant maintenance, curriculum support materials, students’ nutrition services, support for uniformed groups and behaviour management.

 

We encourage all to be cognizant that Government cannot reasonably be expected to fund ‘special programmes’, such as sporting activities, which can easily cost a school millions of dollars, but that neither can the Government allow any denial of access or discrimination when the Government has committed to covering the core of education.

 

The disbursement of funds by the Ministry to all secondary institutions as of the upcoming school year represents an increase from the previous JMD$11,500 to a maximum of  JMD$19,000 per student and therefore will provide additional support  in some schools.

 

A total of $5,337,419,400.44 will be provided to the schools for the upcoming school year. Outside of the payment of teachers on establishment, support is being provided for the following categories: See full PDF File for Categories

 

The Government acknowledges that parents play a critical role in supporting schools and has implemented guidelines for non-mandatory parents’ school support contributions. Therefore parents are supporting co-curricular, sports and special school development initiatives.  Parents can make full or partial contributions as they can afford.

 

Whether traditional or non-traditional schools; contributions are optional and students cannot be denied access to attend school, services or classes.

 

As the Government deepens its support for schools, an appeal is being made for all stakeholders to continue to partner with schools in ensuring that the quality of education continues to improve. In Jamaica, education always has and always should operate as a partnership; our Churches, Trusts, Alumni, the diaspora, corporate Jamaica and indeed all our citizens continue to support education.

 

We cannot and absolutely will not under this government get to a stage in this country where universal access to education becomes threatened.  The system has to be one where we welcome and value all possible contributions but the Government has to be committed to take on the lion’s share of the responsibility.

 

The removal of auxiliary fees is therefore not a forced promise but a reiteration of this administration’s commitment to ensuring that every child can learn; every child must learn, through the provision of equitable access to core educational resources.

CAPTION: 

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

JIS: A toll-free number has been established for persons needing information on the Jamaica House Fellowship Programme. The number 1-888-429-5JHF (543), will be in operation on Mondays to Thursdays 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and Fridays 8:30 am to 4:00pm.

 

Acting Chief Technical Director in the Office of the Prime Minister Mrs. Jacqueline Lynch-Stewart is encouraging individuals to call if they need information on the programme or to confirm receipt of their applications.

 

The Jamaica House Fellowship Programme was announced by Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness during his Budget Presentation earlier this year,  and is designed to provide the government with the services of some of Jamaica’s most promising young minds and high capacity managers.

 

The Fellowship is a paid full-time assignment with the Office of the Prime Minister for a period of two years. Under the programme, successful candidates will be guided by the Chief Technical Director in the OPM and involved in a wide range of high impact projects while interacting with Cabinet and other officials at the OPM in wider government service.

 

Mrs. Lynch-Stewart explained that since the OPM began accepting applications for the fellowship programme on July 20, the response has been excellent.

 

“We are pleased with the level of interest. There has been a positive response from professionals in a wide range of fields and disciplines; it is obvious that many persons view this Fellowship as a great opportunity to develop professionally and to serve their country,” she observed.

 

“However, despite the great response thus far, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage more of our citizens here at home and in the Jamaican diaspora to  submit applications to be part of this prestigious programme,” Mrs. Lynch-Stewart declared.

 

Applications close on August 2, 2016, and application forms are only available online. For further information persons may also email [email protected] or visit www.opm.gov.jm/jamaicahousefellowship or call (867) 946-4475 or (876) 927-9941-3 ext. 3333.

 

CAPTION: 

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

JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has reiterated the Government’s objective to make education compulsory for children three to 18.

 

“It is a little bit more advanced than saying that everyone must be in school. It is saying that everyone should be known to the State, registered in an officially recognised educational institution and meet a certain standard of educational attainment,” he said.

 

He said that students must also have exposure to a well-rounded curriculum.

 

Mr. Holness was speaking at the start of a two-day School Leadership Summit staged by the Jamaica National (JN) Foundation on July 25 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

 

He lauded the JN Foundation for staging the summit and for its contribution to the development of education in Jamaica.

 

The Leadership Summit, under the theme ‘Innovate. Impact. Lead: Join the Education Revolution’, brings together principals, senior teachers and grade supervisors, among others, to benefit from an exchange of expertise in school leadership from local and international professionals.

 

JN Foundation Chairman, Earl Jarrett, informed that coming out of a 2008 report, which showed unfavourable results among some non-traditional and rural high-school students, the entity partnered with the Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS) to tackle the problem through the Centre of Excellence Project.

 

Mr. Jarrett hailed the project as a success, noting that it was able to improve the performance of students in mathematics, English and the sciences.

 

American education expert and consultant Salome Thomas-El, who was the main presenter, noted that school principals and leaders must be engaged with students.

 

He described teaching as a ministry and encouraged principals and teachers to work together. Mr. Thomas-El said the job of an educator is to teach children to think.

 

He also encouraged school leaders to embrace the wider community and “believe in our children”.

 

CAPTION: 

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, ‘enlists’ in the Jamaica National (JN) Foundation’s education revolution at the entity’s Leadership Summit held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on July 25. 

About 1,000 school officials are to benefit from training sessions focused on school safety being offered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information.

 

These sessions are being done in keeping with the ministry’s emphasis on engendering a safe and secure culture in Jamaican schools.

 

The workshops will focus on areas such as human trafficking and its impact on schools and the Office of the Children’s Registry’s examination of matters of missing children and the duty to report under the Child Care and Protection Act.

 

The sessions will also see members of the National Intelligence Bureau of the Jamaica Constabulary Force addressing the matter of gangs and how to identify them.

 

The Ministry says this is the first tier of training.

 

It says in a few weeks some 400 youths will be trained under the apprenticeship programme.

 

The Ministry says these individuals will be assigned to selected schools while undergoing training over a one-year period to support the work of the Deans of Discipline and the School Safety Officers.

 

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

JIS:  Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Ministry will be working with the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) to ensure that there is a functional PTA in every school.

 

He informed that the establishment of PTAs is a recommendation of the National Task Force on Education and forms part of the Government’s educational policy.

 

Addressing the 5th Biennial General Meeting of the NPTAJ held at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz on Saturday (July 23), Senator Reid noted that the bodies play a major role in the effective management of educational institutions.

 

He said PTAs should be an important voice on behalf of the Ministry in all institutions.

 

Senator Reid said the Biennial General Meeting of the NPTAJ serves to underscore the importance of partnership between parents and teachers in the education process.

 

“The relationship between home and school is important because each reinforces the other. Parents need to know that their job does not end with just sending the child to school, but they need to be involved in every aspect of the child’s growth,” he pointed out.

 

The Education, Youth and Information Minister added that through the National  Parenting Support Commission (NPSC), a number of programmes will be rolled out to assist parents in rearing their children.

 

He said these programmes include educational and support services and are designed to promote the well-being and safety of children, using the family as the base.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addresses the 5th Biennial General Meeting of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), held at the St. Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz on Saturday, July 23

JIS: Education Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, is urging training institutions to ensure that more teachers are certified in special education.

 

He said that the Ministry is placing increased focus on inclusive education for students with special needs.

 

“We are trying to mainstream more inclusive education and require that teachers are far more adept at differentiated instructional techniques,” he said.

 

Senator Reid was addressing the opening ceremony of the International Council on Education for Teaching’s (ICET) 60th World Assembly on July 18 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

 

ICET is an international association of policy and decision-makers in education, government and business, dedicated to improving educational experiences and outcomes in all parts of the world.

 

The conference, being held from July 18-21 has attracted 300 participants from around the world and aims to engender a cross-disciplinary focus on developing teacher capacity through quality teacher education in the Caribbean region.

 

During the ceremony, Professor Emeritus, the Hon. Errol Miller was presented with ICET’s Frank H. Klassen Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contributions in education.

 

Professor Miller, who delivered the Frank H. Klassen Lecture, said he was honoured to be a recipient of the prestigious award.

 

Dr. Frank Klassen was a long-standing ICET President who led the transformation of association into the global voice of the teacher-education community and the implementation of major educational reforms.

 

Senator Reid congratulated Professor Miller on this notable achievement and thanked him for his invaluable contribution to the education sector.

 

The ICET conference is being hosted by the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) Mona Campus School of Education in partnership with the Teachers’ Colleges of Jamaica under the theme ‘Teachers for a Better World: Creating Conditions for Quality Education – Pedagogy, Policy and Professionalism’.

 

A special feature of this year’s conference is the inauguration of the Darrell Bloom Award for sustained services to the promotion of educator preparation.

 

Darrel Bloom is an active leader within the ICET and the immediate past president for the period 1998 to 2012.

 

Founded in 1953, ICET aims to emphasise international cooperation to improve the quality of teacher education.

 

Since 1953, ICET has convened seven World Assemblies in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. This will be the third time Jamaica has hosted the assembly since 1971.

 

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

JIS: The Mico University College is hosting a five-day training camp to introduce Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based methodologies to address teaching and learning challenges within the education sector.

 

This is being done in partnership with IBM Canada and IBM World Trade Corporation (Jamaica).

 

The workshop, to be attended by teachers and students, is being held from July 18-22 and is in response to gaps identified in the National Education Inspectorate (NEI) Report of 2015.

 

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, held at The Mico University College today (July 18), General Manager, IBM World Corporation, Jamaica, Gordon Foote, said he hopes the training camp will help transform the education sector.

 

“Our technology camps are designed to generate an awareness of science and technology in general. These camps also offer volunteers the opportunity to share their professional and personal experience as role models, which fosters a positive environment conducive to learning,” Mr. Foote said.

 

He added that at the camp, children will be able to explore science and technology through team-based learning and hands-on activities.

 

“This camp will focus on engaging teachers and children from eight schools in the inner cities of Kingston to discover the reality of science, technology, engineering and maths,” Mr. Foote noted.

 

For her part, Chief Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Grace McLean, said the camp is a response to the needs of the education system.

 

“We are grateful that this university has taken the lead in building capacity in our teachers and prospective teachers as you continue to utilise the National Education Inspectorate recommendations to improve the system,” Dr. McLean said.

 

The training camp is the first of its kind in the Caribbean that will train both Mico Faculty members and students from surrounding schools using STEM methodology.

 

It will consist of very practical topics, which will include learning-based challenges, robotics, a field trip and bridge building with a twist.

 

CAPTION:

Chief Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Grace McLean (second left) shares a light moment with (from left) Pro-Chancellor, The Mico University College, Neville Ying; Director, Communications and Public Relations, IBM Canada, Joanne Fortin, and General Manager, IBM World Corporation, Jamaica, Gordon Foote. Occasion was the official opening of a five-day training camp to introduce Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based methodologies to address teaching and learning challenges within the education sector. The ceremony was held at The Mico University College on July 18.

JIS: Several of the island’s teachers are being trained in preparation for the roll-out of the new National Standard Curriculum in September.

 

This was disclosed by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, during the opening ceremony for the Excellence in Science Experiential Education (ExSEED) Jamaica 2016 workshop, at The Mico University College in Kingston, on July 12.

 

Under the new system, emphasis will be placed on project-based and problem-solving learning, with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics/Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEM/STEAM) integrated at all levels.

 

The approaches will allow the learners to have hands-on experience that is similar to real-world situations, making the learning experience less abstract and more concrete.

 

Senator Reid said the new curriculum will enable all students from the primary to the secondary level to be better equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for the 21st Century work environment.

 

He emphasised that in a rapidly changing social and technological environment, it is important that teaching is kept abreast of current and effective trends in education.

 

“Having demonstrated in other jurisdictions the ability to bring together the competencies and skills that make for a more efficient school product, the STEM methodology is expected to spawn in Jamaica a new type of school, different from and more efficient than our current educational institutions,” the Minister said.

 

Senator Reid noted that several high schools have been transformed into STEM academies, “so that parents and students can select those schools specifically, because they want to focus on those areas”.

 

The STEM academies are Kingston, St. Andrew, Herbert Morrison, St. Mary, Dinthill, Dunoon and Vere technical high schools, Manchester High and Sydney Pagon High.

 

The Minister said every effort is being made to ensure that the country’s education system is customised and specifically targeted to meet the country’s labour market needs.

 

He urged teachers at the workshop to acquire as much knowledge as possible, so they will be more adept in their areas of specialisation.

 

In the meantime, the Minister said technology will have to be used to address the shortage of teachers, particularly in the areas of Mathematics and Science.

 

“It means, therefore, we are going to organise the delivery of these contents across the school system, so that they are delivered at the same time,” he said.

 

At the workshop, the Ministry provided the teachers with computer tablets.

 

The ExSEED programme is designed to enhance integrated STEM education in schools. A team from Loma Linda University visited the island to engage the teachers who attended the workshop.

 

CAPTION:

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addresses opening ceremony for the ExSEED Jamaica 2016 workshop at The Mico University College in Kingston, on July 12. The ExSEED programme is designed to enhance Integrated Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in schools.