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.

 

JIS: Six Principals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities have been chosen as the second batch to be officially inducted into the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL) Executive Principals’ League (EPL).

 

They are Principal of Allman Town Primary, Kandi-Lee Alexandria Crooks-Smith; Principal of Manchester High, Jasford Gabriel; Principal of Ardenne High, Nadine Molloy; Principal of Petersfield Primary and Infant, Susan Rattray-Hammond; Principal of York Castle High, Raymon Treasure; and Principal of Belmont Academy, Rayon Simpson.

 

The EPL is a vehicle through which its members will share best practices and innovative ideas whilst serving as ambassadors for the College. League members also provide guidance to NCEL concerning its programmes, so as to ensure their continued relevance to the local educational landscape.

 

It serves as a catalyst for the advancement of the College’s mandate, which is the development and sustenance of excellent leadership in the educational sector and the strengthening and promulgation of national morals and values.

 

Speaking at the recent announcement ceremony, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, encouraged the principals to continue making a positive impact that will redound to the benefit of the sector.

 

“The recognition that you are getting is not a monetary recognition, it’s a validation of your excellence that money can’t even buy,” he said.

 

The Minister reminded that much is expected of them, and encouraged them to mentor and inspire the new principals.

 

“As leaders of this great league, we have to be transformational leaders, but part of the greater message is that not only the excellence that you have achieved must become a habit, but you have to infect the rest of the principals throughout the length the breath of Jamaica,” he said.

 

Senator Reid said that although they may be faced with social challenges while carrying out the operations at their various institutions, they should remain focused in their pursuit of greatness.

 

The Minister noted that the training NCEL provides will assist them in being effective in human resource management, financial management and implementing curriculum.

 

Responding on behalf of the inductees, Principal, Allman Town Primary, Mrs. Crooks-Smith said they were honoured and humbled to serve.

 

“Through coaching and mentorship we will continue to offer our support and encouragement to our colleagues. We will intensify the campaign to respect and protect our children,” she said.

 

Mrs. Crooks-Smith noted that this is another avenue for them to pool their knowledge, skills, resources and talents to activate a regional and national conversation on the thinking and doing of leadership.

 

“My colleagues and I will renew our commitment to utilise effective traditional and alternative solutions to address our challenges. Indeed, we will continue to challenge the norms that are non-productive,” she said.

 

The six principals were presented with Executive Principals’ League emblazoned blazers as well as lapel pins.

 

The league was developed by the NCEL as a means of promoting excellence and quality leadership.

 

It highlights principals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities, as well as sustained acceptable levels of academic performance within their respective schools, and have been models of excellence for their colleagues.

 

Membership to the EPL is determined by the College. Individuals become eligible if they receive a rating of ‘Exceeds Expectation’ in round one of the ‘Effective Principals’ Training Programme.

 

Prospective members should also be in the post for at least two or three years prior to their institution receiving a rating of good or exceptionally high by the National Education Inspectorate and are registered, tenured and licensed for a minimum of three years.

 

The final requirement is that individuals have to provide evidence of ongoing professional development, mentorship and community involvement.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left), with newly inducted members of the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL) Executive Principals’ League (EPL), Kandi Lee Crooks-Smith, during a ceremony at The Marriott Hotel Courtyard, in Kingston.

JIS: The National Youth Parliament of Jamaica (NYPJ) reconvened yesterday  (November 14) with more than 70 young people debating issues that impact their development.

 

The youngsters, drawn from various areas of national life, made contributions on youth unemployment, climate change and the psychosocial care of students in schools.

 

They advocated for the creation of policies to enable more well-trained and skilled persons with disabilities to gain employment; for greater use of technology and innovation to create jobs; deepening involvement of women in agriculture to improve their position in society; and the use of technology to better promote the image of agriculture.

 

Other matters included establishment of a climate-change council to aid in raising awareness about the issue; and putting systems in place to prevent students from lapsing into deviant behaviour, especially at the secondary-school level.

 

In addressing the Youth Parliament, Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator, the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the sitting is intended to introduce the participants to the legislative process and the tenets of good governance. Mr. Reid urged them to use the lessons learnt to advance Jamaica.

 

“This experience must not be a one-off experience. It must be a call to action that you will be inspired… to ask not what your country can do for us, but what we can do for our country, if we want Jamaica to be great,” he said.

 

State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green, told the young people that they were not only representing their own views but those of their peers, and they should be proud of the opportunity.

 

Mr. Green also expressed elation at the reconvening of the Youth Parliament.

 

He said he expected the members to advance solutions for the betterment of youth throughout Jamaica.

 

“This is a call to action. Whatever cause you are championing, I want you to effect real change. We’re giving you the platform to create a new Jamaica,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House, Hon. Pearnel Charles, urged the young parliamentarians to take their role seriously.

 

He said they must become advocates to ensure the holistic development and growth of Jamaica.

 

Started in November 2003, the NYPJ is a non-partisan initiative aimed at providing youths from across Jamaica with a forum to express their views, network and debate issues of concern in the House of Representatives. The most recent sitting of the NYPJ was in 2009.

 

This year’s sitting is in keeping with the Youth Month theme ‘E=MC 2 : Energising Youth”.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right) makes an address to the National Youth Parliament, held at Gordon House in Kingston on November 14.

 

JIS: Cabinet is to consider a proposal to engage 25 District Constables for the maintenance of public order, particularly at the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre.

 

Director of Safety and Security in Schools, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Coleridge Minto, said Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, will take the proposal to Cabinet.

 

Mr. Minto, who was addressing a sensitization session on Justice Services, at the Ministry of Justice, on November 10, said the proposal was developed by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

 

Meanwhile, he told the gathering that there is a move to deal effectively with children who are dropping out of school, as there is a correlation with this and crime.

 

He said Cabinet has already approved a plan to develop a research programme to identify and place them in the education system through the Career Advancement Programme (CAP), Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI), and the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL).

 

Mr. Minto said persons who know of children who have been expelled from school, should contact the Ministry, so they can be given assistance.

 

He emphasised that the students should be helped and given another chance to acquire an education and skills, because once they are left to uncertainty, they might end up in criminal activities.

 

Mr. Minto also appealed to School Resource Officers (SROs) to look out for drugs being peddled near educational institutions, as it has been found that some students obtain the substance not far from their schools.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is looking to start a Staff Wellness Programme for teachers and school administrators, following preliminary discussions with the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA).

 

Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the programme is being considered against the background of the recent sudden death of Spanish Town High teacher, Shanorayo Hemmings-Neil, as well as other potential stress factors, including financial stressors, family issues and serious health conditions.

 

“With conditions such as these, a staff-wellness programme becomes an essential need. A teachers’ wellness programme, therefore, means support for their physical, emotional and professional well-being,” he said.

 

The Minister was speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing, held today (November 9), at the Office of the Prime Minister.

 

Senator Reid said supporting the well-being of school employees by promoting healthy behaviours at school and at home will foster a culture of health among staff.

 

Meanwhile, the Minister extended condolences to the family and colleagues of Mrs. Hemmings-Neil, who collapsed at a National Standards Curriculum Workshop at Central High School in Clarendon and later died at hospital.

 

He also extended condolences to the families of two students who died while participating in sporting activities over the past months.

 

The Minister said the Ministry has responded by agreeing to promote the policy of screening of student athletes before they participate in sporting activities. He said this is already a feature of the Ministry’s Safety and Security Policy.

 

Senator Reid said he will also be meeting with the school administrators and Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) to have further discussion on the matter.

 

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

JIS: Countries in the region are being urged to adopt a licensing system for teachers as a means of branding education and making educators globally competitive.

 

Making the call, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Robert Miller, said as is the case with several other professions, teachers need to have a body to recertify them, and that with such as system, meaningful benefits will come.

 

In Jamaica, the new Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) Bill is seeking to recognise, regulate and promote the teaching profession and maintain professional standards for educators.

 

“Whether it be four or five years, there must be some basic criteria that govern the profession. This will allow teachers to be on the cutting edge in the field, and allow them to be more marketable locally and internationally,” Mr. Miller said.

 

The Senior Advisor was delivering the 2016 John Cumberbatch Memorial Lecture in Barbados, recently, which was organised by that country’s Union of Teachers.

 

Mr. Miller in his wide-ranging address, urged the region to address the issue of funding for education, stressing that in the delivery of quality education, preparing students for the global community must be a priority.

 

“We must boost innovation throughout our external examinations. It must be noted that education must be the vehicle out of poverty; we must strive to harness our human resources to get them competent and job-ready, to satisfy the demand of globalisation,” he said.

 

Regional educators, Mr. Miller said, must be mentors of youth, so that there can be more creators of wealth and young people seeing themselves as employers, rather than employees.

The issue of inadequate parenting must also be tackled, according to the Senior Advisor.

 

CAPTION: Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Robert Miller.  

Minister of Education, Senator Ruel Reid has announced a number of safety and security initiatives as the nation tries to grapple with a spate of recent attacks on students.

 

Starting today, November 7, 2016, there will be increased patrols by a private security company along targeted corridors where students traverse during specified times. This arrangement will be in place until the end of the term, December 21, 2016.

 

The police will also be stepping up their patrols in sections of the island, with a special focus on the Papine to Half-Way Tree corridor in the Corporate Area, along which thousands of students from different institutions travel daily.

 

“We are leaving no room for criminals to prey on our students,” Senator Reid declared.

 

In addition, the Ministry of Education has assigned a special school bus service to operate on the Papine to Half-Way Tree route. This service, which went into effect today, will be exclusively for students and will operate between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. weekdays only.

 

Senator Reid also appealed for students to use the Jamaica Urban Transit Corporation (JUTC) buses on the various routes as much as is reasonable possible.

 

“We recognize that there are other legitimate private operators. What our students must never do however, is to travel on illegal buses/taxis or those commonly referred to as ‘robots’,” he said.

 

With just over 600,000 students on record in primary and secondary schools across the island, the Ministry was obliged to respond to enhance the safety net for children, Senator said. “As a nation we must respond and we must do so decisively and without delay,” he added.

 

The Minister noted that in preparation for the start of the new school year, the Ministry had trained 1,000 school safety officers and was now training 400 persons under an apprenticeship programme to be safety and security support officers for schools.

 

“Two hundred and eighty (280) of these persons have already been trained and have been deployed to schools. Our Deans of Discipline and Schools Resource Officers also received training in the summer in preparation for the school year,” he explained.

 

The Ministry will also be calling on all school leaders to engage in a National Day of Prayer on Friday, November 11, 2016 for the country’s children. Schools will be advised of the details through schools bulletins. 

 

CAPTION: Education Minister, Senator Ruel Reid