The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, on the advice of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, has ordered that schools remain closed on Tuesday, October 4, 2016. 

 

This is in response to the impending arrival of Hurricane Matthew, which is expected within the next 12 to 24 hours.

 

“We encourage school administrators to stay tuned to the media in order to receive regular updates from the ministry as the situation unfolds over the next two days,” a news release from the ministry read.

 

“Due to the unpredictable nature of this massive system, a tropical storm warning is still in effect for the island, despite the fair weather conditions at the moment,” stated portfolio Minister Ruel Reid.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is looking to make foreign languages compulsory for students from grades one to nine.

 

Portfolio Minister Ruel Reid said the move forms part of the Ministry’s foreign language policy in schools.

 

“I have already signalled to my ministry to come up with a strategy of how we are going to ensure that foreign languages are part of our primary curriculum,” he said. Reid was addressing the annual general meeting of the National Association of Spanish Teachers and the Jamaica Association of French Teachers at the Caenwood Centre in Kingston on Friday. He noted that the plan is for students “to do a menu of foreign languages” up to third form. He said the hope is that teachers will employ ingenious ways to impart the languages in order to capture students’ interest so that they will be encouraged to specialise after grade nine.

 

Reid pointed out that having a second language is an asset in the global labour market, adding that a multilingual labour force will better position the country for new areas of investments and trade. Reid thanked the various embassies, such as France, Spain, Chile, Cuba, Venezuela and Brazil, and organisations such as the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation and the Organization of American States, for their support to the country in the teaching and learning of various languages over the years.

 

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

 

JIS: State Minister in the Education, Youth and Information Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green, has hailed the efforts of the Jamaica Stock Exchange to promote financial literacy  among high school students and teachers through its Stock Market Game.

 

“They (JSE) are innovators at heart. They have been…finding ways to ensure that as a country we get more financially literate,” Mr. Green said, noting that the game is helping to demystify certain principles and concepts regarding the stock market.

 

Mr. Green was addressing a luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston on September 30 to promote the new format of the game, which includes teachers.

 

The JSE launched the Stock Market Game in 2008 as a fun way to introduce students to elements of stock market trading.      Students from fourth to sixth form learn about different companies, watch for trends and make speculations.

 

The new format has shown potential to motivate teachers and students to better plan for their future and to engage in financial planning, research and use of investment products and services.

 

Mr. Green, in the meantime, said the Government is committed to strengthening the Junior Stock Exchange, with the recent tabling of a Bill in Parliament to restore concession to companies.

 

He move, he said, will lead to business growth and employment creation.

 

He cited the success of companies such as Knutsford Express, Kingston Live Entertainment Group and LASCO that  have received benefits under the junior market.

 

Concessions include a 10-year period when no corporate tax is paid for the first five years and 50 per cent of the prevailing rate is paid in the next five years.

 

The Junior Stock Exchange was established in 2009 to encourage and facilitate the development of smaller companies, particularly newer enterprises by enabling them to raise equity.

 

Meanwhile, Senior Marketing Officer of the JSE, Michael Johnson, said it is important for students to be financially literate.

 

Having such knowledge, he said, will make them more prudent during their earning years.

 

Sagicor Investments Jamaica Limited is the main sponsor of the game.

 

 

CAPTION: State Minister in the Education, Youth and Information Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green (centre), greets Vice President of Capital Markets and Fund Management at Sagicor Investments Jamaica Limited, Kevin Donaldson. Occasion was a luncheon to promote the Stock Market Game to high school teachers, held on September 30 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston. Looking on is Senior Marketing Officer, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Michael Johnson.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, acting on the advice of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management has ordered that schools should be closed on Monday October 3, 2016. This is in response to the impending arrival of Hurricane Matthew which is expected within the next 24 hours.

 

The Metrological Service of Jamaica has indicated that Hurricane Matthew has been upgraded to a Category 4 (four) status. The Ministry has instructed all schools to activate their emergency plans immediately.  Please note that all schools that function as disaster relief centres, should put in safe keeping all important documents and educational materials. Those schools that serve as relief centres are prepared to facilitate arrangements for delivery of supplies on their premises.

 

We encourage school administrators to stay tuned to the media in order to receive regular updates from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information as the situation unfolds over the next two days.” The safety of our children and all Jamaicans is at this time most paramount, stated portfolio Minister, Senator Ruel Reid .

 

Further updates from the Ministry of Education will be issued through the media as the situation demands.

 

 

 

For Further Information Please Contact:

 

Sheryl Bromfield

 

Public Relations and Communications Officer

 

Communications Unit

 

Ministry of Education

 

Tel: 279 – 8990

 

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

THE Ministry of Education says it plans to rationalise 168 more basic schools during this fiscal year in order to strengthen the early childhood sector.

 

The rationalisation process involves merging clusters of basic schools, as well as subsuming some into infant departments of primary schools. This is done according to factors such as the numbers of students at each institution, and the needs of the geographical areas, among other considerations.

 

Speaking at yesterday’s sitting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) at Gordon House, Chief Education Officer Dr Grace McLean said there was still an issue with some infant departments not following the ministry’s guidelines.

 

“We have seen some not very good achievements as it relates to some of our infant departments over the last two to three years. We found that in some instances — especially the ones that existed before (and) are already under government — there is a tendency not to want to ensure that they are following all the guidelines as stipulated by the early childhood commission,” she explained.

 

The chief education officer said these schools have been cautioned that there must be 100 per cent compliance with the early childhood standards. She pointed out that there have been cases of some children who are just over the age of three who are being grouped with those over four years old in the infant departments of some schools, with no co-ordinator to support the early childhood department.

 

“The principals had overall responsibility. So we made some changes (and) we took the decision to engage a co-ordinator to provide support directly at the early childhood level. We are expecting that, within this coming year, we should see some amount of improvement,” Dr McLean stated.

 

Meanwhile, she said the ministry now has data from the national students registration programme on the general performance of students up to grade 10 under. She said that, in another two years, the information should be accessible to other relevant agencies in order to make the appropriate intervention for students who have challenges.

 

Committee member Mikael Phillips argued that the government should move to have children admitted into the formal school system from as early as age two. He said there is a gap by the time they enter the system at age three, and that these students are falling behind in their early school years, as a result.

 

“You start at age three and there is a challenge for parents out there in finding a place for the children at age two,” he said, highlighting that private basic schools such as those built by churches and communities often are unable to fulfil the ministry’s standards for certification, cover insurance costs, and other requirements.

 

Phillips said he has found that the curriculum is often deficient. “In many instances, they just become a glorified day-care centre. It bothers me, because when they get to grade one, the teachers pay so much attention to get the majority of the students to catch up. It has been a long-standing problem, where we are paying a lot of attention to our secondary, tertiary and primary and we have left the early childhood institutions behind. By the time they catch up, it’s GSAT (Grade six Achievement Test) time. I would love to see us getting back to the stimulation starting at age two,” he said.

 

According to the Early Childhood Commission, there are currently 2,600 basic schools across the island, with just under 200 certified, and another 1,500 having permits to operate while inspections are periodically carried out leading to certification.

 

 CAPTION: Chief Education Officer Dr Grace McLean

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is reporting steady pass rates in the number of students who sat Mathematics and English in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) over the past four years.

 

Senior Advisor/Consultant to the Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Robert Miller, said that for mathematics the pass rates were: 61 per cent in 2013; 60 per cent in 2014; 56 per cent in 2015, and 58 per cent in 2016.

 

He noted that in English the pass rates were 63 per cent in 2013; 62 per cent in 2014; 64 per cent in 2015, and 68 per cent in 2016.

 

Mr. Miller was addressing a meeting of the Rotary Club of Spanish Town on September 27, at the Police Officers’ Club on Hope Road, in Kingston.

 

The Senior Advisor also pointed to improvement in the number of students achieving mastery in literacy and numeracy at the primary level.

 

For literacy, 69 per cent of students achieved mastery in 2012; 74 per cent in 2013; 76.2 per cent in 2014, and 86.5 per cent in 2015.

 

Mr. Miller  noted that for  numeracy, 54 per  cent of  students  achieved mastery  in 2012;  59 per cent in 2013;  58 per cent in  2014,  and 65.7 per cent in  2015.

 

“Jamaica has done well in the provision of basic education. Today we have universal access at the early-childhood, primary and secondary levels of our education system. This is no flimsy achievement,” he emphasised.

 

Mr. Miller encouraged the Rotarians to redouble their efforts to help create a world-class education system, “which enables every Jamaican who wishes to achieve his or her potential”.

 

The achievements by the students are in line with the focus of Rotary International, which is celebrating the month of September under the theme ‘Basic Education and Literacy’.

 

President of the Rotary Club of Spanish Town, Desmond Hutchinson, said that as part of activities being undertaken in September, the club donated books, school bags, pencils and crayons to the National Basic School in Spanish Town.

 

They will also be establishing a reading room/computer room at the Spanish Town High School at an estimated cost of $4 million. It is expected that the facility will be completed by the end of the year.

 

CAPTION: President of the Rotary Club of Spanish Town, Mr. Desmond Hutchinson (left), presents a plaque to Senior Advisor to the Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Mr. Robert Miller, after he addressed the club’s meeting on September 27 at the Police Officers’ Club in Kingston.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has established a Corporate Finance Committee to improve its financial management system.

 

Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, made the disclosure at the reopening of the Jamaica College Parent-Teacher Association’s (PTA) stationery and memorabilia shop at the Old Hope Road-based institution on September 27.

 

Chief Executive Officer of Proven Management Limited, Christopher Williams, has been appointed committee head and Sagicor Chairman, R. Danny Williams is a member.

 

Mr. Reid said the committee will keep track of accounts receivables and payables and the progress of projects. He noted that the body will also ensure that there are proper budgets in place for school furniture, among other needs.

 

“Every year there are complaints because of a lack of furniture. The Ministry has not had a proper budget for furniture, for maintenance. I will now be able to look at a maintenance programme that will reach every school,” he pointed out.

 

The work of the committee will also assist the Minister in giving better evidence-based policy directions. “By doing so, I am able to programme funds more directly so we can have more impact,” Mr. Reid said, noting that the objective is to have the Ministry operate like a corporate body.

 

Meanwhile, President of the Jamaica College PTA, Errol Holmes, said the refurbished shop provides services such as research, printing and laminating.

 

“It houses eight top-of-the-line Lenovo computers and we have an area that sells supplies for the school as well as memorabilia,” he informed.

 

“The building will assist our boys with research for the timely submission of school-based assessments and internal assessments for exams and for research,” he pointed out.

 

Mr. Holmes informed that the project was undertaken over nine months at a cost of $5.2 million.  Jamaica National Foundation contributed approximately $2 million, with the remainder coming from donations and other forms of funding.

 

School Captain, Malik Morrison, said the shop is a “great addition” to the offerings of the institution. He expressed gratitude to the PTA for improving the building.

 

At the grand reopening, five past PTA presidents were recognised for their contributions to improving the school.

 

Among them is Editor-in-Chief of the Gleaner Company, Garfield Grandison, who is the immediate past president.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), examines a Jamaica College branded draw-string bag, which is among items for sale inside the newly refurbished stationery and memorabilia shop, which was reopened on September 27. Others (from left) are PTA President, Errol Holmes; Group Chief Financial Officer, Jamaica National, Curtis Martin, and School Captain, Malik Morrison.

 

JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says with the addition of new classrooms in the early-childhood sector by the administration, more children will have access to education without paying fees.

 

He said that in keeping with the constitutional provision, which guarantees children access to pre-primary education, tuition free, the Government has been expanding early-childhood spaces to ensure that quality accommodation is available for children in public institutions.

 

“The students who are not able to afford it (fees), should be able to find space where they can develop their early-childhood skills without having to worry about fees,” the PM said.

 

Speaking with JIS News, following the presentation of books to students at the Four Campbell’s Academy, on Booby Drive, in his West Central St. Andrew constituency, on September 27, Mr. Holness said with the ongoing increase in early-childhood spaces, absenteeism should decrease, as parents will face less challenges in paying fees.

 

The Prime Minister said many of the early-childhood schools that are operated privately and by the community will have to find some “facilitation in a programme where the Government assists in the provision of the early-childhood service”.

 

Mr. Holness said the Palmyra Foundation, which donated the books, is providing well-placed support to the foundation of education at the early-childhood level.

 

“I want to thank the Foundation, and encourage other corporate citizens to make their contribution to education,” the Prime Minister said.

 

For her part, Principal of the school, Alicia Robinson, said books are available for all of her 80 students.

 

“I am really grateful (for the donation). This is another step to enhance the children’s reading level. The children are very happy, and I am sure they will make good use of the books,” Miss Robinson said.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right), interacts with students at the Four Campbell’s Academy, on Booby Drive, in his West Central St. Andrew Constituency,on September 27. Mr. Holness presented books and other educational materials to the school, donated by the Palmyra Foundation.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information will be implementing its mathematics pilot project for parents in November.

 

The US$500,000 initiative, which will involve some 1,800 families in Clarendon, is aimed at helping parents develop competence in math in order to better support their children’s learning in the subject area.

 

It will target parents of children in grades one and two, who are beneficiaries of the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).

 

The nine-month mathematics project, slated to end in July 2017, will be implemented by consultants from Southern Methodist University in Texas, Professor Dr. Leanne Caterlin Geller and Researcher Josh Geller, in collaboration with local mathematics experts.

 

The training will involve group coaching and workshops.

 

Addressing a JIS Think Tank on September 27, National Mathematics Coordinator in the Ministry, Dr. Tamika Benjamin, said that the aim of the project is to improve student outcome in mathematics.

 

She noted that “children who have parental support in the learning of mathematics will do better than those who don’t”.

 

Dr. Benjamin said the Ministry has been working assiduously over the past four to five years to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics in Jamaica.

 

She said that “much of the fear and dislike for the subject is learnt, with persons saying that it is hard”.

 

“We believe if we can change the dialogue that takes place between parent and child from very early, as they are beginning to formally develop their mathematical skills and competencies, we are more likely to have a lasting impact on the parent as well as the child,” she pointed out.

 

Dr. Benjamin told JIS News that the project will provide the Ministry with data that could inform decisions regarding programmes to be implemented by the Ministry.

 

The mathematics pilot is being undertaken through support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Japanese High Commission.

 

It is part of a two-year project, which involved a feasibility study undertaken in St. Elizabeth in 2015.

 

CAPTION: National Mathematics Coordinator in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Tamika Benjamin, provides details about the mathematics pilot project for parents to be implemented in November, during a JIS Think Tank on September 27.