Over the next three years, 45,000 high-school students are expected to benefit annually from an agricultural/agri business-based entrepreneurship programme.

 

This will be facilitated under the Junior Achievement Company of Entrepreneurs (JACE) initiative, which is to be introduced in all high schools across Jamaica, starting in September this year.

 

An initiative of Junior Achievement Jamaica (JA Jamaica), JACE is being strengthened prior to its implementation through collaboration with Jamaica 4-H Clubs to develop agricultural/agri-business-focused material for incorporation into the programme.

 

Both entities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to seal the partnership at a ceremony held at JA Biz Town, Caenwood Centre in Kingston on June 27.

 

Speaking at the signing, President, JA Jamaica, Alphie Mullings-Aiken, said through this collaboration, the organisation is working to place deeper focus on the key area of agriculture, as it further expands JACE.

 

She noted that under the enhanced programme, the nation’s future leaders will be exposed to creative thinking and problem-solving skills, adding that it will also help to strengthen “the idea creation process” for students who will be empowered to realise greater employment opportunities in agriculture.

 

“It is really showing them how they can build their own future, how they can start their own enterprise, and no matter how small,” she said.

 

Dr. Blake In his remarks, Executive Director, Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Dr. Ronald Blake, said the organisation has recognised that the answer to the problem of youth unemployment in Jamaica is empowering them to create their own opportunities.

 

He noted that in its 75 years of service to Jamaica, Jamaica 4-H has used the agricultural sector as a platform to transition young people into businesses.

 

Under the agreement, Jamaica 4-H will assist JA Jamaica in meeting their mission of empowering young Jamaicans in agriculturally focused entrepreneurship.

 

Jamaica 4-H will in turn benefit from access to practical, hands-on curriculum content focused around product ideas to aid in the development of a Project Workbook that will be part of Jamaica 4-H’s programme implementation.

 

This will aid participants’ overall development through hands-on work experience and entrepreneurial skills, competitions and product fairs.

 

JACE, which is now part of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information’s National Standards Curriculum (NSC), will involve students operating a business, while learning the core business skills needed to succeed globally.

 

CAPTION:

President, Junior Achievement Jamaica (JA Jamaica), Alphie Mullings-Aiken (left) and Executive Director, Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Dr. Ronald Blake, display a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) bearing their signatures, which will see them partnering to develop agricultural/agri-business-focused material for incorporation into JA Jamaica’s Junior Achievement Company of Entrepreneurs (JACE) initiative. The signing took place during a ceremony at JA Biz Town, Caenwood Centre in Kingston, on June 27.

THE OBSERVER: THE Government’s plan to phase out junior high schools continues as it develops its Alternative Pathway for Secondary Education (APSE) programme, which will allow students more time to gain relevant certification.

 

There are 84 junior high schools left in the island.

 

Under the APSE programme, students who learn at a slower pace will advance to high school but will be taught a parallel curriculum at their level.

 

“We said what we want is to remove junior high schools. So what will happen is that if you remove junior high, then everybody will be placed in a full secondary school at the end of grade six. The alternative pathway is going to develop the capacity where you have an inclusive education system,” Education Minister Senator Ruel Reid told Jamaica Observer reporters and editors yesterday at the newspaper’s weekly Monday Exchange.

 

“So generally, they are in the same class but they require special intervention. This is a model; it’s the new, emerging thing in the education circle,” Reid said.

 

 Added to that, the education minister explained that a widespread criticism of his ministry is that teachers are not properly trained to identify students with special needs in order to customise a learning approach.

 

“So my emphasis, of course, is differentiated instruction and the whole concept of the alternative pathway to secondary education was to ensure that we have a seamless structure where we can reach all our learners.

 

“Primarily, we are holding back a number of students from the grade four diagnostic under the ASTEP (Alternative Secondary Transitional Education Programme) …the literature globally now is what you call inclusive education, so [we] allow everybody to progress but they will have to get special and differentiated instructional arrangement,” Reid explained.

 

At the same time, the minister said from a developmental point of view, it is not “ideal” for students to leave high school at the age of 16 because some students “peak” late.

 

“The whole idea with the CAP (Career Advancement Programme) is to understand the dynamics that you will not always have every student achieving their desired objectives at grade 11 or age 16. So we have this alternative pathway programme that every student, as of this year, if you’re not going to sixth form there’s this alternative programme for you and we are going to take you from where you are to as high as the sky…

 

“The Ministry of Education is focused on delivering quality education at all levels, but we’re also ensuring that we leave no one behind,” said Reid.

 

CAPTION:

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

 

 

JIS:The nation’s youth are being encouraged to include vocational education with their chosen professions for greater employment prospects.

 

Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Robert Miller, said students at high schools and their parents should decide early on the subjects to be done, as it will “increase your chances of gaining employment when you leave high school, or complete tertiary education”.

 

Mr. Miller was delivering the keynote address at the recent school-leaving ceremony for the Tarrant Primary School, in St. Andrew.

 

He praised the institution for “distinguished performances in academics, as well as a range of co-curricular activities”.

 

The Senior Advisor said the school’s achievements in attaining top honours in the Jamaica Civil Service Association Essay Writing Competition; winning the Gold and Silver awards in dance, speech, music and drama in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) festival competitions, and several other events for children, have positioned it as a results-oriented educational institution.

 

“This school has made a mark, and a significant contribution to the education sector during its 46 years of existence,” Mr. Miller said.

 

“The challenge for you going forward is to raise the performance of every student, to create a rising tide of academic excellence,” he told the gathering.

 

Meanwhile, Principal of the school, Thelma Porter, reported that the last Grade 4 Literacy Test saw the students attaining an 82 per cent result, coming from 49 per cent.

 

“We are grateful about our numeracy results as well.  We are now at 43 per cent,” she said, noting that the school had settled at 20 per cent and 30 per cent for decades.

 

CAPTION:

Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Robert Miller, delivering the keynote address at the recent school-leaving ceremony for the Tarrant Primary School, in St. Andrew, held at Fellowship Church, in the parish.

The Gleaner:The Ministry of Education has released the funding guidelines for public schools after concluding consultations with secondary school principals on the weekend.

 

This has effectively removed auxiliary fees for public schools and provides for an increase in subventions to some secondary schools under the Education Act and Regulations. 

 

Under the arrangement the government will be absorbing the costs for core operational services in high schools, while parents will continue to make contributions to school development and sports.  

 

The education ministry is maintaining that it is not reducing funding to schools, but providing more resources through increased subvention, maintenance, and capital works. The policy is to take effect at the start of the new school year.

 

Education Minister Ruel Reid says students should not be barred from school for the non-payment of fees that should be supported by taxes.

 

Principals and school administrators had resisted the policy when it was initially announced in March. However, following several consultations with parents, school administrators and other stakeholders, the ministry will go ahead with its implementation in the new school year.

 

Also, the education minister says schools are to be issued with a bulletin this week outlining the prescribed charges for pass-on to parents. He says those charges will be minimised and must first be approved by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information before they are levied.

 

The charges relate to registration packages, which the ministry is directing should be kept between J$1,000 and J$5,000.

 

It says students should not be prevented from being placed or be put on a register for non-payment of fees.

 

The education ministry has asked school board chairmen to guide administrators in the implementation of the policy. Its regional education officers will also be policing the implementation of the guidelines. 

 

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, is advising school administrators to keep the cost of registration packages between $1,000 and $5,000.

 

Making the call, Senior Advisor at the Ministry, Robert Miller, said they have received reports that some schools are charging exorbitant sums, when the mandate of the Government is to make the cost to parents “minimal”.

 

He said the administrators need to adhere to the directive that all “charges for registration packages must be approved by the Minister before they are effected”.

 

The Senior Advisor, who was delivering the keynote address at the 2016 graduation ceremony for the Tarrant Primary School, at the Hope Fellowship Church, in St. Andrew, on June 23, said the non-payment of fees cannot affect the placement of students at schools.

 

“Board Chairmen are being asked to provide guidance and ensure that school administrators follow these directives, in order to minimise the cost to parents as well as ensuring that no child is disenfranchised as they seek to prepare for the upcoming school year,” he said.

 

Mr. Miller told the audience that the Ministry’s regional officers will be very vigilant over the next few weeks, to provide the required support and to prevent any deviation from the policy position of the Ministry.

 

CAPTION:

Senior Advisor in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Robert Miller, delivering the keynote address at the 2016 graduation ceremony for the Tarrant Primary School, held at the Hope Fellowship Church, in St. Andrew, on June 23.

JIS: The National Youth Service (NYS) has been allocated $295 million for the implementation of various youth-development programmes during the 2016/17 financial year.

 

Speaking at a JIS Think Tank recently, Acting Executive Director of the NYS, Dennis Lawrence, noted that these programmes, which aim to equip young people with the necessary training and life-coping skills to foster their personal and career development, have collectively benefited some 20,000 persons in the last financial year.

 

He said the aim is to continue to increase the number of persons, who will be reached under these initiatives each year.

 

Under the NYS’s flagship Summer Employment Programme, a sum of $112 million has been allocated for the engagement of 6,000 young people in work experience and employability skills during the months of July and August. This is an increase over the 5,000 persons placed last year.

 

The Graduate Work Experience Programme, targeting tertiary-level graduates, has been allocated $79 million. Under the initiative, graduates who hold an associate or first degree are placed in internships in their area of study for a period of six months.

 

The Access to Higher Education Partnership Programme (AHEPP) has received $20 million. Under AHEPP, up to $100,000 in tuition assistance is provided to students pursuing studies in national priority areas such as agriculture, logistics, engineering, tourism, and information and communication technology (ICT).  AHEPP involves partnership with select tertiary institutions.

 

Meanwhile, the Empowerment and Enrichment programmes have received $33.1 million and $25 million respectively, while the Rural Youth and Economic Programme has been allocated $9.9 million.

 

The remainder of the budget will be spread across the Volunteer Programme; Youth Month initiatives; the Entrepreneurship 101 programme; the Access to Success through Knowledge (ASK) initiative; the Financial Assistance Programme; and the ‘Movements: Social Inclusion Through Arts’ public-awareness campaign.

 

The NYS through its various programmes, has been empowering the lives of Jamaica’s young people for more than 38 years.

 

CAPTION:

Acting Executive Director of the National Youth Service (NYS), Dennis Lawrence, emphasises a point as he addresses a JIS Think Tank recently.

JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed and extended gratitude to the country’s educators who he said, continue to go “above and beyond” for the development of the nation’s children.

 

He was speaking at a ceremony held on Thursday (June 23) on the lawns of Jamaica House, where 40 educators were awarded the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for their service to education.

 

“You are being honored because you are a beacon of your chosen profession. On behalf of the Government and the people of Jamaica, I thank you,” he said.

 

The Prime Minister pointed out that Jamaica’s road to prosperity, in line with the Government’s focus on economic growth and development, is dependent on the education sector being the driving force.

 

He said he is looking to educators to embrace the Administration’s vision for Jamaica and to continue to give of their best.

 

“Even as I say thanks, let me declare that I need more from you and more faithful stewards like you to take us to levels of economic and social independence…You have made your mark; it is for us to join hands and continue the journey,” he said.

 

The awardees include active and retired teachers, principals, lecturers and education officers, who have served in the education system from 15 years to as many as 47 years.

 

Since 2005, awardees have been selected based on their outstanding service through innovation and creativity, as well as their active involvement in community development.

 

Mr. Holness said he considered it an honor to host the event and to recognise the awardees’ tremendous contribution to nation building.

 

Among the awardees is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Maurice Smith, who was recognised for his 18 years of service.

 

Among other things, Dr. Smith has developed a self-evaluation model for schools, aimed at improving leadership and addressing the gap between upgraded and traditional high schools in Jamaica.

 

In an interview with JIS News, Dr. Smith said he was humbled and grateful to have been recognised.

 

“I am honestly speechless. It is not typical for one to be told thanks for going above and beyond the call of duty and as educators, we do that every day. We believe in what we do (and) we are thankful for the opportunity and privilege to serve our people. It is really a milestone…,” he said.

 

Fay Davy, who has contributed 47 years to the education sector, has among her accomplishments the establishment of uniformed groups at the Salt Marsh All-Age School in Trelawny, and preparing children for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) creative folk dance competitions, earning several medals over the years.

 

Mrs. Davy believes her dedication to education and helping children achieve literacy and numeracy is what earned her the recognition.

 

“I never knew this day would come, and I greatly appreciate the reward I have been given,” she said.

 

CAPTION:

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, shakes hands with 33-year veteran in the education sector, Geraldine Allen (third right, front row), as he congratulates recipients of the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for service to education following the ceremony at Jamaica House on June 23.

JIS:Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has called for continued support and partnership in the education of the nation’s students.

 

“There are some parents who think that all you have to do is to plant the children at school and leave it all up to the teachers,” the Minister said.

 

He was speaking at the graduation ceremony for 32 kindergarten students from the Sunrise Early Childhood Development Centre, in Kingston, on June 23, who received their school-leaving certificates, having completed their course of study.

 

The Minister said parents must not forget their role when the children come home after school. “You have to reinforce the values that the school is establishing,” Senator Reid emphasised.

 

Senator Reid said that for students to excel, the belief in excellence must be habitual.

 

“It must be that you want to excel every day, all the time at everything. That is the kind of superiority that we want for Jamaica, because if all of us as Jamaicans demand excellence from our government, students and  civil servants, that would be the foundation of a great nation,”  the Minister said.

 

He reminded the students that failure is not an option, and they should be committed to the tasks they set for themselves.

 

“Students have an equal responsibility for their success. It is a partnership among the school, parents and the students themselves,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, Principal of the institution, Ms. Yvette Knight, encouraged the students not to be defeated by challenges.

 

“Do your best always. Reach for the stars no matter how hard it seems and fly like a bird with the knowledge that a new journey begins,” she said.

 

The Sunrise Early Childhood Development Centre has provided many children with a sound academic foundation, with its unique instructional methods, materials, learning aids and equipment to meet the needs of children at the early-childhood level.

 

CAPTION:

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), greets students of the Sunrise Early Childhood Development Centre, at a graduation ceremony, held at the St. Richard of Chichester Roman Catholic Church located on Red Hills Road, on June 23.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is to undertake a number of infrastructural development projects during the 2016/2017 academic year.

 

Addressing a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said a total of 24 early-childhood and primary institutions will benefit from infrastructure upgrade valued at $38.6 million.

 

Additionally, under the early-childhood revitalisation programme, which is part of the Ministry’s rationalisation strategy, infant departments will be added to 13 primary schools at a cost of $16.8 million.

 

The Minister also informed that two state-of-the art early-childhood institutions are to be constructed during the new school year  at  Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College in St. James, through Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education (PACE Canada); and at the Sir Clifford Campbell Primary School in Westmoreland, by the Rockhouse Foundation at a cost of $50 million.

 

“Our vision is to have one of these institutions in every parish,” the Minister noted.

 

Sixteen secondary schools will be upgraded at a cost of $218.4 million, and $113.5 million will be spent to complete works started on 12 schools.

 

Senator Reid pointed out that under the Ministry’s Sanitation Project, the remaining 27 primary and one infant schools with pit latrines will get flush toilets.

 

This project will cost $20 million.

 

In addition, 27 primary schools that have only one classroom will benefit from the installation of partition walls, at a cost of $20 million.

 

CAPTION:

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addresses a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’.