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JTA Holds First Meeting With New Education Minister

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The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) on Tuesday (April 12) formally welcomed Senator Ruel Reid to the position of Minister of Education, Youth and Information during the first monthly meeting between the Ministry and JTA since the recent election of a new government.

In response Minister Reid, a former president of the JTA, stated that he was a “consensual leader” and expressed his commitment to build education.

JTA  President, Norman Allen expressed support for the recently launched Alternative Pathways to Secondary Education (APSE), but raised  concerns about the provision of adequate funding to facilitate effective implementation of this initiative and the extension of the secondary schooling period to seven years. 

Minister Reid noted that facilities and resources formerly under the previous Ministry of Youth are now available for redeployment within the expanded Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. He also pointed to public and private education and training facilities that would be incorporated under the Career Advancement Programme to facilitate the extension of the secondary schooling period.

Education officials in attendance at the meeting emphasised that seven years of schooling was applicable only to students who needed additional time to acquire the requisite qualification to pursue their career goals.

 

In the photograph the Education MInister presents a copy of the APSE booklet to the JTA President and team. From left are: Mr. Byron Farquharson (JTA General Secretary), Mrs. L. Judith Spencer Jarrett(JTA Officer), Mr. Howard Isaacs(JTA President Elect), Mr. Norman Allen (JTA President), Senator Ruel Reid (Minister of Education, Youth and Information), Dr Maurice Smith (Permanenet Secretary), Ms. Claudia McLean (JTA Officer) and Dr. Grace McLean (Chief Education Officer).

 

Mexico to Strengthen Cooperation in Education with Jamaica

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Her Excellence, Cecelia Jaber, Mexican Ambassador to Jamaica paid a courtesy call on Senator, the Hon  Ruel Reid, Minister of Education, Youth and Information on Monday (April 11, 2016). They discussed the strengthening of cooperation in the area of education. Mexico already issues a yearly call for tertiary education lecturers to spend time teaching in that country. The discussions on Monday sought to expand this cooperation to include teachers in the primary school system being trained in Mexico to teach Spanish. Minister Reid and Ambassador Jaber agreed to explore the establishment by Mexico of a resource centre for teachers of Spanish in Jamaica. 

In addition, Minister Reid and Ambassador Jaber exchanged briefs on the 8th Meeting of the Jamaica/Mexico Bi-national Commission scheduled to take place 17-18 May 2016 in Mexico City. The Ministry submitted two proposals on behalf of the Edna Manley College this year. They are: Production of a contemporary Mexican play as a methodology for discovery of Mexican culture; and Workshops/Exploring Natural Dyes: Sustainable Entrepreneurial Development

 

Minister Green Urges Young Men to Be Role Models

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Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, is urging young men to strive to be positive leaders and role models, according to the Jamaica Information Service

Mr. Green, who was addressing a graduation ceremony for some 100 Jamaica College sixth form students, on April 6, at the school, emphasized that the country is in need of strong male leaders.

“What is important is the characteristics that you develop, even more important than the profession you choose,” he said.

While urging the youngsters to be careful in contemplating their future and career path, he advised them that it is critical for youth to be complex problem solvers and critical thinkers.

“People are looking for young men who are creative and good at people management… who are service-oriented and able to negotiate and have emotional intelligence,” he added.

Mr. Green encouraged the young men to not be afraid to seek careers in non-conventional fields. He reminded them of the value of being innovative and seeking to create employment and being entrepreneurs.

“Never give up on yourself. Get a dream and stick to it. Decide the future that you want for yourself and be determined that no matter the obstacle, you will claim that future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Jamaica College Board, Michael Bernard, also encouraged the young men to strive to be positive contributors to the Jamaican society.

“This is the beginning of the next chapter, a chapter that will define your future. At this point in time, you are not too young to set a vision for yourselves,” he said, while congratulating them for their achievements so far.

 

Ministry Commits $3.5 million Improvement at Padmore Primary

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The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has committed $3.5 million for first phase of improvement works at the Padmore Primary School in Red Hills, St. Andrew.

 Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, told JIS News that the works will include renovation of the bathroom facilities, installation of a computer laboratory, which will also serve as a library, as well as paving of the school grounds.

 Mr. Reid said some of the renovation work will be completed ahead of the start of the new school year in September.  Other improvements will be undertaken over time, he informed.

 Senator Reid toured the institution on Thursday (April 7) along with Member of Parliament for St. Andrew West Rural, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn; Councillor for the Red Hills Division, Otis Hamilton; and a team from the Ministry.

 The school, previously slated for closure due to low student enrolment and underperformance, has made a dramatic turnaround achieving 100 per cent pass rates at the grade three and four levels, as well as outstanding performances in the 2015 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

The Education Minister told JIS News that the tour is a “fact-finding mission” to assess the needs and discuss plans for the future of the institution, as well as extend the Ministry’s full support to the school’s leadership.

 “I am here as the new Minister of Education to see first hand Padmore Primary, having heard about its turnaround and its success story. I wanted to be here to let them know that the Ministry of Education fully supports their efforts… we have to look at the capacity of the school and so we will be guided by those discussions,” the Minister said.

 Mrs. Cuthbert-Flynn also pledged her commitment to assisting the institution which, she noted, has been receiving “many applications” from parents interested in sending their children to the school.

 “Your pass rate was so excellent last year. I was so proud to be a part of this constituency knowing that you have all done so well…I am very willing to work with the Ministry of Education to see what I can do as the Member of Parliament to see things happen,” Mrs. Cuthbert-Flynn said.

In addition to the support from the Ministry, a number of private sector entities have come forward to extend assistance to the school.

 Principal of Padmore Primary, Keisha Hayles, who, along with the administration and community members, worked tirelessly to improve the school’s academic performance, welcomed the visit by the team from the Ministry.

 “We thank (the Minister) for being here. I believe it is a step in the right direction. I have been seeking attention for Padmore Primary because we are now one of the top schools in Jamaica and I believe that the playing field must be levelled,” she stated.

 

 

Plans Progressing Well for Implementation of APSE

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Plans are progressing well for the implementation of the Alternative Pathways to Secondary Education (APSE) in September 2016, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is reporting.

Deputy Chief Education Officer for Curriculum and Support Services in the Ministry, Lena Buckle Scott, said there is now a National Standard Curriculum (NSC), replete with three pathways to education at the secondary level.

Addressing a JIS ‘Think Tank’, on April 6, she pointed out that the Ministry has taken a decision to provide for students at the secondary level, by meeting them exactly where they are, so the students can maximise their potential.

Mrs. Buckle Scott said the Ministry has been developing the NSC over the past four years and the draft is now in place, which is made up of a framework and teachers’ guides for the different disciplines.

She explained that the curriculum is learner centred; therefore it will cater to the needs of all the different learners.

Mrs. Buckle Scott pointed out that when students exit at Grade six, the examination will lead them to the three pathways. Pathway one will facilitate students who can access the secondary school curriculum with little or no support; Pathway two will be for those students who need more support, while Pathway three is for students who require much support for them to adequately access secondary education.

Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer in the Ministry, Dr. Grace McLean, said the APSE will see a full alignment of the education system from the primary level, which has the National Assessment Programme (NAP), to the secondary level, after which there will be the Career Advancement Programme (CAP).

The CAP will provide for students, two additional years for them to be able to develop the competencies and skills they may not have attained at the end of Grade 11.

Dr. McLean said the two additional years of schooling will only be applicable to those students who need this additional support.

The programme will be rolled out on a phased basis and students will be selected based on academic performance.

Dr. McLean noted that 14 schools have already been selected for the APSE and it is expected that approximately 10,000 students will be required to matriculate into the programme.

She explained that the aim of the programme is to cater specifically to the needs of those students who will be required to obtain additional subjects and additional competencies and skills to move into the world of work.

The APSE is to be institutionalised in all 167 high schools in Jamaica, but the roll- out in September will target schools that need the programme the most.

 

 

 

US Ambassador Calls On Minister of Education

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United States Ambassador to Jamaica, Luis G. Moreno paid a courtesy call on Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Ruel Reid, and State Minister, Hon Floyd Green at their National Heroes Circle offices in Kingston on Monday (April 4, 2016). The discussions featured bilateral relations between Jamaica and the United States in student exchange programmes, combatting human trafficking, Intellectual Property Rights related to television programming, lotto scamming and bullying in schools.

Minister Reid commended the US for its continued support of the education sector. Ambassador  Moreno noted that the Ministry had an important role to play in influencing Jamaica’s future.

 

Singapore Math Resources Available to Local Teachers

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Many primary schools in Jamaica are adapting and implementing an approach to teaching elementary mathematics that is common practice in Singapore.

 Singapore Math, which refers to the teaching methods or the actual curriculum used for kindergarten through sixth grade in the small island country, has become popular due to Singapore’s consistent top ranking on the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

 In the TIMSS report in 2007, Singapore was ranked in the top three in fourth- and eighth-grade math scores, while the United States ranked ninth and eleventh, respectively.

 Supporters of Singapore Math credit the Singaporean methods of instruction and curriculum for its students’ success. Students in the same classroom may learn the concepts at different paces, but ultimately they all learn them and help develop their own solid foundation for further math learning. This prevents the need for re-teaching as students move to the next grade.

 According to Dr Tamika Benjamin, National Mathematics Coordinator at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI), Singapore Math focuses on children not just learning but also truly mastering a limited number of concepts each school year. The goal is for children to perform well because they understand the material on a deeper level and they are not just learning it for the test.

 “In Singapore there are systematically good mathematics practices. Maybe it is embedded in their culture but they utilize their methods consistently while providing training and the necessary resources for its advancement. Everyone speaks the same language so it is easier to transmit the information,” Benjamin said.

 Since the 1980s, schools in Singapore have taken an innovative approach to teaching elementary math utilizing a curriculum that focuses on problem solving with pictures and diagrams.

 Singapore Math uses the Concrete- Pictorial – Abstract approach in which students are provided with the necessary learning experiences beginning with the concrete and pictorial stages, followed by the abstract stage to enable them to learn mathematics meaningfully. This approach encourages active thinking process, communication of mathematical ideas and problem solving.

 Liu Yeuh Mei, an experienced mathematics educator, who has served for almost 15 years with the Ministry of Education in Singapore has worked closely with the pioneers and developers of the Singapore Mathematics Framework and currently trains teachers around the world in Singapore mathematics methodology.

 During the recently concluded Mathematics Forum, held by the Education Ministry in conjunction with the Book Merchant, distributors of Scholastic -Prime Mathematics in Jamaica, Liu Yeuh Mei stated that the Singapore Mathematics Framework developed in these books presents a visually powerful approach to problem solving. This involves the concepts of whole numbers, fractions, ratio and percentage to mathematics teachers and educators.

 “The favorable response from the numeracy coaches and interest in this method has led us to share this method, with the hope that teachers have the opportunity to learn and help their students achieve greater success and interest in mathematics,” Liu Yeuh Mei said.

 “In addition to developing problem-solving competencies teachers will see that the appropriate use of this approach that will help their students develop multiplicative thinking and proportional reasoning skills. It strives to develop teachers’ knowledge and skills in these concepts and consequently help their students to learn better,” she added.

 According to Dr. Benjamin about 115 of the just over 700 primary schools registered with the MOEYI have begun to use these books that have been included on the Education Ministry’s supplemental book list.

 “These books are focused on concept and problem-solving skills. The procedures and steps make sure the children understand the concept first and then take the steps to ensure the problem is understood and then solved. In Jamaica we do the reverse, the problem is solved and the students do not understand the concept,” Benjamin stated.

 “We are slowly and surely getting there. We have invested a lot of resources in providing training and implementing strategies in the classroom that will eventually lead to sustained changes,” Benjamin added.

 Stewart Dawkins, Sales Executive at The Book Merchant said for many students mathematics is not their strong area and the Singapore Method assists the teachers by giving them step by step concepts and solutions to teach a particular area. The books he said emphasize mental math and the model drawing approach.

 “Students that are actively using Prime Mathematics are overcoming the challenges. They now see the relevance of mathematics in their day-to-day life and no longer have a fear of actually doing the subject,” Dawkins said.

 For grades 1-6, the company sells Prime Mathematics series, with three different components. Each grade level consists of two Course books and two Practice Books, two Teacher Guides , as well as Practice Tests.

 

 

Primary School Principals Welcome TVET Integration

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The days when Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was limited to technical high schools and new secondary high schools are over. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is moving to mainstream TVET in the education system to include all schools at the primary level. 

During a recent TVET integration sensitization session for all principals at the primary level held at the Wolmer’s Boys School in Kingston Dr Grace McLean, Chief Education Officer, said 

TVET in Jamaica was faced with challenges today because of the unstructured way in which it was introduced in the education system in the past. 

The TVET Integration Model, developed by Dr McLean, is a practical guide towards the integration of TVET in the education system and will be used as the guiding tool for principals and teachers for a smooth integration process. In her presentation Dr McLean implored the school administrators to utilize the structured step-by-step approach that will guarantee greater levels of educational success

She added that the model will provide a structured and stronger link between education and the development of the workforce which will ultimately strengthen the country’s economic growth and development.  

In implementing the model teachers will demonstrate to pupils different career pathways and ensure that the TVET occupations are distinguished from others, disclosed the Chef Education Officer. In addition, pupils will get the opportunity to experiment and develop an understanding of how basic skills lead to broader and more fundamental skills development. 

Principals, vice principals and other school administrators weighed in on the introduction of the TVET Integration Model at the primary school level. 

Lorraine Bramwell, vice-principal at the Red Hills All-Age School in St Andrew, said the TVET Integration model is a good initiative that, with necessary funding and resources, can be implemented at her school. 

“There are many students that are not academically inclined and find it easier to learn a skill in an area that they are better at.  At the primary level we do not have adequate resources for a TVET focus, however if we get the resources the teachers will embrace it and the students will also appreciate the addition to the curriculum,” Bramwell said. 

Lexford Johnson, Principal at the Norman Gardens Primary School in Kingston, believes the TVET model is relevant because it is an important requirement for persons to be skilled for the modern workforce. 

“We have tried it at our school through the ASTEP programme and found it to be successful. We could not continue with it because of financial resources so we are hoping with this introduction that we will be afforded the requisite resources to the development of the students,” Johnson said. 

 

 

 

Education Minister Praises Diaspora for Supporting Education

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 Senator Ruel Reid, Minister of Education, Youth and Information has commended the Jamaican Diaspora for its contribution towards the development of the local education sector locally. Minister Reid said that he was pleased that the Jamaican Diaspora Education Task Force (JDEFT) had seen it fit to include Early Childhood and Special Education as areas for attention under its six-year Action Plan. He was speaking recently (March 23) at the Jamaican Diaspora 2nd Biennial Advancement in Education Summit 2016 at Jamaica College in Kingston, Jamaica.

In the photograph Minister Reid (right) converses with conference participants following the opening ceremony. From left are Leo Gillings, chairman JDEFT; Norman Allen, president Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA); Byron Farquharson, Secretary General JTA; Dr Ashburn Pinnock, President Mico University College; and Professor Neville Ying, Head Jamaican Diaspora Foundation.

 

Representatives of the Jamaican Diaspora Education Task Force recently made a courtesy call on newly appointed Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Ruel Reid. From left are Dr Hansel Fletcher of Loma Linda University School of Medicinein the USA; Karlene Largie and Lesleyan Samuel of the Union of Jamaican Alumni Association (USA Inc.); Minister Reid ; and Douglas F. Havens of Loma Linda University.