CSEC Report 2013
CAPE Report 2013
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Education Ministry Condemns Match Fixing and Trading of Athletes
Reports in the media indicated that a probe has been launched into two second round Group J Manning Cup football matches after 28 goals were scored and there appears to be allegations of improper conduct.
In a recent letter to Education Minister Ronald Thwaites the Inter-Secondary Sports Association (ISSA) disclosed that it, too, has concerns about the recent incidents.
The Ministry of Education condemns match fixing and the trading of footballers and other athletes at any level of the game. This practice must be stopped forthwith. The purpose of school is to offer a good academic education and to strengthen values and attitudes which make for a good people and a great nation. Sports and extra-curricular activities play an important part in this process, but winning at all costs is contrary to everything our society holds dear.
While the Ministry of Education welcomes financial contribution from Corporate Jamaica towards the development of sports in schools, we advise sponsors to be careful their gestures do not have the effect of professionalising the performance of amateur athletes.
Since 2013 the Ministry has been meeting with representatives of the Inter-Secondary Sports Association (ISSA) in order to agree on a policy that protects students, schools and other stakeholders as well as promote a healthy school environment. We have discussed best practices, past experiences and the Ministry’s views on the role of sports in education.
The Ministry and ISSA will meet shortly to address the recent incidents and settle on a sports policy governing the transfer of students.
Education Ministry Condemns Match Fixing and Trading of Athletes
Reports in the media indicated that a probe has been launched into two second round Group J Manning Cup football matches after 28 goals were scored and there appears to be allegations of improper conduct.
In a recent letter to Education Minister Ronald Thwaites the Inter-Secondary Sports Association (ISSA) disclosed that it, too, has concerns about the recent incidents.
The Ministry of Education condemns match fixing and the trading of footballers and other athletes at any level of the game. This practice must be stopped forthwith. The purpose of school is to offer a good academic education and to strengthen values and attitudes which make for a good people and a great nation. Sports and extra-curricular activities play an important part in this process, but winning at all costs is contrary to everything our society holds dear.
While the Ministry of Education welcomes financial contribution from Corporate Jamaica towards the development of sports in schools, we advise sponsors to be careful their gestures do not have the effect of professionalising the performance of amateur athletes.
Since 2013 the Ministry has been meeting with representatives of the Inter-Secondary Sports Association (ISSA) in order to agree on a policy that protects students, schools and other stakeholders as well as promote a healthy school environment. We have discussed best practices, past experiences and the Ministry’s views on the role of sports in education.
The Ministry and ISSA will meet shortly to address the recent incidents and settle on a sports policy governing the transfer of students.
Education Ministry Says No to Screening Students for CSEC
The Ministry of Education has taken steps to halt the screening of students in public schools who sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination. By 2016 schools will be required to enter 100 per cent of the grade-eleven cohort to sit at least five subjects in an external examination.
This year 71 per cent of the grade-eleven cohort entered English language in CSEC, City & Guilds and the Caribbean Certificate for Secondary Level Competence examinations, with 68 per cent sitting and 44 per cent passing. For mathematics 66 per cent of the eligible cohort entered these three external examinations with 63 per cent sitting and 36 per cent passing.
The Ministry made these disclosures in response to a recent report published by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI), which indicated that teachers and administrators only enter for examinations students whose performance they believe will not jeopardise the overall pass rate of the school.
Pointing to a bulletin issued in February 2013, Chief Education Officer Dr Grace McLean has advised principals and members of staff to desist from the practice of debarring students who have not attained a minimum of 60 or 65 per cent in their mock examinations from sitting external examinations.
Instead of relying on the results of mock exams, the Chief Education Officer advised schools to adhere to the current minimum requirement for the CXC programme, which is an average of 50 per cent for all tests done during the year.
Additionally, Dr McLean said schools must give special consideration to those students who may have been affected by extenuating circumstances and may not have met the minimum requirements, but with the necessary intervention will be able to succeed in the examinations. She noted that students register for CSEC at least six months before the sitting of the examinations and, therefore, careful analysis must be given regarding those students who do not otherwise show the potential to improve.
The Chief Education Officer has insisted that every student who is not recommended for CSEC MUST be provided with an alternative that is in line with his/her career pathway, subject choices and examinations available. She said this would allow students to be more focused and will help them to complete their secondary level education with the competencies required.
Dr McLean said that Education Officers have been assigned the responsibility to ensure that school administrators and teachers follow the policy guidelines prohibiting the screening of grade-eleven students to sit external examinations.
SJF Spanish Teacher of the Year
The Spanish-Jamaican Foundation (SJF) is pleased to announce the winner of its inaugural SJF Spanish Teacher of the Year Award – Mrs. Kadia Hylton-Fraser of St. Jago High School. Mrs. Hylton-Fraser, a Jamaican Native, is a graduate of the University of the West Indies and The Shortwood Teachers’ College. She also holds a Masters
Degree from the University of Technology. She has been teaching Spanish for 15 years.
The SJF in collaboration with the Jamaica Teaching Council and the Ministry of Education launched this award during Education Week in May, 2014. Nominees were judged based on the following criteria:
- consistent use of effective practices to deliver high quality instruction in Spanish
- promotion of Spanish in his/her school in order to raise the profile of the subject
- proven ability to work with students at varying levels
- Student performance data
- feedback from student interviews
- In-class teaching observations
In handing over the award to Mrs. Hylton-Fraser, His Excellency, Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica and President of the SJF, Aníbal Jiménez Abascal, explained that the rationale behind the award was to not only promote the importance of studying Spanish – a foreign language fast becoming the language of business in this region- but also to
recognize a Jamaican who has excelled at the teaching of the language.
According to General Manager of The SJF, Dr. Rebecca Tortello, “this year the competition was very close as all 4 nominees showed a great passion for the language and strong content and classroom management skills. We see this as a very positive development for the teaching of the Spanish language in Jamaica.
Mrs. Hylton-Fraser was pleased to receive her prizes worth over JD100,000 (which include a computer tablet and a day pass to Grand Palladium for herself and a guest) from the Spanish Ambassador at a special luncheon held in honour of all SJF Spanish teacher of the Year nominees at the Ambassador’s Norbrook Residence on Wednesday
November 5th : “I am honoured and humbled to receive this recognition,” she explained, promising to continue to do her best to make Spanish “come alive” for her students.
Established in 2006 by Spanish investors The Spanish-Jamaican Foundation emphasizes educational, cultural, environmental and community development initiatives. In particular, the SJF has made support for the teaching of Spanish as a foreign language a priority. This award will be given annually.
Photo 1:
Elaine Foster-Allen, Permanent Secretary, MOE, Kadia Hylton-Fraser, SJF Spanish Teacher of the Year (St. Jago High School), H.E. Aníbal Jiménez Abascal, SJF President and Dr. Rebecca Tortello, SJF General Manager
Photo 2:
Dr. Rebecca Tortello, SJF General Manager, Ronneka Fraser-Green, Nominee (Wolmer’s Boys School), Elaine Foster-Allen, Permanent Secretary, MOE, Lola Francis, nominee (Meadowbrook High School), Connie Reid-Neil, nominee (Campion College), Sandra Swyer-Watson, Principal (St. Jago High School), Kadia Hylton-Fraser, SJF Spanish Teacher of the Year (St. Jago High School), H.E. Aníbal Jiménez Abascal, SJF President, Martha Corbett-Baugh, Senior Education Officer, MOE, Lebert Drysdale, Education Officer, Jamaica Teaching Council, Dr. Winsome Gordon, CEO, Jamaica Teaching Council