JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says no child should be denied access to an education due to obligatory prohibitive fees being charged by schools.

 

“I’m not saying that the parents must not contribute, but sometimes, we miss the bigger picture (which) is to make sure that no child, regardless of the income status of your household is in any way deprived of an education,” he said.

 

The Prime Minister was speaking at a Primary Exit Profile (PEP) awards function at Jamaica House on Wednesday (Aug. 14).

 

Mr. Holness said he is aware that primary schools have begun to charge fees which some parents are unable to afford.

 

“Whether it is ancillary or auxiliary, or registration – whatever fee it is, I am putting the primary schools on notice, that… I’m seeing an increased number of requests for assistance to pay for registration packages,” he said.

 

The Prime Minister stressed that at the primary level, the criteria for enrolment “should never be that the parent can afford it. The criterion for enrolment is your proximity to the school.”

 

He said that while he understands that principals are competing and are trying to improve their school, “it cannot be at the expense of having every child being enrolled with an equitable chance in a school.”

 

The Prime Minister noted that at the secondary level, the Government’s support to schools has increased dramatically since the introduction of the no tuition policy.

 

He noted that last year, the Government spent $34.1 billion on secondary education, which amounted to about $170,000 per child.

 

“We are not telling you that it is adequate, but…we’re now seeing universal secondary education, meaning every child can now get access to…a seven-year secondary (education). If you allow fees to become a consideration that will defeat the purpose,” he pointed out.

 

“The objective, as it was when we started Common Entrance… to when we changed over to the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) to now having PEP, is to get all Jamaicans into the education system, with a fair chance of getting a solid education,” he emphasised.

 

The awards ceremony recognised 15 children of staff from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Office of the Cabinet, who were successful in their PEP exams this year.

 

During the event, the Prime Minister presented the students with book vouchers for back-to-school.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (centre), shares a moment with children of Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Office of the Cabinet staff members, following a Primary Exit Profile (PEP) awards function at Jamaica House on Wednesday (Aug 14). The students were presented with gift book vouchers in recognition of their performance in the PEP exams this year.

JIS: Male students recorded higher percentage passes than females in four subjects, in the 2019 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

 

The four subjects are: Agricultural Science Double Award, with 98.8 per cent for males compared to 97.3 per cent for females; Biology, with 77.2 per cent for males compared to 76.7 per cent for females; Chemistry, 68.4 per cent for males compared to 66.1 per cent for females and Music, with 80 per cent for males compared to 72.8 per cent.

 

However, females outperformed males by 2.3 percentage points in Additional Mathematics.

 

For this year’s CSEC exams, 33,639 students from public schools were registered, and of this number, 32,617 (97 per cent) sat and 29,139 (89.3 per cent) obtained grades one to three.

 

Of the candidates entered, 18,627 (55.4 per cent) were females and 15,012 (44.6 per cent) were males. Some 18,202 females sat, with 16,548 (90.9 per cent) being awarded grades one to three, while the number of males who sat was 14,415, from which 12,591 (87.3 per cent) obtained grades one to three.

 

CAPTION: Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda (at podium), speaks at a Press Conference to discuss the CSEC/CAPE results for 2019 at Ministry, in Kingston, on August 14. Seated are officials in the Ministry.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is reporting an overall improvement in passes for students, who sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) this year, when compared to 2018.

 

Minister without Portfolio, Hon. Karl Samuda, in presenting the preliminary report during a press conference at the Ministry’s National Heroes Circle headquarters on Wednesday (Aug. 14), said that higher scores were recorded in 23 of the 34 subjects taken.

 

He noted that of the 32,617 students, who sat CSEC this year, 29,139 or 89.3 per cent obtained grades one to three.

 

English language and mathematics recorded percentage passes of 82.8 per cent and 54.6 per cent, respectively. The results represent a 7.4 per cent increase in passes for English and 3.2 per cent decrease in passes for math.

 

Mr. Samuda said there were also improvements in the sciences and some mathematical- related subjects, with integrated science having the highest percentage increase of 22.7 per cent.

 

There were also improvements in the average pass rates for chemistry (8.6 per cent); biology (2.6 per cent); physics (3.9 per cent); additional mathematics (3.8 per cent); agricultural science – single award (7 per cent); technical drawing (3.7 per cent); information technology (2.2 per cent); music (10.9 per cent); textile, clothing and fashion (8.7 per cent) and visual arts (11.3 per cent).

 

Six subjects had average pass rates of over 90 per cent. These are agricultural science –double award (97.9 per cent); agricultural science – single award (90.9 per cent); food, nutrition and health (90.5 per cent); information technology (91.1 per cent); physical education and sport (97 per cent); and principles of business (90.7 per cent).

 

A total of 33,639 students from public schools were registered for CSEC this year, which was 1, 510 fewer than 2018.

 

Of the candidates entered, 18,627 (55.4 per cent) were females and 15,012 (44.6 per cent) were males.

 

CAPTION: Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, presents the preliminary report for 2019 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate during a press conference at the Ministry’s offices at National Heroes Circle on Wednesday (August 14).

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is encouraging Secondary school principals who are facing challenges identifying Mathematics and Science teachers to make contact with The Mico University College and the Church Teachers’ College for support in identifying graduates who are available for employment.

 

The advisory comes against the background of 176 students having completed a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education under a scholarship programme initiated by the Ministry in 2015. Students specialized in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Technical and Vocation Education

 

At the start of the programme, 240 scholarships were awarded to students preparing to enter teacher-training institutions to pursue the BEd. degree. Under the special initiative, some institutions engaged students in an accelerated programme which included two summer semesters. As a result 176 students who have completed their programme of study are ready for employment. This includes

-129 mathematics teachers

-14 physics teachers

-8 chemistry teachers and 

-25 biology teachers

Beneficiaries of the scholarship programme are bonded to serve the Jamaican education system for a period of five years. 

 

The following persons may be contacted at the respective institutions:

Mr. Leroy Brown

876-834-3786

[email protected]

 

OR

Mr. Nicholas Brown

876-524-0138

[email protected]

The Mico University College 

Department of Student Services

 

OR 

 

Mr. Winston McCatty

Student Development Officer 

876-454-4396

876-962-0701

Church Teachers’ College

 

Additional information may be obtained from Dr. Tamika Benjamin, National Mathematics Coordinator via [email protected]

 

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information will be providing textbooks and appropriate electronic and other supplies to support the National Standards Curriculum and other curricula at grades 1 to 13, for the upcoming academic year.

 

The total cost associated with these procurements for both the primary and secondary levels will be approximately $817 million.

 

“Distribution of these resources will commence in August of this year,” Minister with responsibility for Education, Hon. Karl Samuda, said during his contribution to the 2019/20 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 31.

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Samuda informed that the Ministry had introduced a pilot programme for the repair of damaged and worn furniture in the 2018/19 Academic Year, and that the pilot ended this month to make way for the full roll-out of the programme.

 

Under the project, the Ministry selected two schools from each parish that have a woodwork and metalwork department. These 28 schools are known as repairer schools.

 

In addition, each school is paired with a number of neighbouring schools that have furniture to be repaired, and is given just over $1.5 million per year to complete the repairs.

 

So far, 6,868 pieces of furniture have been repaired at a cost of $19.65 million.

 

“The cost to replace the furniture would have been $28.1 million. Roughly, $9 million was saved from this project,” Mr. Samuda told the House.

 

CAPTION: Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, addresses the House of Representatives on July 31.

JIS: Some 70,000 vulnerable students at the primary and early childhood levels will benefit from a breakfast programme, which will roll out at the start of the new school year in September.

 

Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, said that the Ministry is in the process of securing the additional funding for the initiative.

 

He was making his contribution to the 2019/20 Sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on July 31.

 

Meanwhile, Minister Samuda informed that Nutrition Products Limited’s (NPL) Westmoreland Plant will be re-opened.

 

“Following discussions with NPL, we were advised that the plant will provide juices for selected schools and serve as the hub for distributing local produce to schools for their lunch programme,” he told the House.

 

In addition, NPL is considering the provision of lunches consisting primarily of locally-grown produce and natural fruit juices for schools located within 15 minutes of the plant.

 

CAPTION: Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, making his contribution to the 2019/20 Sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on July 31.

JIS: The Government is moving to address human resource, infrastructure and equipment needs at primary and secondary schools across the island.

 

This comes against the background of a comprehensive audit, which showed that a number of institutions are under resourced.

 

Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, shared the details of the audit during his contribution to the 2019/20 Sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on July 31.

 

He said that for primary schools, the greatest areas of need identified were for classroom teachers, guidance counsellors, caregivers, cooks, watchmen and janitors.

 

At the secondary level, the necessities included classroom teachers, system administrators and computer laboratory technicians.

 

“Just on the human resources level alone, it is estimated that the cost to address the shortfall is approximated $6 billion,” Mr. Samuda told the House.

 

He said that the audit also revealed significant infrastructure deficiencies in schools, some of which need to be addressed immediately, and a shortage of equipment such as desk top and laptop computers, printers and copiers.

 

“Together, this is estimated to cost over $13. 5 billion. This makes a grand total of $20 billion that is required to cover the needs of the Ministry of Education,” Mr. Samuda said.

 

He noted that the Ministry has developed an infrastructure plan, tailored to the budget that was approved by the House in March of this year.

 

“We have taken steps to ensure that all activities in this area are strictly monitored and comply with all the regulations. Strict adherence to procurement guidelines has been reinforced. No officer will be allowed to breach the guidelines,” Mr. Samuda said.

 

In addition, the Ministry has implemented a bi-monthly meeting to monitor infrastructure projects to ensure adherence to the procurement guidelines.

 

CAPTION: Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, emphasises a point while addressing the House of Representatives on July 31.

JIS: Work is underway on the building and expansion of schools in order to eliminate the shift system and relieve overcrowding.

 

Minister with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, said there are currently 37 schools that remain on shift.

 

He noted that 13 institutions will require expansion, while 17 new schools (10 high and seven primary) are recommended to remove the shift system and tackle overcrowding.

 

“Work has already begun on some of the schools in this year’s budget, namely: Cedric Titus High; Exchange All-age; Muschett High; Albert Town High; Old Harbour High and Friendship Primary. It is our intention to eliminate the shift system entirely by 2024,” he said.

 

He was making his contribution to the 2019/20 Sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on July 31.

 

Minister Samuda said that 87 schools have been eliminated from the shift system since 2007, under a plan of action to meet the demand for school places.

 

He said the strategy includes: implementation of the extended day modality; conversion of primary and junior high schools to full high or primary institutions; expansion, retrofitting and refurbishing of some schools; and the construction of 17 new schools on a phased basis.

 

CAPTION: Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, making his contribution to the 2019/20 Sectoral debate in the House of Representatives on July 31.