JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information’s Special Education Unit has received funding of more than $1.2 billion for the 2019/20 fiscal year as the Government continues to meet its commitment to students with special needs.

 

The unit makes special provisions for students with hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, mental retardation, learning disabilities and those who are gifted and talented.

 

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, in highlighting the work of the unit in his Sectoral Debate presentation on July 31, said that it operates a Braille and large-print programme, which reproduces material for persons who are blind or visually impaired.

 

“Large print services are also available for students with low vision who are in regular schools,” he noted.

 

Students with special needs are educated in the general school setting, or in public, grant-aided, or independent special education schools.

 

Minister Samuda said that the Ministry provides support to community-based organisations offering early-intervention and community-based rehabilitation to students with disabilities.

 

He noted that the Ministry has opened two diagnostic centres, which assist in identifying students with special needs as well as providing short-term intervention.

 

“Across the system, there are 424 trained special education teachers employed to give support to students with special needs. Additional special education teachers are also being recruited,” he 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: Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda, says that students who did not perform up to par in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) will benefit from interventions in grade seven.

 

“Upon entering high school, the students on Pathways two and three will be assigned to Pathway coaches – a literacy coach, mathematics coach or special education teacher, depending on what the assessment has revealed,” he said.

 

Minister Samuda was making his contribution to the 2019/20 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 31.

 

Of the 40,426 students who sat all papers of PEP, 13,695 or 34 per cent were proficient and/or highly proficient in all subjects.

 

Students on Pathways two and three demonstrated partial, limited or no evidence of the required competence necessary at the grade level as specified in the National Standards Curriculum (NSC) and will need intensive, targeted or ongoing academic support at grade seven.

 

Minister Samuda noted that the coaches will guide and provide adequate support in the targeted areas to help the students reach their true potential.

 

He said that students on Pathway three will undergo psycho-educational assessment to determine their ability in various areas of cognition as well as their achievement levels in all areas of literacy and numeracy.

 

“Information from this assessment will be used by the coaches to develop individual intervention plans, which will be used to guide their instruction. These coaches will collaborate with the assigned teachers in planning and developing appropriate curricula for each student,” he noted.

 

Minister Samuda said that the 2019 PEP results show that a significant number of students are struggling with maths, and consider it to be the most difficult subject.

 

“By September, we will have close to 100 maths coaches across all regions. Literacy also requires additional work. By September, we expect to have 20 literacy specialists in the system as we continue the efforts to improve student performance in this area,” he said.

 

A detailed subject report was sent to parents and schools three weeks ago, which provided a profile of performance within each subject area. It also outlined how the student performed in the sub areas tested in each subject.

 

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 Ministry of Education, Youth and Information will be saving more than $9 million annually on its electricity bill, from a $136-million energy efficiency project.

 

Under the project, which was undertaken at the Ministry’s head office by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), through its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme (EECP), the buildings were retrofitted with a solar system that will result in a 34 per cent saving on electricity consumption.

 

“The system works extremely well, it is very efficient, and makes you work more productively,” said Minister with responsibility for the Ministry, Hon. Karl Samuda, at the handover ceremony held at his Heroes Circle offices in Kingston today (July 30).

 

“With these kinds of facilities, we are able to work in an environment that offers comfort, to increase productivity,” Mr. Samuda added, while lauding the PCJ and detailing the benefits that staff and stakeholders will now enjoy.

 

It is anticipated that the modifications will enhance the environment and improve staff’s well-being, and promote increased productivity and comfort for users of the building.

 

For her part, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Fayval Williams, said the new system will be impactful, and the investment will be safeguarded for the citizens of Jamaica.

 

“We are financing a five-year service and maintenance contract to ensure the preservation of the equipment,” the Mrs. Williams said.

 

The EECP was established in 2011 to promote cost-saving measures in the public sector through the design and implementation of energy efficiency and conservation interventions and equipment.

 

Since then, more than 40 entities from the health, finance, education, and security sectors have been retrofitted with energy-efficient air-conditioning systems.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Hon. Fayval Williams (right); and Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Karl Samuda (second right), celebrate the unveiling of a plaque for the $136-million energy-saving project at the Ministry, undertaken by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), which was handed over today (July 30). Sharing the moment (from left) are Project Manager at the PCJ, Jody Grizzle; Acting Permanent Secretary at the Education Ministry, Dr. Grace McLean, and Acting Group General Manager at the PCJ, Robert Clarke.

JIS: Some 4,000 students from 17 primary schools across the island will benefit from initiatives to boost literacy and numeracy under the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Youth Education and Recreation Cycle 3 Project.

 

The $38-million project involves partnership with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and is being implemented in the parishes of St. James, Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon and St. Ann.

 

It is aimed at improving academic performance and general youth development by providing support for educational and recreational activities and programmes.

 

JSIF Social Development Officer, Shunelle Nevers, told JIS News that a sum of $12 million has been allocated to this tranche of the project, which is focused on improving quality educational outcomes in literacy and numeracy. It is scheduled to run until May 2020.

 

“We are providing learning and teaching aids and equipment to help the children in these schools to learn in different ways. We are also training 51 teachers –three from each school – to incorporate the new materials in their daily classroom activities,” she noted.

 

Miss Nevers told JIS News that already, schools in Kingston and St. Andrew have been equipped with the necessary materials.

 

All schools should be provided with the required equipment by the end of August, to commence activities for the new school year.

 

In addition, maths and literacy coaches in the selected schools have participated in workshops as part of a ‘train the trainer’ exercise and are now mandated to impart the knowledge gained to their colleagues.

 

Miss Nevers said that the trainers will have up to December 2019 to provide the schedule for JSIF and the Education Ministry personnel to go into the schools and monitor the training activities.

 

The Ministry and JSIF will also monitor how the equipment is being utilised in the classrooms to enhance learning.

 

CAPTION: Managing Director of Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), Omar Sweeney (third left), is attentive as Education Officer and Numeracy Trainer, Dr. Lorna P. Thompson (second left), demonstrates how to integrate ‘Attribute Blocks’ into a daily mathematics lesson. Looking on (from left) are Alison McGhie of Lethe Primary and Infant School; Social Development Officer, JSIF, Shunelle Nevers; Nelesia Mclean of Steer Town Primary and Infant; Paula Christie, Barrett Town All-Age; and Robert Gordon of Bickersteth Primary and Infant School. Occasion was the JSIF/Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Numeracy and Literacy Training held on July 22 and 23 at Jewel Paradise Cove in St. Ann.

JIS: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Alando Terrelonge, has praised the management and staff of the social learning website, EduFocal, for the work being done to empower young people through education.

 

The facility, which was established in 2012, uses the principles of game elements in learning (gamification) to present test material to students preparing for final examinations at the primary and high school levels.

 

The principal tests are the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.

 

EduFocal is headed by Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Gordon Swaby, whom the State Minister encouraged to “continue to devise programmes to challenge our students and to help them to think critically”.

 

The State Minister was speaking at EduFocal’s seventh annual Excellence Awards ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday (July 24) Ten primary and 10 high school students were recognised for academic achievements resulting from their using the Edufocal online interactive learning platform to prepare for PEP and CSEC.

 

Top awardee at the primary level was 12-year-old Jeremiah Shim, formerly of Mavisville Preparatory in Kingston, who was placed first on the EduFocal PEP leader board.

 

He will attend St. George’s College in September, when the 2019/20 academic year begins.

 

Richard Greenwood, a 17-year-old Kingston College student, was the top EduFocal CSEC leader board performer.

 

Each received a $50,000 bursary, and, along with the other awardees, were given plaques and gift certificates.

 

In congratulating the students, Mr. Terrelonge encouraged them to stay motivated and inspired, and to think critically and endeavour, at all times, to be the best they can be. “It is only through education that you will be empowered… and your empowerment is critical to national growth, development and prosperity,’ he added.

 

To date, over 20,000 students have used the EduFocal platform to prepare for the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT); its replacement, PEP; and CSEC.

 

CAPTION: State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Alando Terrelonge (centre, front row), with EduFocal’s Primary Exit Profile awardee level of the Edu Focal leader board. Also pictured are Vice Chairman of the NCB Foundation, Andrew Pearman (left, back row); EduFocal’s Chairman, Peter Levy (third left, back row), and Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Gordon Swaby (third right, back row). The occasion was the EduFocal’s seventh annual Excellence Awards ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday (July 24).

JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed the improvements being undertaken at the Seaward Primary and Junior High School, noting that the institution “is well on its way to becoming one of the best performing primary and infant schools in Jamaica”.

 

He was addressing a ceremony held at the school grounds in Olympic Way, St. Andrew, on July 25 to officially open a play area as well as honour partners/stakeholders.

 

The Prime Minister noted that greater focus is being placed on developing the school plant for the benefit of students.

 

He said that in the past, the institution, which is located in his West Central St. Andrew Constituency, was constantly utilised for community activities.

 

He noted, however, that with the construction of the Olympic Gardens Civic Centre to facilitate community activities “that gave you some more space… and now you are only focused on developing the school infrastructure”.

 

“I recognised that if we were going to truly create an institution of learning that would serve the population in this community well, we needed to give the school space to grow and to develop and to allow the students to be able to fully utilise all the assets of the school,” Prime Minister Holness added.

 

Mr. Holness said he is pleased to see the focus that the principal, chairman and the community have placed on the school.

 

“It is quite clear that the community is now treating the school in a much different way than it did in the past. There is now a greater respect for the infrastructure of the school and how you use the school utilities, and that is, in my mind, a significant improvement,” he said.

 

The Prime Minister further noted the measures undertaken to boost student performance.

 

“I recall that when we instituted the Grade Four literacy test we were not so happy with the results both in literacy and numeracy at the time in 2009. I supported the school with literacy coaches and programmes and we have seen steady improvements in literacy and numeracy,” he noted.

 

Mr. Holness said that the school’s literacy results have moved from 68 per cent to 78 per cent in the last academic year, while the numeracy improved from 11 per cent to 54 per cent in the last academic year.

 

Prime Minister Holness pledged to make donations through the Constituency Development Fund and the Positive Jamaica Foundation towards the school bus donation drive.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left), engages with Seaward Primary and Junior High School student, Kerica Thomas. Occasion was a ceremony to officially open a play area and honour stakeholders, held at the insitution on Olympic Way, St. Andrew, on July 25.

 

 

 

State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Alando Terrelonge met with Kimberly Francis and Dwayne Stewart, parents of Soul-Heart Francis, at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle office on Monday July 22, 2019. 

 

Earlier this month there were reports in the media stating the parents had a struggle to find placement for Soul-Heart in schools. The Jamaica Star July 12 story headlined “Baby genius too bright for school – Parents struggle to find space for 3-year-old” also highlighted that the 3-year-old had High-Functioning Autism (HFA) or Asperger’s Syndrome. 

 

The State Minister had open discussions with the parents which revealed that despite earlier reports, there was no direct communication with any ministry official regarding the challenges faced by them. Stewart conceded that he made a few  calls to the ministry two years ago but never had dialogue with any senior personnel or educational specialist at the Ministry. 

 

Minister Terrelonge also invited Dr. Morgan, assistant Chief Education Officer for the Special Education Unit, to the meeting  to observe Soul-Heart and give her professional opinion as to the best way forward. Several options were explored in the meeting to find suitable solutions in getting Soul-Heart into a school that would be able to cater to his special needs.

 

“I have repeatedly said that an education is the best gift that we can give to our children. All our children are special and we must ensure that we devise educational programmes so that every child, irrespective of socio-economic background; race; religion; special gifts or disability, gets an opportunity to learn and maximize their full potential. Autism, or any other developmental disorder, must never be a barrier to an education or placement in a learning institution.  I am pleased that Soul-Heart has parents who are dedicated to his education, and they have my full support and that of the Ministry of Education, that we will partner with them to ensure his growth and prosperity” Terrelonge added. 

 

It was concluded that the Ministry would assist in getting a full assessment done by qualified professionals who would help in having a curriculum developed specifically for Soul-Heart. This will be followed by getting him placed in a school that is equipped to cater to his special needs. 

 

The State Minister and father of two, was very impressed with Soul-Heart and reassured his parents that the Ministry of Education and the Early Childhood Commission would assist in ensuring Soul-Heart gets the assistance he needs. 

 

CAPTION ONE: State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Alando Terrelonge engages baby genius  Soul-Heart Stewart during a visit to the Education Ministry.

 

CAPTION TWO: State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Alando Terrelonge in a playful mode, with baby genius Soul-Heart Stewart and his father Dwayne Stewart.  Soul-Heart’s father met with Minister Terrelonge on Monday. The 

Ministry has pledged to assist the three-year old.