Seventy-nine educators have been selected to receive the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education.

The biennial awards ceremony, to be held on May 28 at Jamaica House, will recognise 39 educators for 2023 and 40 for 2024.

Instituted in 2005, the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation is given to an educator who has served for a minimum of 15 years, displayed exceptional service in the teaching profession and has shown evidence of community involvement, innovation and creativity in service.

Among the 2024 recipients are Managing Director of the HEART/NSTA Trust, Dr. Taniesha Ingleton, and former President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association and Principal of Golden Spring Primary, Winston Smith.

National Mathematics Coordinator in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Dr. Lorna Thompson, and Professor Disraeli Hutton of the University of the West Indies, Mona, are among the 2023 cohort.

A posthumous award will be presented to the late Marsha Allen-Russell of Porus High School in Manchester, who was the second runner-up LASCO Teacher of the Year 2019/20.

The awardees from teacher training institutions are Sylvia Bryan and Dr. Claudette Barrett-March of Shortwood Teachers’ College; Dr. Sadie Harris-Mortley, Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College; Dr. Darien Henry, Montego Bay Community College; Professor Carol Hunter Clarke and Dr. Maureen Mullings-Nelson, The Mico University College; Anthony Norman and Dr. Monica Williams-Dempster, Church Teachers’ College; Dr. Jacqueline Thames of Moneague College; and Isaac Onywere of Bethlehem Moravian College.

Awardees were selected by a committee comprising officials from across the sector. Points were awarded to nominees based on predetermined criteria.

The persons receiving the highest number of points were selected for the prestigious award.

Award recipients are citizens of Jamaica, but in exceptional circumstances a non-citizen may be recommended for the honour.

The number of medals awarded in any year shall not exceed 40.

As the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information intensifies its efforts to improve literacy, parents are being encouraged to nurture a love for reading in their children.

Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, emphasised that reading is essential to children’s development.

“Take them to the bookstore. Let them choose the books for themselves and let them see you reading too, because that’s an important thing. If they see the parent reading, then that gives them interest, too, in reading. I think it’s very important and, as parents, we have to do everything we can to instil reading in our children,” she said in a JIS News interview.

In observance of Read Across Jamaica Day on Tuesday (May 6), the Minister read to students at Constitution Hill Primary and Infant School in St. Andrew and Randolph Lopez School of Hope in Kingston.

Senator Morris Dixon also suggested that children be provided with a variety of books.

“We don’t always have to do the regular books… there are graphic novels. We know a lot of boys, especially, they like to see the pictures and see the comics. [Let’s do] whatever we can do to make it fun. So they don’t have to read the book with all the words, to start with. Give them something that’s interesting, that’s exciting,” she proposed.

Meanwhile, Dr. Morris Dixon reiterated that timetabled reading for grades one to three students at the primary level will commence in September 2025.

“We have said literacy is a commitment of ours, and we feel very strongly about it…; that is why we are doing that. We’re going to be doing more training with our teachers. Of course, our teachers want the same thing as us – they want their students to love reading, and so we’re going to be working with the teachers, giving them the resources,” she said.

Senator Morris Dixon added that Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kasan Troupe, and a Ministry team are actively preparing reading materials for distribution to all schools.

“They will be working with the teachers to make sure we are ready for September, because we’re not leaving any child behind at all,” the Minister said.

Ministry of Education, Skills Youth & Information Community Relations Education Officer for Region Five, Anieta Bailey, delivers remarks during Sunday’s (May 4) National Child Month Church Service at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville, Manchester. The service marked the beginning of activities under the theme, ‘Act Now! Stand Against Child Abuse and Exploitation.’

Grades one to three students at the primary level will soon begin to benefit from at least two hours of timetabled reading each week.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, said literacy and numeracy are foundational and she is pleased that reading will now be a timetabled subject.

“That’s a big thing. Many people wouldn’t even realise that it wasn’t timetabled, but now it is timetabled, because we are serious about stemming this literacy challenge that we have in our schools,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

She was addressing Friday’s (April 25) Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC) Press Conference, held at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters in St. Andrew.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary, Dr. Kasan Troupe, underscored that it is critical to institute the teaching of reading.

“We understand the issue of literacy in our country and rather than relying on an integrated approach, in this new framework reading will be taught. Every single class will be timetabled for reading, and that will mean that all our teachers will be teaching reading,” Dr. Troupe said.

She advised that the Ministry will be rolling out a massive training programme during this quarter to build the skill sets of teachers and to retool them to deliver the reading curriculum.

“We’ll be focusing on literacy, reading for fluency, reading for vocabulary building and we will be looking at reading for enjoyment and word recognition,” Dr. Troupe added.

In the meantime, Dr. Morris Dixon reiterated that the leadership of the Ministry is seized of the problems in the education system and is committed to fixing them.

“Every single child in Jamaica matters and every single child deserves quality education like they have in Denmark, like they have in Singapore, and that’s what our commitment is to the children of Jamaica,” she said.

Government is currently undertaking the expansion and upgrade of laboratory facilities in technical high schools across Jamaica.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, said this move will address years of neglect in technical education.

She was addressing day one (April 22) of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Education Conference 2025, being held at Ocean Coral Spring in Trelawny.

“What we’ve done is to, through HEART/NSTA Trust, develop labs for our 14 schools. In fact, we are in the process of finalising what lab each school will have,” Dr. Morris Dixon outlined.

She added that these labs will be equipped with the necessary technology and tools to prepare “our youth” for a technologically driven future.

In the meantime, Dr. Morris Dixon indicated that the Ministry is partnering with Starlink to utilise satellite technology to bring high-speed internet to schools across the country, particularly those in the rural areas.

“The goal is to be able to have Wi-Fi across the entire school campus in Jamaica, and so, that’s what we’re working on during this year. So, several schools have gotten it, and more will be getting it throughout the course of this year,” the Minister pointed out.

Moreover, the Government is investing heavily in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, the Minister said.

Senator Morris Dixon noted that six new STEM schools will be constructed and outfitted with cutting-edge laboratories and equipment, adding that these institutions will be inclusive and welcoming of students from diverse academic backgrounds and not just those who are excelling in maths or science.

“Our goal is simple – every child, every teacher, every school digitally empowered,” the Minister said.

The three-day conference is being held under the theme: ‘Innovations in Education Technology: The Imperative of Change’.

It calls on educators to embrace advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI), smart classrooms, and data-driven instructions. These tools are no longer futuristic concepts but essential components for unlocking student potential and driving Jamaica towards a knowledge-based economy.

Day one of the event included plenary discussions on AI-enhanced reading strategies and smart-board training.

The Spanish Town-based St. Jago High School is the Overall Winner for St. Catherine in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Performing Arts Competition.

At a recent awards ceremony held at the St. Catherine High School, the institution walked away with five trophies and $50,000 in cash.

In addition to being the overall winner, St. Jago was named the Top High School, the Zone Winner for Spanish Town, and took first place in Speech and Drama.

The ceremony was held to recognise schools or groups that have performed well in the Festival of the Performing Arts in the areas of speech, music, dance and traditional folk forms during the period February to March.

Speaking with JIS News at the event, Drama Teacher at St. Jago High, Vanessa Gardner Ranor said the school community is proud of the achievement.

She said the students are involved in various extracurricular activities and “they always try to put their best forward in everything they do.

The competition helps in establishing cultural values, resilience, and helping them to be top achievers”.

Principal of the Victoria Primary School, which won the trophy for traditional folk form, Annette Steele, told JIS News that the teachers and the parents are “ecstatic”.

“We are not one of the big schools, but we have big talent, she said.

The Traditional Folk form category, the Principal noted, is important in preserving Jamaica’s cultural heritage and tradition.

It involves a variety of traditional Jamaican dances and performances such as Quadrille, Ring Games, Maypole, Revival, Ni Nite/Wake, Gerreh, Dinki Mini.

“We don’t find our children playing ring games [anymore], so, we decided that we want to continue the tradition. The parents are very supportive, the school community is happy for us. It puts us on the map; it is a good feeling overall,” Ms. Steele said.

She noted that the JCDC competition helps the students with their social development, as they get the opportunity to interact with students from other schools.

“When they go to national finals, they get to see other schools performing. It helps with their self-confidence,” she said.

In a speech delivered by Councillor for the Westchester Division, Renair Benjamin, Mayor of Spanish Town, Councillor Norman Scott, welcomed the staging of the awards ceremony in “paying tribute to the extraordinary achievements of our students”.

He hailed the JCDC for organising the Performing Arts Competition, noting that “it has showcased their indomitable spirit, unwavering commitment and unparalleled talents”.

He said the arts has the power to transform, illuminate, educate, inspire and motivate.

“The performing arts gives you a platform for which to be creative so your imaginations can soar,” he added.

Parish Manager for the JCDC, Vanessa Patterson, for her part, thanked the parents and teachers for their continued support in enabling the students to participate in the competition.

Miss St. Catherine Festival Queen 2025, Shahidah Grant, in her remarks, said that “the Jamaican culture is alive and well in our noble parish”.

“For all the talents that have been exhibited, it truly speaks to how powerful St. Catherine is. Continue to persist as the kings and queens of our nation,” she told the students.

Students and staff of Robert Lightbourne High School in St. Thomas recently redefined the expression ‘giving from the heart’, making a selfless impact on approximately 150 lives through their ‘Purple Pride’ Outreach Programme.

What is even more impressive is that the number only represents this year, while the programme has been ongoing for the last 35 years.

For 2025, the school held a health fair on Tuesday (April 14) during which persons in neighbouring communities benefited from free health checks.

On Wednesday (April 16), the students and staff delivered care packages to needy individuals in the communities before visiting the St. Thomas Infirmary where they served hot meals to the residents.

Several of the items distributed were acquired with proceeds from a fundraising fish fry organised by the school

Teacher, Levena Edwards, has been helping to coordinate the programme for 28 years. She said the school aims to use the initiative to instil the values of sharing and caring for others in its students, while fostering their holistic development.

Mrs. Edwards highlighted that the programme benefits feeder communities that are the origin of most of the pupils. Among the 150 beneficiaries were 50 students receiving food items, toiletries and school uniform material.

Senior Teacher, Leon Ford, who also helps to coordinate the legacy outreach programme, highlighted the significance of the support extended to the youngsters.

“We know that most of the students who come to our school are not really from the type of family that might have it. So, what we do is that we try to see if we can reach those students so that they know that we do care and it’s not just about coming [to school] and learning,” he told JIS News.

Mr. Ford added that, “we want the parents and residents in these communities to know that Robert Lightbourne [High] is there for them as well; it’s not just for the students alone”.

Principal, Ricardo Morgan, describes the programme as “simply awesome”. Quoting late Roman Catholic Nun and celebrated humanitarian, Mother Teresa, Mr. Morgan said, “It’s not how much we give, but it’s how much love we put into giving”, adding “that is something that we strongly believe in.”

He is optimistic about the programme’s continuation and expresses the hope that others will be encouraged to partner with the school on the initiative or spearhead their own.

The Principal also expressed enthusiasm for the holistic development of his pupils, emphasising the importance of providing them with first-hand experiences in this way.

“In the wider society, there are people who will always be better off in some instances and those who will not be well off, and those are people we need to look out for,” Mr. Morgan said.

The programme is also widely supported by the business community and other stakeholders in St. Thomas.

Among the sponsors are Mayor of Morant Bay, Councillor Louis Chin; the Surrey Promotional Team; Sterling Bakery; Young Sang Bakery; Joong Supermarket; Classic Supermarket; Chong Sang Hardware and Wholesale; Butty’s; Fish Cove Restaurant, as well as churches and individuals, among others.

The National Child Month Committee (NCMC) has unveiled a slate of activities to mark Child Month in May, focused on celebrating the achievements of children and promoting their rights and well-being.

Under the theme ‘Act Now: Stand Against Child Abuse and Exploitation’, the slate of events, which will extend into November, was launched on April 10 at GraceKennedy Limited in downtown Kingston.

“This is a time to celebrate the resilience and brilliance of our children. It’s also a time to surround them with support, whether through a kind word, a protective action or simply showing up,” said Chairperson of the NCMC, Nicole Patrick-Shaw, at the launch.

The celebration kicks off with a national church service on Saturday, May 3 at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville, Manchester.

This will be followed by National Children’s Day on May 16, and citizens are encouraged to show their support by wearing sunshine yellow on the day.

Jamaicans are invited to pray for the nation’s children at the National Day of Prayer on Wednesday, May 28, and on Friday, May 30, the NCMC will distribute care packages to vulnerable families.

The slate of activities continues into November with the Youth Academic Achievement Awards and Youth Forum, honouring students who have overcome obstacles to excel.

Mrs. Patrick-Shaw is encouraging Jamaicans to support the NCMC activities and others organised by various entities and organisations during Child Month.

“If you can’t join our activities, create your own. Host a reading circle, check in on a child, support a family,” she suggested.

Child Month involves partnership from the Ministry of Education, Skills and Youth, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), and several non-governmental organisations and community groups.

The lead sponsors are GraceKennedy and National Baking Company Limited.

During the launch, KFC donated $1 million to support the work of the NCMC.

The sponsorship includes $500,000 in cash and $500,000 for provision of care packages.

Grants totalling US$740,000 have been awarded to 54 grantees by American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) to support several initiatives in the island.

They include education, music, sports, homeless, health, skills training, gender-based violence, arts, coding, veterinary care, environmental protection, school-feeding and peace-building programmes, among others.

Grant certificates were presented to the grantees at the AFJ’s awards ceremony, held at the United States Embassy in Kingston, on Tuesday (April 8).

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, who spoke at the ceremony, hailed the AFJ for its legacy of generosity and heart for service.

“For over four decades, the American Friends of Jamaica have remained a pillar of support for our country. Their legacy is etched into the walls of our hospitals, the classrooms of our schools and the hearts of our people.

Whether responding to hurricanes, expanding educational opportunities or modernising public health infrastructure, the AFJ has consistently shown up for us,” she said.

Dr. Morris Dixon underscored that the Government is committed to accelerating transformation, but cannot walk the journey alone.

“We need partners like the AFJ who understand that sustainable development and transformation in education are built on trust, collaboration and long-term investment,” she said.

She expressed gratitude to the leadership of AFJ, noting that they have done more than fundraise.

“You have organised a movement of care. You have translated affection for Jamaica into measurable impact. You have made philanthropy strategic, smart and compassionate, and I ask you to please continue to be a friend of Jamaica,” Dr. Morris Dixon said.

In her remarks, AFJ President, Wendy Hart, said her team is committed to building strong partnerships with Jamaicans.

“We are at our strongest when government, funders and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) can work together. It is also important that we all continue to prioritise impact. There are many needs and there are always funding constraints, so we need to ensure that we are making wise and informed choices,” she said.

For her part, Charge d’Affaires, Amy Tachco, commended the AFJ for its unwavering commitment to advancing health, education and community development across Jamaica.

“Your generosity and dedication continue to make a profound impact, ensuring essential resources reach those who need them most. The AFJ grants awarded today represent more than just financial support. They symbolise hope, opportunity and a vision for stronger and healthier communities across Jamaica,” Ms. Tachco said.

She also acknowledged the grantees for their dedication to community outreach and upliftment.

“The AFJ is a shining example of what is possible when people unite around a common mission. When communities collaborate, they harness their diverse strengths and talents and leave a powerful imprint on their societies,” she said.

The AFJ was established in 1982 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation to assist Jamaican charities in the areas of education, healthcare and human and economic development.

The long-awaited national school nutrition policy was considered and approved by Cabinet on Monday (April 7) and will be tabled in the Houses of Parliament as a White Paper.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, made the disclosure while addressing a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday (April 9) at Jamaica House.

“This policy has been in train for a long time and I’m so very happy… that we’re finally at this point where we can bring to Jamaica the national school nutrition policy, which will change the way our children get their meals in schools and the entire apparatus around school nutrition,” she said.

Turning to other matters, the Minister informed that the Government will be rolling out its $1.5-billion quarterly road-patching programme in May.

“The initiative will target our most critical road corridors. The programme will prioritise main thoroughfares and high-trafficked corridors, community and parish roads in need of urgent repairs,” she informed.
Work under the programme will be undertaken in phases.

It aims to improve road conditions and ensure safer, smoother travel for motorists and pedestrians across the island.