JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is encouraging more service clubs to strengthen their partnership with the Ministry to bolster programmes being undertaken to ensure the holistic development of the nation’s children.

 

This call was made by Minister of State in the Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green, during the Kiwanis Club of Barbican fourth anniversary meeting at the Guardian Life head office in New Kingston, on January 22.

 

Three areas the State Minister cited for collaboration are mentorship, foster care and the expansion of the Brain Builder centres.

 

He said young people do better, regardless of background and circumstances, when they have a mentor to lean on, “when they have somebody they can bounce ideas off, who can help guide them down the path, and who can tell them about mistakes that they have made”.

 

“One of the things I would want to see the Kiwanis Movement and the Kiwanis Club of Barbican do is to join with us at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and provide us with a team of volunteers to mentor our young people,” he said.

 

Mr. Green noted that mentorship is important, particularly for children who are ageing out of the system.

 

“We want to pair every child that is ageing out of our State care system with a mentor. This will provide us with a better way to track their progress, to recognise when they are in difficulty, to intervene and to ensure that they are on a path to success in their own lives. Let us really embark on developing a battalion of mentors right across Jamaica,” he urged.

 

Turning to the foster care programme, Mr. Green encouraged the members to open their homes to children in State care and foster a child.

 

“All the research have shown us that children do better when they have families. No matter how good we organise our residential care facilities, it will never be as good as having a loving family to come home to,” he said, adding that the stipend for the programme was increased by 100 per cent last year.

 

The State Minister pointed out that there are approximately 2,000 children in State care.

 

Mr. Green said the service club can partner with the Ministry to expand aspects of the Brain Builder centres that will be operated across the island.

 

The Jamaica Brain Builders Programme aims to reduce cognitive learning challenges among infants in the country. It is a framework for action in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, which starts from conception in the womb to age two years.

 

Under this initiative, the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) will be responsible for establishing 126 Brain Builder centres across the island, with two in each constituency.

 

In the meantime, Mr. Green commended the Kiwanis Club of Barbican for the work they have been doing in children’s homes and schools, noting that “our country and children are grateful for these”.

 

“You have done tremendous work, and I know that you will continue. I hope that as we work together to ensure that philanthropy really helps us to create a more equitable society, that we deepen our partnership with the Government to see, in some of the programmes that we have, how we can get to the root causes and remove them, so that we create a better Jamaica,” he said.

 

CAPTION: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (right), sharing a good laugh with (from left) Opposition Senator, Dr. Floyd Morris; President, Kiwanis Club of Barbican, Dane McLean; and Lieutenant Governor, Pam Rodney-Whyte, during the Club’s fourth anniversary meeting at the Guardian Life head office in New Kingston, on January 22.

JIS: Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, is urging members of the diaspora to support the ‘Pledge 2 Build’ campaign, which seeks to raise funds to upgrade the infrastructure of early-childhood and primary schools.

 

She made the call as she delivered the keynote address at the David “Wagga” Hunt Scholarship Fundraising Gala, held on Saturday, January 19 in Washington DC.

 

Pledge 2 Build is an initiative of the Jamaica Diaspora Education Task Force (JDETF), which seeks to mobilise some three million Jamaicans living overseas to invest in the development of education and educational infrastructure in the country annually, starting with early childhood and teacher empowerment.

 

Ambassador Marks also lauded the organisers of the Jamaica David “Wagga” Hunt Scholarship fund for their support to students at Calabar High School and Kingston College (KC) over the past few years.

 

She noted that the initiative was an important vehicle through which the organisers had effectively joined with the leadership in shaping the minds of the boys “to become productive citizens”.

 

Noting that education is key to nation-building, Ambassador Marks, said investing in the country’s youths will “provide the platform for our country’s advancement and for the attainment of our national and internationally agreed development goals”.

 

She also praised the organisers for their efforts to sustain the David “Wagga” Hunt initiative, noting that it “is transforming the lives of 25 students from Calabar High and Kingston College, to the tune of J$10 million”.

 

“[These are] poignant examples of generosity and patriotism – traits for which Jamaicans living overseas are well known,” Ambassador Marks said.

 

The Reggae Girlz, Jamaica’s senior national female football team, was also honoured at the event for the historic achievement in 2018 as the first Caribbean team to qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

 

“You have added to the lustre of brand Jamaica, demonstrating that ‘wi likkle but wi tallawah’,” Ambassador Marks said.

 

The late David “Wagga” Hunt was a distinguished past student of Kingston College; co-founder of Meadhaven United Football Club; former General Secretary of the Kingston & St. Andrew Football Association (KSAFA); former General Secretary of the Minor

 

League Football Association, and one of Jamaica’s foremost track-and-field analysts, who also had a great passion for youth and sports. Mr. Hunt led Calabar to both the Manning Cup and Oliver Shield titles in 2005.

 

CAPTION: Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks (left, front row) presents the 2018 David “Wagga” Hunt Distinguished Award to Dr. Kevin Asher (centre, front row), the father of Chinyelu Asher, a member of Jamaica’s senior football women’s team, at the David “Wagga” Hunt Scholarship Fundraising Gala, held on Saturday, January 19 in Washington DC. Others in the photo are members of the organising committee of the David “Wagga” Hunt Scholarship Fund.

JIS: The Embassy of Japan has signed two grant contracts amounting to $16 million to purchase two school buses for Lyssons Primary and New Forest Infant, Primary and High Schools.

 

Each school will receive $8 million in grant funding from the Government of Japan, through its Grassroots Human Security Project (GGP), to purchase the buses.

 

Signing the contracts today (January 22) at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, National Heroes Circle in Kingston were Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dean-Roy Bernard; Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Hiromasa Yamazaki; Principal of Lyssons Primary, Evette Bonfield Beecher, and Principal of New Forest Infant, Primary and High School, Sharon Anderson.

The schools currently do not have a school bus to support their activities. In addition, transportation, particularly in rural areas, continues to be a safety risk for children, and the Government of Japan-funded school bus initiative is intended to provide safe and reliable transportation to and from school for children.

 

In his remarks, Mr. Bernard thanked the Government of Japan for its generosity, which he said will assist students in the rural parishes who experience difficulty getting to school.

 

He noted that more than 7,200 students from 261 schools across 12 rural parishes benefit from the Ministry’s Expanded Pilot Rural Transportation Programme, and the assistance rendered by the Government of Japan will enable more students with transportation challenges to access education.

 

“Transportation is one of the impediments to learning in this country. This is a welcome initiative. The funds for these additional buses to Lyssons and the New Forest group of schools mean more students will benefit. Today’s agreements require the commitment of all stakeholders at the school, community and national levels to see that the investment in these schools leads to better educational outcomes for our children,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Ambassador Yamazaki said the initiative is part of the ongoing cooperation and friendship between the people of Japan and Jamaica.

 

“I am pleased that we are able to extend our assistance in order to alleviate the transportation woes that students, both in St. Thomas and Manchester face. This signing ceremony indicates genuine commitment by the Government of Japan to assist Jamaica to further enhance education for its young citizens, who can fulfil their dream of a better tomorrow with hope,” he said.

 

The initiative is being undertaken through the collaboration between the National Education Trust (NET) and the Embassy of Japan.

 

Since 2015, the Embassy of Japan in Jamaica and the NET have been collaborating on education development projects. This partnership is aimed at meeting primary education needs at schools in greatest need of assistance under the GGP.

 

Through this programme, the Government of Japan offers financial assistance for development projects designed to meet the diverse needs of developing countries.

 

The initiative is part of a holistic safety and security initiative being spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information to transform schools and their immediate surroundings into safe zones, in an effort to ensure a quality education system within Jamaica.

 

CAPTION ONE: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dean-Roy Bernard (left), observes as Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Hiromasa Yamazaki (centre); and Principal of Lyssons Primary School, Evette Bonfield Beecher, sign a grant contract in the amount of US$67,177 (J$8 million) for the purchase of a bus, today (January 22) at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices, in Kingston. The grant is being offered through the Government of Japan Grassroots Human Security Project. Standing is Board Chairman of the school, Cordinal Beckford.

 

CAPTION TWO: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dean-Roy Bernard (right), observes as Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Hiromasa Yamazaki (centre) and Principal of New Forest Infant, Primary and Junior High School, Sharon Anderson, sign a grant contract in the amount of US$67,177 (J$8 million) for the purchase of a bus, today (January 22) at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices in Kingston. The grant is being offered through the Government of Japan Grassroots Human Security Project.

 

 

JIS: The Ministry of Health is reporting that the Jamaica Moves in Schools initiative has been well received by 33 schools across the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew,   St. Thomas, and St. Catherine.

 

Members of the Ministry’s health promotion team across the parishes have been working closely with schools to promote the ‘Jamaica Moves’ programme, aimed at influencing students and teachers to partake in healthy lifestyle practices, in order to reduce the onset of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

 

The initiative was introduced as a pilot at 18 high schools, 12 primary schools, 2 primary and junior high schools and a special needs school last year.

 

Meanwhile, the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, implemented Phase 1 of the capacity-building residential camp for high schools.

 

Fifty-seven students and 14 teachers were trained as ‘Jamaica Moves’ ambassadors.

 

The two-day camp, which took place from November 23 to 25, 2018, focused on the three key areas of the Jamaica Moves programme – healthy eating, physical activity and age-appropriate health checks.

 

The participants were exposed to presentations aimed at sensitising them about some of the major NCDs, such as cancer, diabetes, heart attack and hypertension.

 

Additionally, the teachers and students were educated about the importance of physical activity and healthy eating, and are now empowered to develop good health practices.

 

Phase two of the capacity-building residential camp for high schools is scheduled for April 2019 and the one-day camp for primary schools is slated for March 2019.

 

Director of Health Promotion and Education in the Ministry of Health, Takese Foga, told JIS News in a recent interview that the initiative seeks to promote healthy eating at an early age.

 

“The aim of the camps is to have a number of students and teachers who appreciate and understand areas of healthy eating and physical activity promote the importance of NCD prevention,” she said.

 

“For children of primary-school age, we want them to be practising the habit of healthy eating and physical activity and also being able to share with their peers. The aim is to empower the children and teachers with some key messages and help them to encourage children to practise healthy lifestyle behaviours,” Ms. Foga said.

 

The 2017 Health and Lifestyle Survey revealed that 82 per cent of Jamaicans were engaged in low levels of physical activity; 16 per cent engaged in moderate activity, and two per cent in high-level activity.

 

Ms. Foga noted that the initiative is very important as data show there have been increased levels of childhood obesity.

 

“It is very important that at this age, children understand or they begin to practise healthy lifestyle habits, such as the reduction of sugar in their beverages, drinking water more, and the different healthy eating tips that we give them. If they start doing that now, in conjunction with the physical activity, then there is a much greater chance that the risk for obesity will be significantly less,” she pointed out.

 

CAPTION: Director of Health Promotion and Education in the Ministry of Health, Takese Foga.

  

 

 

GLEANER: More than 15 schools and citizens living in volatile and vulnerable communities are to benefit from the Ministry of National Security’s ‘I Am Purpose’ campaign.

 

The campaign, which started in September 2018, focuses on the value of self-worth, self-empowerment, parent and child interaction, volunteerism and community participation.

 

Communities in St Catherine, Clarendon, St James, and Kingston and St Andrew are being targeted under the year- long initiative.

 

Acting director of crime prevention and community safety in the ministry, Renee Steele, said the campaign forms part of the Five Pillar Crime-Reduction Strategy, with emphasis on crime prevention through social development.

 

“The purpose of this pillar is to identify the risk factors of a socio-economic nature that contribute to violent behaviours and attitudes, and help to reduce them through activities such as this campaign,” Steele said.

 

Statistics indicate that young people between the ages of 15 and 24 are involved in a significant number of violent crimes.

 

IMPRESSIONABLE YOUTHS

“We have found, in many cases, that we have youth as young as nine involved in criminal activities. They may not pull a trigger, but they are impressionable and not attached to any positive systems, and hence can be recruited by criminal elements,” Steele said.

 

“The campaign is important because it is a deliberate effort to take the positives to the source themselves. As children develop, they tend to depend more on their peers, so the peers become more influential; so we go to them in their space,” she added.

 

The initiative include the I Am Purpose school tour, which is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information; a concert, as well as a men’s reasoning session. There is also a parent-student sports day, and peer-to-peer mentorship for the targeted schools.

 

So far, some seven schools have benefited under the campaign. These include Vere Technical High, Bustamante High, Denbigh High, St James High, Kemps Hill High, Spot Valley High, and Glendevon Primary and Junior High schools.

 

“We use edutainment to promote the positive messaging, and you get to engage with students one on one. Following the campaign, we will establish a peer-to-peer mentorship programme within the schools, where we will be aiming to use students from the upper grades to work with students from the lower grades as a means of positive role models,” Steele explained.

 

For the community-based activities, the security ministry works with several stakeholders such as community development committees, as well as gospel artiste Rondell Positive, to engage individuals from at-risk feeder communities in which the targeted schools are located.

 

CAPTION: Students at Glendevon Primary and Junior High in Montego Bay, St James, enjoy a performance from DJ Chinny during the ‘I Am Purpose’ concert, held at the institution in 2018.

GLEANER: Authors of Primary Exit Profile (PEP) textbooks are making adjustments to meet the new demands of the education sector regarding the examination’s implementation.

 

The PEP replaces the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) as the national secondary-school entrance test.

 

It is intended to provide a better and more complete profile of students’ academic and critical-thinking capabilities at the end of primary-level education.

 

Author of the Performance Task book PEP Practice for Grades Four, Five and Six Students and the Ability Test workbook PEP Practice for Grades Four, Five and Six Students, Dr Shalette Ashman, said she has been preparing to meet the new standards.

 

“We are PEP-ready, so we have a PEP app, a PEP website, and we have a PEP Performance Task book and a PEP Ability Test book,” she outlined.

 

New Book

Additionally, Ashman said she is currently working on a book titled JamaVerse PEP Mathematics Comic Book, which is intended to communicate mathematics principles in an exciting way.

 

“The comic basically connects with the lives of five kids, their dog, and a superhero. They go through Jamaica solving problems, getting super powers, and each page of the comic has a PEP math question. It’s going to encourage reading, as well as working PEP math questions,” she stated.

 

Ashman further spoke of an upcoming anime feature and video game for the comic series.

 

“One of the television [stations] has already indicated that they want to air the anime, and we have a video game that we are going to be putting on the Google Play Store,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, Ashman said that grade-six teachers are able to get free copies of the two PEP books now available by contacting her office.

 

“Teachers who have adopted, meaning that they are using the book with their students, will get access to both books at no cost, and they’ll also get access to our website, www.learninghub.online, absolutely free. They can call our office at (876) 926-1221 or (876) 351-7777,” she said.

 

She also indicates that Digicel subscribers can access PEP data on www.learninghub.online for free.

 

“We have a partnership with Digicel, so once you have a Digicel phone, you don’t even need credit on your phone to go on our website. All the learning material on our website is free. The only thing you pay for is testing material,” she said.

 

Prepared For Pep

Meanwhile, author of the Cheetah PEP practice books, Dr Paulette Trowers-Lawrence, said her publishing agency is also prepared for PEP.

 

She said that three books have already been published: PEP Science Practice Questions, PEP Ability Practice Questions, and PEP Mathematics Practice Questions.

 

“We have constructed the books in such a way to align with the National Standards Curriculum. For instance, with the maths, we break those questions down based on the six question types. So for instance, for numbers, we’ll have single responses, multiple responses, short constructed answers, and also extended activities and order grids,” Trowers-Lawrence explained.

 

“This makes it easier for the teacher to utilise the material in the classroom and also for a child who wants to work independently on his or her own at home or school,” she adds.

 

Dr Trowers-Lawrence said she is proud to be able to transition from GSAT, the format for which was multiple choice questions, to PEP comprising different question types.

 

“I love the idea of being able to allow them [students] to apply the information, not just in schools, but for life,” she tells JIS News.

 

All of the text books have been endorsed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information.

 

The Ability Test for PEP will be held on February 26; the Performance Task Test will be held on March 27 and 28; and the Curriculum Based Test will be done on April 16 and 17.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information Senator Ruel Reid (right), accepts copies of Primary Exit Profile practice books from author, Dr Shalette Ashman (centre). At left is state minister in the ministry, Floyd Green.

JIS: The Early Childhood Commission (ECC), in an effort to improve parenting involvement and forge partnerships with parents and community members, will be continuing its Community-based initiative, ‘ECC Pon Di Cawna’, in 2019.

 

This initiative helps to underscore the importance of Standard 10 of the ECC’s 12 Operating Standards – ‘Interactions with Parents and Community Members’.

 

Community Relations Manager at the Commission, Tanisha Miller, said that five Pon Di Cawna sessions will be hosted in designated communities this month in Regions one, two, four, five and six of the Education Ministry.

 

Upcoming sessions are scheduled to be held on January 24 at Friendship Community Centre in Islington, St. Mary, starting at 1:00 p.m.; January 25, at Norwood Basic School, St. James, at 1:30 p.m.; January 30, Lakes Pen Basic School, St. Catherine, beginning at 10:00 a.m.; and on January 31, at the Church of God of Prophecy Basic School, 36 Maxfield Avenue, starting at 2:00 p.m.

 

The first session for 2019 was held in Region one at the Greenvale Community Centre in Mandeville, Manchester, on January 18.

 

Representatives from several ministries, departments and agencies, including Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ministry of National Security, Ministry of Health, Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), HEART Trust/NTA and Jamaica National Small Business Loan Office, will be on hand to interact with those attending the sessions.

 

According to Ms Miller, the ECC, as part of its legislative mandate, has the responsibility to strengthen/create relationships with relevant stakeholders and sector partners at all levels. This is to strengthen early-childhood services at the community level and to plan community programmes and activities geared towards early-childhood development.

 

CAPTION: Assistant Commissioner of Police, Steve McGregor (standing with mic), addresses an Early Childhood Commission (ECC) ‘Pon Di Cawna’ session, which was held in Cassava Piece, St. Andrew, late last year.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, in partnership with La Sierra University in California, has launched a new eLibrary project, aimed at transforming the way school libraries are structured, with digital platforms that users can access from their personal devices, both on and off campuses.

 

The ceremony was held on Tuesday (January 15), at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston.

 

At the launch, the software was shared with administrators for the various regions of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, who will be sharing it with schools in upcoming weeks.

 

The project will enable students to access thousands of current textbooks and more than 100 instructional videos, by plugging in a free preloaded flash drive into their computers and uploading the software.

 

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, who spoke at the launch, said this new project complements the implementation of the National Standards Curriculum and provides access to learning resources that satisfy standards of quality.

 

“Traditionally, libraries offer support at every stage of a person’s life, where we go to study, write and research. Today, with the rapidly expanding range of digital activities, there are greater options for libraries to engage new and existing users. The electronic library system enables teachers and students in schools to gain access to multimedia resources in library services directly from their schools at any time,” Senator Reid explained.

“This is another way of extending the libraries beyond brick and mortar structures and literally bringing the library from the schools. We are becoming more and more a digital society, using mobile phones, tablets and other devices to obtain information,” he added.

 

The Minister said that the digital libraries will improve efficiencies, reduce costs and complement the Government’s Tablets in Schools Programme.

 

“eLibrary is the way to go, and we are using technology to reduce the cost for the delivery of services. The world is changing rapidly and we have to adapt to it,” he said.

 

The Minister also thanked representative from La Sierra University, Patrina Jamieson, a Jamaican, who worked on taking the project from the university to Jamaica.

 

For her part, Ms. Jamieson said she decided to advocate for the eLibrary project to be taken to Jamaica, so that her team could make a positive contribution to the development of Jamaica’s youth.

 

“eLibrary is a global initiative to address Sustainable Goal #4 for quality education. The eLibrary uses, basically, micro compression technology to bring thousands of curated curriculum-based content to communities around the world,” she said.

 

Ms. Jamieson also noted that the eLibrary is being provided to the schools and students at no charge, and aims to reach youth who have problems with numeracy and literacy skills.

 

She is a former student of Tarrant High School in Kingston, which was recently part of a pilot stage of the project.

 

During his testimonial, Principal of Tarrant High School, Major Paul Hall, said the administrators have seen an improvement in students’ performance in the subject of Mathematics after using the software.

 

“The students are also more familiar with the sciences, and I can’t get them to leave the devices alone. Every day they want to explore the sciences. Our students now can learn research skills, which are very important, and what I love about this awesome device, is that without Internet, anywhere you are, you are able to access it through your phone,” he said.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left); and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dean-Roy Bernard (right), display an eLibrary package from La Sierra University in the United States, during the launch on Tuesday (January 15), at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston. At centre is representative from La Sierra University, Patrina Johnson.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, speaks at the launch of the eLibrary Project, on Tuesday (January 15) at The Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston.

 

 

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth, and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has noted the importance of the education sector to the development of the country.

 

He says that the nation’s teachers have a role to play in creating avenues for opportunities to help students self-actualise and develop their talents.

 

“Jamaica is looking towards the education system for the transformation of Jamaica. Even sometimes when parents would forsake you (students), our teachers are not going to forsake you (students) because outside of the home, our teachers are standing in lieu of your parents,” the Senator Reid stated.

 

He was addressing students and staff at the Grange Hill High school in Westmoreland during a visit to the institution on January 8.

 

Meanwhile, the Education Minister lauded the principal and academic staff of Grange Hill High for playing an active role in transforming the lives of the nation’s students.

 

He stated that students who enter through the gates of the institution have been performing admirably, adding that the framework being used by the institution is ensuring that no student gets left behind.

 

“I am very proud of the work being done here at Grange Hill. You are demonstrating to Jamaica what education is really about because education is about drawing out one’s potential; it’s about not giving up on anybody. That principal, is what I see you demonstrating,” Senator Reid said.

 

“You are fulfilling your mandate here at Grange Hill. You are taking all the students that we send you and others that need to get an education, and you are making sure that no one leaves before they achieve that destination of training and certification,” he added.

 

Senator Reid, along with top officials from Region Four, visited the Little London, Grange Hill and Petersfield High schools in Westmoreland, on January 8, where he met with teachers to discuss issues facing the institutions.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addressing students and staff at Grange Hill High School in Westmoreland, during a visit to the institution on January 8.

 

JIS: Executive Director for the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ), Dr. Donna Powell-Wilson, says this year’s CCCJ International Conference highlighted the fact that more research is being undertaken by community colleges.

 

“Most of the research [findings presented during] the conference came from [community college] faculties. This means that in the colleges, we are paying more attention to research, which is good,” she told JIS News following the three-day conference’s closing ceremony at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, St. James on Friday (January 11).

 

Dr. Powell-Wilson further stated that the CCCJ recognizes the importance of empowering the colleges’ support staff, noting this was a key focus area for discussions during the conference.

 

“We recognize that they are the first point of contact in our institutions and our students need to know that the support staff is there to aid them,” further she told JIS News.

 

Students were also integrally involved in the conference, and were the focal point of some of the sessions.

 

Several of them, along with community college staff, were presented with scholarships and awards during the opening ceremony.

 

Dr. Powell-Wilson pointed out that the Council has seen a sharp increase in the number of students applying for scholarships during the 2018/19 academic year, and anticipates further increases next year, based on developments at the conference.

 

“We really hope that the word will now be out in institutions and persons will be enthused to apply,” she said, adding that applicants must have a minimum 3.5 grade point average to qualify.

 

CAPTION: Executive Director for the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ), Dr. Donna Powell-Wilson