JIS: State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) will assist in fostering entrepreneurship among young persons.

 

He contended that “it will cultivate more independent thinkers”, citing this as a “critical need” in business.

 

The State Minister was speaking during the recent LearnFest symposium at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

 

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

 

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, through a Performance Task, Ability, and Curriculum-based tests.

 

Mr. Green pointed out that the Ability Test will tap into students’ problem-solving competencies.

 

“It is a change that puts the student at the centre of learning and understands we… [as] individuals, learn differently… . Creativity and practicality have to be central,” he further stated.

 

The Ability Test is scheduled for February 26, while the Performance Task Test will be done on March 27 and 28, with the Curriculum-based Test slated for April 16 and 17.

 

LearnFest Caribbean 2019 was held under the theme ‘Level up and Set Yourself Apart’.

 

It sought to provide project managers and other professionals with the knowledge and inspiration to take action to develop themselves and their organisations in new ways.

 

CAPTION: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (right), greets Founder of LearnFest Caribbean and Chief Executive Officer of Project Management Global Institute (PGMI), Sherrone Blake Lobban, during the recent LearnFest Caribbean 2019 symposium at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in Kingston. Mr. Green was the keynote speaker.

JIS: Government Senator, Kerensia Morrison, has called on all Jamaicans to create safe spaces for children, in light of the recent incidents that have resulted in the loss of children’s lives.

 

Closing the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on Friday (February 8), Senator Morrison made specific reference to the loss of twin girls, Nahelia and Nahalia Pinnock, who perished in a fire in Grants Pen, St. Andrew, on January 31.

 

She expressed deep concern for children living in the island who are not being protected by their parents and guardians.

 

“It is heart-rending, and we use this platform to extend condolences to the grieving family and community, but so many of our children die or are seriously hurt within their homes, and this is a call for us to become more mindful about creating safe spaces, not necessarily in reference to that incident, but generally speaking. As a nation, we need to become more concerned about creating safe spaces and safe environments for our children,” Senator Morrison emphasised.

 

She said the Government is working hard to provide safe spaces and homes for Jamaicans, but that people too have a role to play in the upliftment of their surroundings and the preservation and protection of children’s lives.

 

“One of the best ways to change people’s lives is to change the condition in which they live. I believe that the housing situation where many of our children are living is inimical to their very growth and development. It is something that we must take into consideration when we consider our children, who are our future,” Senator Morrison said.

 

She emphasised that oftentimes parents do not intend to be negligent and leave their children at home alone, but they still have a duty to ensure their children are safe, and called on other persons to offer assistance with child protection to parents who are in need of help.

 

“It isn’t that many of these parents are bad. It isn’t that they are cruel why they leave the child alone in the home. They are often absent because they have to go out there and earn that bread to take back home; so we are looking at a bigger picture here – an issue where we have to talk about serious intervention, helping single parents and making a real difference in the lives of people,” she said.

 

CAPTION: Senators, Kerensia Morrison (left) and Aubyn Hill, speaking during the sitting of the Senate on Friday (February 8) in Gordon House.

JIS: The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) is undertaking a number of activities in observance of National Foster Care Week under the theme ‘Give Love, Inspire Hope, Foster a Child’. Manager of Public Relations and Communications at the CPFSA, Rochelle Dixon, says the objective is to raise awareness about the foster care programme and to encourage more Jamaicans to take a child into their homes. She said that the week will also highlight “the important contribution that foster parents make to national development and to showcase the achievements of children in foster care”.

 

Activities kicked off on Sunday (February 10) with a national church service at the Ocho Rios Baptist Church in St. Ann, and a special benefit performance of the musical Annie at the Philip Sherlock Centre for the Creative Arts, University of the West Indies (UWI).

 

Other events throughout the week will include parenting workshops; community walkthroughs and interactive events at the CPFSA’s regional offices; and the launch of a foster care campaign, targeting 30 prospective foster parents from 20 major companies.

 

Promotional flyers will be placed in utility bills as part of an effort to encourage more Jamaicans to foster children in State care.

 

There are currently more than 800 parents and 900 families involved in the foster care programme.

 

For further information, persons may contact the CPFSA at 876-948-2841-2; visit the parish offices islandwide and the Corporate Office at 48 Duke Street; or visit the agency’s website at www.childprotection.gov.jm.

 

CAPTION: State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (second right), and Chief Executive Officer of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), Rosalee Gage-Grey (left), look on as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dean-Roy Bernard (right), greets foster-parent Lorna Lawrence, and her four foster-sons. The occasion was the National Foster Care Week church service held at the Ocho Rios Baptist Church in St. Ann on February 10.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Brain Builders Programme, which is designed to ensure that the nation’s children get the best start, has so far “yielded brilliant results.”

 

Making his contribution to the State of the Nation Debate in the Senate on February 1, Senator Reid disclosed that since the start of 2018, a total of 32 brain builder centres have been established.

 

The 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.

 

Senator Reid said the Ministry will provide trained early childhood teachers; upgrade facilities as needed; provide furniture and equipment, resource materials and any other support required. “Furthermore, children will attend these centres at no cost,” he added.

 

He further noted that the Ministry has also granted approval for those institutions that are part of the Brain Builders Programme to enrol children at age three months.

 

“We are asking that our Members of Parliament review and submit to us the schools they would like to see become Brain Builder Centres in their constituencies as soon as possible. We have therefore given permission for Infant schools to be able to enrol children as early as age three years, instead of waiting for them to be three years and eight months,” he said.

 

Senator Reid explained that the early childhood sector is being reformed into one that is focused on achieving optimal development for all children from birth to eight years.

 

“The Government recognises that socialisation starts at the home, and any form of intervention is best directed from the very start,” he said.

 

Senator Reid informed that that a record number of 140 early childhood institutions have been registered and certified, and the ECC has been carrying out inspections of these institutions.

 

The ECC has also engaged in numerous partnerships with stakeholders from the public and private sectors to meet other initiatives, such as ‘ECC Pon Di Cawna’, ‘Read Across the Region’, a ‘Curfew Initiative’ and the establishment of libraries in schools.

 

The State of the Nation Debate gives Senators the opportunity to address issues of national importance. It also gives Cabinet Ministers in the Senate an opportunity to address their portfolio responsibility, while highlighting government policies and programmes.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Brain Builders Programme, which is designed to ensure that the nation’s children get the best start, has so far “yielded brilliant results.”

 

 

JIS:  Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says that more than 150 specialist mathematics teachers will be deployed to the secondary education system following the completion of training and graduation in June.

 

They are the first cohort to benefit under the Government’s drive to increase the number of secondary level mathematics teachers trained locally.

 

More than 400 mathematics education scholarships were awarded to potential teachers between 2015 and 2018 at a cost of more than $600 million.

 

Senator Reid said that the Ministry will continue to sustain the programme.

 

He noted that the bonding period has been increased from three years to five years to ensure that those who benefit from the scholarships can give back to the country and assist in transforming the education sector.

 

“We will ensure in terms of policy that these areas that the country feel is of great interest and need for us, we will dedicate the resources and provide full scholarships (for training in) these areas in return for a guaranteed minimum of five years service back to the system,” he added.

 

The Minister was speaking at the launch of the Mico International Mathematics Summit at the institution’s premises on Marescaux Road in St. Andrew on January 30.

 

Turning to other matters, Senator Reid said that “significant resources, which can support lesson planning and delivery” have been developed and made available to teachers through the Ministry’s website and the newly launched Primary Exit Profile (PEP) website.

 

“The PEP website has (received) over 260,000 hits and growing,” he said.

 

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

 

The main objective of PEP is to enhance the academic and critical thinking capabilities and creativity of students by the end of primary level education.

 

The Mico University College is collaborating with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information to host the inaugural International Mathematics Summit from March 25-27 under the theme: ‘Mathematics for Economic Growth and Job Creation’.

 

The summit, which will be integrated into the Ministry’s National Mathematics Week, will provide a forum for exploring, analysing and consolidating international best practices in the teaching of mathematics.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Hon. Ruel Reid, addressing the launch of the Mico International Mathematics Summit at The Mico University College’s premises on Marescaux Road in St. Andrew on January 30.

JIS: The Government will be constructing 17 new schools at locations across the island to provide adequate and comfortable infrastructure for students and teachers.

 

Of the total, 10 will be primary institutions while the remaining seven will be secondary schools.

 

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, who made the disclosure at a press conference at the Ministry in Kingston on Tuesday (February 5), said that the submissions for the undertaking have been made to the Public Investment Management Secretariat (PIMSEC).

 

“We have submitted our 17 schools to PIMSEC, which is now a requirement for all government capital expenditure… and as funds are available, the projects will be approved,” he said.

 

The Minister, who was giving an update on school infrastructure projects, said that new institutions are needed in Montego Bay, St. James and other areas “right across the country”.

 

“In Manchester Northeastern, at both Mile Gully and Christiana High (there are) deficits; also at Holmwood. In all those areas, we need more schools. We have primary schools such as May Pen Primary (in Clarendon), which is the largest primary school in the Caribbean, and it is on shift. There are lands in the Clarendon area,” he said.

 

Senator Reid noted that the additional schools will “provide adequate infrastructure to make our children comfortable in the teaching and learning environment”.

 

“We have to make sure there are enough publicly funded institutions, so that no child will be left behind. All our children will have a seamless opportunity to pursue their education unhindered with full State support up to age 18, leaving with an associate degree,” he said.

 

Meanwhile, Senator Reid informed that close to $2 billion has been spent on school infrastructure and maintenance since 2016.

 

He said that over the past two and a half years, the Government has undertaken a massive infrastructure renovation and development programme, which has significantly improved the learning environment for students.

 

Additionally, he said that since 2018, a total of $888 million has been allocated to 381 schools to undertake critical repairs, with the bulk of the figure going to primary institutions.

 

These include roof work, renovating bathrooms, tiling of classrooms, repair of fencing, windows and doors, installation of whiteboards, among other things.

 

Senator Reid said that $738.6 million has been disbursed to carry out repairs by way of service-level agreements. “We cost the project, we send the money into the bank accounts (of the schools) and we have an agreement in terms of how those funds are to be expended,” he noted.

 

Furthermore, Senator Reid said that approximately $97 million has been spent for the completion of 35 new flush toilet systems, with procurement and additional works in progress for 16 others.

 

Just over $121 million has been allocated under the ‘Capital A’ budget to remove pit latrines in 51 schools.

 

Senator Reid said the National Education Trust (NET) has been one of the lead agencies in terms of school infrastructure upgrade.

 

The NET has been prioritising early-childhood care and development, safety and security, increasing uniformed groups as well as the provision of clean water to schools.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, provides an update on school infrastructure projects during a press conference at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices in Kingston on February 5.

JIS: The Government has spent approximately $533 million to build 69 classrooms and accompanying amenities in primary and secondary schools since 2016, to take students off the double shift system and ease overcrowding.

 

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, made the disclosure during a press conference at the Ministry in Kingston on February 5.

 

He said in September 2017, Green Park Primary and Junior High; Kitson Town All-Age; Mandeville Primary and Junior High; Villa Road Primary and Junior High; Maggotty High; John Mills Primary, Junior High and Infant, as well as Pembroke Hall Primary, were taken off the shift system.

 

Additionally, he said Mineral Heights Primary and Port Henderson Primary Schools came off the system in 2018, while Exchange All-Age, Cedric Titus High, Papine High and Muschette High are slated to do so soon. Only 38 institutions remain on the system.

 

Meanwhile, Senator Reid said the Ministry has embarked on expansion and upgrading projects to convert some institutions to full high schools.

 

“Within that list, works have commenced at Nain, New Forest and Aberdeen, and funds have been mobilised for completion,” he disclosed.

 

The Minister also advised that similar work has been concluded at Stony Hill High School.

 

Meanwhile, Senator Reid said a technical planning team has completed preliminary activities at Discovery Bay All-Age, which is also being converted to a high school.

 

“Once finalised, a design will be completed and contracting will be done thereafter. The desired timeline for this upgrade is to have the first phase completed for the start of the new [2019/20] school year,” he said.

 

Senator Reid said $12.3 million was also spent to significantly improve the sewerage system at Glen Stuart Primary School.

 

He also disclosed that 33 ramps have been built in schools to improve access for physically challenged students.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addressing a press conference at the Ministry’s National Heroes Circle offices in Kingston on February 5.

JIS: Dean of Discipline at Petersfield High School in Westmoreland, Junior Clarke, is reporting a significant reduction in violent incidents at the institution, as a result of strategic intervention measures.

 

In an interview with JIS News, Mr. Clarke said that in 2016, 17 per cent of the school’s population was involved in some form of violent act, but in 2018 that figure was reduced to five per cent.

 

He said the intervention programmes included the Identity, Purpose, Attitude and Destiny (IPAD) for Life Youth Empowerment and Mentorship Summer Camp, which targeted at-risk youth.

 

Mr. Clarke noted that the camp, with the support of parents, played a critical role in improving the conduct of students with behavioural challenges. “So, all the youth who had been suspended or were getting into trouble were mandated to be a part of this [IPAD for life] camp, in which they participated and it was a success,” he added.

“In addition to that, though, we decided that parental involvement had to be more significant, so before it reaches a critical state of a child being suspended or getting into a fight or gang-related activity, we had regular conferences, whether via telephone or in person, as we recognise that it made a major impact on the level of violent incidents that we were seeing,” he said.

 

Mr. Clarke further noted that an active mentorship programme at the school has also been bearing fruit.

 

“It is called Most Valuable Person (MVP). So, mentors were chosen from the student population and they act as mentors to younger students and even older students who were at risk. These students were also paired with teachers and even members of the community, who provided support to them,” he said.

 

Mr. Clarke added that the school administration will continue to take a strategic approach to change the behaviour of at-risk students.

 

CAPTION: Dean of Discipline at Petersfield High in Westmoreland, Junior Clarke (right), in discussion with former Director of the Safety and Security in Schools Programme, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Coleridge Minto, during a recent visit to the institution.

JIS: State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, has called for organisations to put measures in place to ensure greater efficiency in operations.

 

“We have to take a look at our processes…especially across the public sector. We lose a lot of productive time and unnecessary energy, which leads to a retardation of our possibilities for growth and creativity,” he said.

 

He noted that the Government is moving to ensure greater efficiency in service delivery through the Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Programme.

 

“We recognise that we need to re-examine our processes and ensure that we are doing things in the most efficient way possible,” he noted.

 

Mr. Green was delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of LearnFest Caribbean 2019 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Wednesday (February 6).

 

The two-day event, from February 6 to 7, seeks to promote operational efficiency across various industries. It is being held under the theme ‘Level up and Set Yourself Apart’.

 

Mr. Green, in his presentation, pointed to the need for improved communication across the public and private sectors in ensuring transparency and efficiency in executing projects.

 

“People want and expect to know what is happening and they expect to know it in real time. Regardless of the size of the project, people want to know the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ especially if you work in the public sector,” he said.

 

He said that an effective communication strategy should be an integral part of project development in order to ensure stakeholder buy-in.

 

“People don’t want to wait months after the project is far gone to appreciate why they should buy into this project. I think that is one of the things we need to pay keen attention to,” he added.

 

Founder of LearnFest Caribbean and Chief Executive Officer of Project Management Global Institute (PGMI), Sherrone Blake Lobban, said that the event is targeting project managers and other professionals across various disciplines.

 

“It involves discussions on how persons …can utilise project management to be more efficient. The conference is not only for project managers. It is for anybody that utilises projects,” she noted.

 

The event will feature workshops, interactive sessions and networking activities.

 

CAPTION: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (right), greets Founder of LearnFest Caribbean and Chief Executive Officer of Project Management Global Institute (PGMI), Sherrone Blake Lobban, during the opening ceremony of LearnFest Caribbean 2019 on Wednesday (February 6) at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. The two-day event is being held from February 6 to 7 under the theme ‘Level up and Set Yourself Apart’.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is dedicated to providing the requisite resources to ensure sustained improvement in student performance in mathematics.

 

Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said that comprehensive and targeted interventions are being implemented at the primary and secondary levels in keeping with this objective.

 

He noted that the Ministry continues to sustain implementation of the mathematics marketing campaign ‘Math Counts’ using social media, print media and advertisements on radio and television, as well as the annual observance of Mathematics Week in March.

 

He said the national mathematics exposition, which is the main event for Math Week, has seen attendance grown from 2,500 in 2013 to more than 8,000 students and teachers last year.

 

“These programmes are aimed at helping all Jamaicans to see the importance and relevance of mathematics to their everyday lives and the country’s economic growth and development,” Senator Reid noted.

 

He further pointed to the Leadership of Mathematics Programme developed under the National Mathematics Programme, which is being delivered through the National College for Educational Leadership to all principals and heads of secondary departments.

 

He noted that annual training sessions are facilitated for new principals and heads of departments.

 

Senator Reid was speaking at the launch of The Mico University College’s International Mathematics Summit at the institution’s premises on Marescaux Road, St. Andrew, on January 30.

 

Mico is collaborating with the Education Ministry to host the inaugural event from March 25-27 under the theme: ‘Mathematics for Economic Growth and Job Creation’.

 

The summit, which will be integrated into the Ministry’s National Mathematics Week, will provide a forum for exploring, analysing and consolidating international best practices in the teaching of mathematics.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), in conversation with Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Directors, The Mico University College, Professor Neville Ying, during the launch of the Mico International Mathematics Summit at the institution’s premises on Marescaux Road, St. Andrew, on January 30.