Two hundred and six teachers from across the island, who have given a minimum of 35 years of service to education, have been bestowed with the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Golden Torch Award.

Speaking at the awards ceremony held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on Tuesday (July 11), Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, lauded teachers for their commitment to education, noting that they are a critical pillar of development in the society.

“Thanks to all our teachers who go beyond the call of duty to ensure that our students are well prepared for various levels of school assessment. Today, we celebrate the teachers who have made a lasting difference in the lives of their students. You have not only imparted knowledge but have nurtured the talent and potential of our students, instilling in them the values of perseverance, respect and empathy,” she said.

The Minister also commended teachers for embracing innovation and adapting to the ever-changing landscape of education.

She noted that teachers have engaged with technology and continue to use creative methods to ensure that every student receives the best possible education.

“All the work you did during the COVID years, we cannot forget that. You kept the education system going. For your sacrifice of long hours, investing your time and often your own resources and acting as mentors, role models [and] sources of inspiration, you deserve the utmost respect and gratitude,” she said.

In her remarks, JTA President La Sonja Harrison, highlighted that the teachers are deserving of the recognition.

“You who have chosen to walk the steps of the master teacher do know your seeds of influence have and will affect eternity. Yours is a service that is irreplaceable,” Mrs. Harrison said.

The Golden Torch Award for service to education was instituted by the JTA in 1991 and the first awards were presented in 1993.

Former JTA President, Ray Howell, under whose tenure the award was established was presented with a special award at Tuesday’s ceremony.

Now in its 30th year, more than 7,000 educators have received the honour.

Approximately 28,000 students will benefit from the 2023 National Summer Academy, which got under way this week.

This was disclosed by Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, who indicated that the Academy will run from July 10 to 27.

Mrs. Williams further advised that it is being undertaken in 57 schools using face-to-face and online modalities, adding that the engagement is being hosted at no cost to parents.

She was speaking during Wednesday’s (July 12) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

Mrs. Williams said approximately 7,800 students are participating in-person, while another 20,000 will join virtually.

“For the face-to-face [modality], those are students who need support in terms of literacy and numeracy, and in the virtual space, those are students who are almost at mastery, still needing a little bit of support to get them into mastery. So we are expecting to reach approximately 28,000 students for our summer school this year. It’s a lot targeted… but we are seeing where our target interventions are producing results,” she said.

The programme will be delivered by the Education Ministry’s team of technical officers, including Numeracy and Literacy Coaches/Specialists.

It forms part of the Ministry’s effort to provide extended learning opportunities for students currently in grades five and six, still requiring additional support to recover from the impact of disruptions to their learning process caused by the COVID–19 pandemic.

The Government will be implementing a strategic and integrated programme of education aimed at transitioning students into the labour market upon completion of secondary or tertiary education, says Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams.

Mrs. Williams, who was the keynote speaker at the Association of Caribbean Higher Education Administrators (ACHEA) 20^th annual conference at the Royalton Negril Resort on July 6, said the initiative will also include a standardised programme for the pre-primary to the secondary level and linked to tertiary education and skills training.

She pointed out that discussions focused on improving critical components of the tertiary or higher education sector have been ongoing.

These, she said, include issues relating to increasing access, funding for students and institutions and the relevance of programmes within the context of the changing needs of the labour market.

“These discussions have been informed and shaped by best practices employed in other jurisdictions,” the Minister said.

“Jamaica’s tertiary education and training system has a strong reputation and has contributed significantly to national growth and development. However, there are some areas of challenge that need to be addressed,” she noted.

The Minister cited the existence of a fragmented governance and oversight framework that needs to be integrated and modernised.

“Also, there is a misalignment between the programmes being offered and the needs of the labour market,” Mrs. Williams said.

he Minister pointed out that  in some instances, programmes are being offered based on tradition “or ready supply” and not based on labour market demand.

This, she said, oftentimes lead to inadequate tertiary education programmes to support emerging labour market needs in the logistics, knowledge, and business process outsourcing sectors, “as well as to resource traditional areas, such as agriculture and tourism and hospitality”.

“Tertiary education and training continue to provide important social benefits, and, therefore, represent a wise financial and personal investment. Notwithstanding, there is an urgent need to transform the present system so that its potential and role as the driver of socio-economic mobility and national growth and development is fulfilled,” Mrs. Williams further argued.

She noted that there have been significant efforts over the years to establish a modernised governance framework for the oversight and management of the higher education sector in Jamaica, and that the 2021 Report of the Jamaica Education Transformation Commission, led by Professor Orlando Patterson, provides the impetus for current actions.

The Minister said that the Government continues to invest significantly in the education sector from early-childhood, through primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels with a focus on ensuring affordability, accessibility and quality.

She said it has not been lost on the Ministry that voices have been calling for amendments in the Government’s funding formula to increase the amount allocated to early childhood vis-à-vis the tertiary sector, adding that the proposal here is to strengthen the foundation of the education sector to achieve better outcomes in the ensuing years as students progress through the system.

“The related discussions are ongoing as we continue to address the varying demands at the different levels and recognising that this need not be a zero-sum game,” the Minister noted.

“Discussions surrounding how higher education and training is administered must, therefore, consider how the sector will ensure that programmes offered are intentionally designed to support the changing societal and labour market needs,” she added.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Maureen Dwyer, has welcomed the retrofitted inclusive classroom at Bethabara Infant School, in Manchester, which was handed over on July 6.

“Given the Ministry’s Transformation in Education focus at this time, we welcome the project,” said Mrs. Dwyer, in a message read by Education Officer for Region Five, Janet Shaw Gooden.

Mrs. Dwyer noted that several special education classes have been established in the region, and the addition of an inclusive infant classroom is phenomenal and groundbreaking.

She said that the classroom will address a demand that is expanding dramatically and for which services are needed in different parts of the island.

“The Ministry salutes the effort of the Digicel Foundation and the Early Childhood Commission (ECC). We could not ask for more, and today we are thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking activity. Special education services for our children is one of our policy directives through the child and youth development initiative. It is our hope that through continued partnerships like this, we will continue to provide for our children in a meaningful way,” Mrs. Dwyer said.

For her part, Senior Operations Manager for Digicel Foundation, Jodi-Ann McFarlane, said they have a long-standing relationship with the ECC, and with one of their pillars being education they are deeply invested in seeing that children have access to primary education in Jamaica.

“We are also very invested in special needs education and this project was brought to us by the ECC as their Jamaica 60 Legacy Project to bring inclusive classrooms to Jamaica. So, we did a major investment in this space.

We renovated the entire classroom space and created a specialised stimulation sensory space for children who have mild to moderate intellectual and physical disabilities,” Ms. McFarlane said.

She said they also built a ramp and gave them additional storage, so that they are able to integrate their teaching and learning activities in the space without being too disruptive, and this will give children with different abilities and skills a chance to interact with each other.

Sector Planner for the ECC, Paula Shaw, said they worked with the Digicel Foundation to put the space together, noting that the sensory area allows for one-on-one interaction between an individual or small groups and their teacher.

“It’s good to have a quiet place for the child who has a difficulty focusing, so the use of the sensory room will depend on the needs of the child. It is important for activities to be child-led in the early-childhood classroom,” Ms. Shaw said.

She noted that the ECC is working to have four such classrooms islandwide in the first phase but, eventually, they hope to have one in each parish.

There are facilities in St. Ann and in Kingston, and the ECC is in the process of establishing one in St. Thomas.

Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, on Tuesday (June 20), broke ground for the construction of an 11-classroom block, among other amenities, at Bridgeport High School in Portmore, St. Catherine.

The work, to be undertaken through the National Education Trust (NET) at a cost of $253 million, will also include construction of two science laboratories, a Home Economics workshop, and bathroom facilities.

The expansion will benefit just over 1,600 students and is slated to be completed within 10 months, ahead of the 2024/25 academic year.

These additional provisions are expected to significantly aid in removing the institution from the shift system.

This is aligned with the Administration’s commitment to remove the system from all institutions where it is being utilised.

“The Government has reiterated this commitment through an increase in the budget allocated to this Ministry, and we continue to fulfil that mandate in a targeted, efficient, and effective manner,” Minister Williams stated in her remarks.

For her part, Executive Director of NET, Latoya Harris-Ghartey, said she has tasked the team with ensuring that the project timeline is met.

“[This] so that the school will have the facilities for full rollout come September 2024 and also to ensure that it keeps within budget,” she stated.

“We know that infrastructure is a critical part of learning outcomes for students, and the new building will boast the latest state-of-the-art facilities… and the rich history of Bridgeport will be enhanced through improved infrastructure,” Mrs. Harris-Ghartey added.

Meanwhile, an elated Principal, Beverley Harris, expressed her gratitude to all the parties involved in the expansion project.

“I want to say many thanks, including to the [Portmore Municipal Corporation] which waived the building plan [fees for the construction],” she disclosed.

“Our 1,626 students, 103 teachers, 50-plus support staff members, to include ancillary staff, administrators [and] our security staff, we’re overjoyed… we’re happy,” she told JIS News.

Ms. Harris said no classes are expected to be disrupted during the construction exercise.

“The closest classrooms [to the construction site] are the science labs, but there shouldn’t be any major disruptions. We’re also promised that it shouldn’t disrupt the regular flow of the school schedule,” she advised.

Ms. Harris said after the expansion is completed, the start time for classes will move from 6:45 a.m. to about 8:00 a.m.

Bridgeport High is the second of 32 schools being removed from the shift system. This follows Black River High in St. Elizabeth, for which the system’s removal takes effect at the start of the 2023/24 academic year in September.

Parents and guardians are being urged by the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) to remain calm ahead of the release of the 2023 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) results for grade-six students.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kaysia Kerr, said PEP is one component of the Ministry of Education and Youth’s system of assessment that helps with organisation of students for the continuation of learning.

Consequently, she told JIS News, PEP results should not be treated as a measure of a child’s ultimate success in life.

“It really is there to provide important information so that children, parents and teachers will know what support they need as they transition to high school. Because of this, there is really no need to fear. Parents need not have apprehension in terms of where children will be placed,” Ms. Kerr noted.

She assures parents that there are “great teachers” right across Jamaica’s education system, whether or not their children transition to a school of their choice.

The CEO further pointed out that some students may be disappointed when the PEP results are announced.

“Disappointment is OK as long as children get to understand that this is not the end all or be all. Learning will continue. In fact, learning is a lifelong process and this is just the beginning of an exciting part of the learning journey,” she underscores.

Ms. Kerr encourages parents to explain, in ways that children will understand and in a manner that is gentle and comforting, that PEP results provide a comprehensive assessment of their academic strengths and weaknesses.

She also suggests that parents initiate the conversation about defining learning expectations of their children and determining practical steps to achieving their academic goals.

“I don’t believe that it is a time when children need to be very sad and parents need to pass on their anxieties to children. It’s actually an opportunity for you to understand who your child is as a learner and what you can do as a parent to assist your child,” she emphasised.

During the summer break, Ms. Kerr wants parents to download the National Standards Curriculum to gain an understanding of the objectives.

She maintained that when parents are involved in the learning process, children are more likely to achieve the results they desire.

An agency of the Ministry of Education and Youth, the Commission’s mission is to assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect their children. This, while encouraging a collaborative effort between home and school, so that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of their children.

Parents can contact the Commission for support at 876-967-7777 or 876-560-9272.

Schools establishing gardens throughout the 2022/23 academic year are being encouraged to forge partnerships to sustain these over the summer.

This urging comes from Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, who said schools should look to partner with community members, parents, and groundsmen at institutions to help to sustain their gardens, “so that when they come back in September, they don’t look at it and [say], ‘it’s brown instead of green the way [we] left it’.”

She was speaking during the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) ‘Women in Agriculture’ conference at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston on Wednesday (June 14).

The event saw 20 women being awarded for outstanding contributions to agricultural education.

Mrs. Williams told the awardees: “For us, in our schools, like our primary schools or high schools, we’d love to hear from you, women in agriculture, as to how we can sustain the school gardens; it is a real issue, especially when schools go on summer break.”

The school garden initiative is heavily promoted by the Government, with the latest national effort executed on Labour Day, when the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, through its agencies, assisted in the establishment of gardens at several schools.

Meanwhile, four agricultural training institutions were also recognised during Wednesday’s event.

These were the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE); Dinthill Technical High School; Knockalva Polytechnic College, and HEART/NSTA Trust.

“Over many decades, education training institutions in Jamaica have provided opportunities for women to hone their skills in agricultural science, and many of our public schools have, as part of the curriculum, a component aimed at encouraging all of our students to appreciate the importance of agriculture to our economic and social lives,” the Minister said.

She informed that in 2022, a slate of interesting courses was offered by CASE. They included those that explored integrating geospatial tools in food security, education and research, targeted research and extension interventions for enhanced goat production in Jamaica, and agro-processing.

Additionally, the institution developed a mobile pineapple processing lab and partnered with several schools in the United States to expose students to different segments of the agricultural sector.

“Academic institutions and agricultural instructors have a critical role to play in empowering women in agriculture. By providing education, training, support and advocacy, they can help women succeed in this field and contribute to the growth and development of our country,” Minister Williams said.

Children with special needs in St. Elizabeth now have improved access to support services for their growth, development, and well-being at the newly established Santa Cruz Special Education Centre.

The $43 million facility, which opened its doors in April, is located at the former Santa Cruz Basic School, which was renovated through funding from the Digicel Foundation.

The centre boasts three classrooms, an assessment room, a fully refurbished kitchen, and wheelchair accessible bathrooms.

It offers a transition programme for students six to 16 years old with mild to severe intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The school currently has 28 students on roll, who were relocated from the Woodlawn School of Special Education in the parish but has capacity for 68.

The students are being supported by a principal, administrative team, classroom teachers and caregivers, behavioural and psychosocial support practitioners, and technical vocational education and training instructors.

Minister of State in the Education and Youth Ministry, Hon. Marsha Smith, who addressed the official opening ceremony on Thursday (June 8), said the establishment of the centre underscores the importance and value that the Ministry places on all children and the need for them to have equal access to education, noting that “no child should be left behind.”

She thanked the Digicel Foundation for its partnership in executing the project.

“Through your foundation, you have shown your corporate responsibility in embracing the vision [of] education for all, and we thank you for the significant investment that you have made in supporting our schools island-wide,” she said.

“We are reinforcing that the education of our children is not just the responsibility of the Education Ministry, but it’s actually a national project and so there is a place for everyone to be involved,” she noted.

Miss Smith encouraged parents to not put limitations on their special needs children.

“When you have a special child, it is easy to think that the possibilities are limited but this centre right here is going to show you otherwise,” she said.

Miss Smith said she is looking forward to the start of a Parent Place at the centre in September which, she noted, “will offer support to our parents as they journey with our children to developing into the humans they need to be, and of course, become independent and resilient.”

For her part, Acting Chief Education Officer, Dr. Kasan Troupe, noted that the Ministry is “not just about mainstreaming; we are about every single Jamaican child, so our education system was developed to ensure that our child can transform their socio-economic reality and in doing so, become the best persons that they can be.”

She noted that the school is a symbol of hope and transformation “and we are relying on every single partner to keep it alive, to keep it successful, to make it a brand [and] centre of excellence as it is designed to be. Every single [child] that comes [within] these walls is destined for greatness and this centre will enable that.”

Chief Executive Officer of the Digicel Foundation, Charmaine Daniels, for her part, said the centre serves as a symbol of inclusivity, acceptance and equal opportunity, offering a holistic approach to education.

She noted that it provides special instruction in a nurturing environment that will empower students to reach their full potential.

Students at the Santa Cruz Special Education Centre will be exposed to a curriculum for students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities and a modified Grade 7 – 9 National Standards Curriculum covering functional literacy, functional mathematics, life skills, social studies, civics, character education, resources and technology.

To support the transition nature of the programme, students will engage in job certification skills training in agriculture science, basic food preparation, craft and décor, business basics.

Approximately 30,000 additional students, parents, and educators from 500 public schools are to be trained in restorative justice practices this fiscal year.

Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, made the disclosure during her contribution to the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Wednesday (May 17).

In May 2022, the Ministries of Education, and Justice signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate restorative justice training for parents, educators, and students of 207 public, primary and secondary schools.

Mrs. Williams informed that at the end of March 2023, more than 5,000 stakeholders were trained.

“Restorative justice practices training is [intended] to equip stakeholders in the educational system with conflict-management skills as a strategy to reduce the incidence of violence in schools,” she stated.

On another matter, Mrs. Williams said some 58 school leaders have been trained under the Leadership for Safer Schools (LSS) initiative, funded by the European Union (EU) Spotlight Initiative.

“This course is designed to support school leaders in creating safe environments that will reduce school-related violence and gender-based violence,” she indicated.

Mrs. Williams added that the course was designed on the premise that interventions to reduce gender-based violence must be grounded in behaviour change, brought about by the development of non-threatening school environments where the rights of children are respected and promoted.

This year, for the second time, Africa Day will be celebrated in Jamaica on May 25.

Schools are expected to plan activities with a focus on Jamaica’s African culture, under the theme ‘Celebrating Africa: Sankofa, Return to the Root’. Senior Education Officer in the Core Curriculum Unit of the Ministry of Education and Youth and Chair of the Africa Day Planning Committee, Marlon Williams, told JIS News that, last year, the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport reached out to the Education Ministry expressing the desire to have this day be recognised annually across the nation, especially in the schools.

“Celebrating Africa Day is of great importance, as it affords our students, the rest of Jamaica and the world with in-depth knowledge of Africa and provides clarity where there is misinformation,” Mr. Williams said.

Schools are asked to use an appropriate time of the day to stage a ceremony aimed at celebrating the selected country or countries and which should include the wearing of African-themed dress to school.

The focus can be on the selected country’s location, capital, population, national and official language(s), political leadership, food and other cultural expressions, national flag, motto and anthem.

Africa Day activities can include but not be limited to an African-themed fashion show supported by appropriate musical selections and other African cultural expressions that have been retained by Jamaicans, and or mounting a pictorial exhibition on the country selected.

Schools may select at least one of the following – Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Ethiopia to be the country of focus. Mr. Williams also said that while all schools will be celebrating the day, Buff Bay Primary School in Portland has been selected as the “Featured School” for 2023. The school will be showcasing aspects of the four countries being celebrated this year.

“They are lining up a very interesting and entertaining package for the day, which will include participation from stakeholders, such as the Maroons,” he said. “The Ministry of Education and Youth continues to place emphasis on character building among our students in all that they do. As such, the schools are being reminded to use the activities to also highlight and promote positive values and attitudes in our students as we continue to build their character,” Mr. Williams pointed out.