THE GLEANER: Newly elected president of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), Lennon Richards, said he will be encouraging more fathers to be active participants in the education system.

 

Richards, who was elected at the NPTAJ’s just-concluded Sixth Biennial General Meeting and National Conference, held at Jamaica College in St Andrew on Saturday, said more fathers are needed in the parent-teacher associations (PTAs).

 

“I want to encourage male parents to be more involved in the PTAs, and be involved more with their children’s education,” Richards said.

 

He added that other priorities are to have representatives of the organisation sit on critical committees that are influencing policies for children’s well-being, and to ensure that safety measures are in place at every school.

 

EXPANDING BUS SYSTEM

  

Richards said that the NPTAJ will be working with all stakeholders to expand the rural school-bus system and to dedicate as much time as possible to issues in education impacting the nation’s children.

 

“I am calling on all Jamaicans to support the Association, and in particular the PTAs that are at their schools,” the president said.

 

The NPTAJ is a charitable, non-profit association comprised of volunteers with the primary responsibility to review and conduct a thorough analysis of the education system in Jamaica, and to make recommendations consistent with a vision to create a world-class education system.

 

It is comprised of six regions, spread across 14 parishes, providing direction and leadership programmes, support and resources to members at all levels of the Association.

 

With its motto, ‘Involved Parents Equal Better Students’, the Association fosters parental involvement in education, information sharing, resource management and fundraising efforts, as well as lobbies for improvements to Jamaica’s education system and general school environment.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Ruel Reid (left), greets newly elected President of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), Lennon Richards, at the Association’s Sixth Biennial General Meeting and National Conference, held at Jamaica College in St. Andrew on Saturday.

 

JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the sixth-form option in high schools provides a unique opportunity for students to develop leadership qualities and should be encouraged.

 

Addressing the 30th Anniversary Banquet of the St. Catherine High School Class of 1988, at the Jewel Runaway Bay Beach and Golf Resort, Runaway Bay, St. Ann, on July 14, Mr. Holness said to this end, he is spearheading an effort to build a state-of-the-art sixth-form block at his alma mater (St. Catherine High), which will be used as a template for other high schools across the island.

 

“Sixth form was a particularly interesting and important experience for me. That’s where I developed most of my leadership skills and abilities. That’s where I got the grooming for leadership. I think sixth form is such a critical part of the school experience, now that more and more students are not just leaving school at fifth form,” he said.

 

The Prime Minister noted that in light of such widespread interest, it is now incumbent on the nation’s high schools to put the facilities in place to accommodate the demand.

 

Mr. Holness said that a team has already been assembled to start working on the design and that he expects that the (St. Catherine High) facility should be completed within 18 to 24 months.

 

“I visited the school on Labour Day (May 23), and we have settled on a location. It will be central between the junior and senior campus, and some funds have already been committed. While the timeframe is anywhere between 18 months and two years, it could well be earlier based on the interest being shown by many of our past students,” the Prime Minister said.

 

The Ministry of Education, under the guidance of portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has long been pushing for more schools to implement sixth-form programmes.

 

To that end, Senator Reid said the Government has implemented a textbook rental for sixth-form students in the coming school year, so as to offset cost for students who have opted to continue their high-school education, as opposed to moving on to college or taking a break from school.

 

“While sixth form can be an expensive venture, we would rather students remain in school as opposed to leaving and not having anything to do,” the Minister said in a recent interview.

 

“We feel that by implementing the textbook rental, we can give parents a much-needed break on the cost of having students moving on to sixth form,” Senator Reid added.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon Andrew Holness (centre), with some of his St. Catherine High School class of 1988 batch-mates at their 30th anniversary banquet, held at the Jewels Runaway Bay Beach and Golf Resort in Runaway Bay, St. Ann, on July 14. From right are Bryan Hastings, Andrine West Davidson, Leonie Dixon Sylvester, Georgia Laverna Robinson, Merle Donaldson and Garfield Gordon.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says that schools are benefiting from the effective management of principals who have been trained and certified by the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL).

 

The Ministry’s policy position is that no principal can be appointed to lead an educational institution unless he/she has done the requisite training at the NCEL.

 

“We have seen the tremendous result of that, where the schools that have these trained and certified principals are emerging and they are doing well,” Senator Reid said.

 

He was addressing the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) Sixth Biennial General Meeting and National Conference held at Jamaica College in St. Andrew on Saturday (July 14).

 

NCEL is the premier educational leadership training and development organisation creating world-class leaders for Jamaica and the global community.

 

Its mission is to develop and support highly competent, educational leaders, who are able to create and sustain effective schools, thereby contributing to national development.

 

Minister Reid told his audience that the NCEL is moving to equip vice principals, senior teachers and bursars “because the Ministry wants to ensure that people are trained appropriately for the roles and responsibilities that they are asked to take on”.

 

“We must strive in all we do to make sure that the persons serving our children at all levels within our schools are highly trained, highly effective, so that quality education can be delivered to the population,” he stressed.

 

Senator Reid encouraged members of the NPTAJ to continue to serve on school Boards, which are charged with ensuring the effective management of institutions.

 

“Stakeholders like parents are very important. It is a role that we want to cement,” he said.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), is in discussion with Opposition Spokesman on Education and Training, the Reverend Ronald Thwaites, at the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) Sixth biennial general meeting and national conference held on Saturday (July 14), at Jamaica College in St. Andrew.

JIS: For over three decades, Rev. Owen Lambert, has been driven by a passion to educate and to uplift his community through teaching.

 

It is this passion and dedication which has now earned him the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education, which was presented to him at a ceremony at Jamaica House on June 27.

 

Rev. Lambert, who was principal of Campbell’s Castle Primary and Infant School in rural Manchester for 27 years until his retirement this year, was recognized for his innovative approach to leadership, his creativity, community involvement and overall outstanding service as an educator.

 

In an interview with JIS News following the award ceremony, Rev. Lambert said he feels honoured and humbled by the recognition.

 

“I was not working for any honour. I was just trying to do my best. I feel humbled that someone would have seen that and recognized me for my efforts,” he said.

 

Rev. Lambert started his teaching career at Mandeville All-Age in the 1980s, followed by a stint at El Instituto de Mandevilla and later the Bethabra All-Age School, also in the parish.

 

In 1991, he became principal at Campbell’s Castle, which at the time had a student population of 40, as well as a number of underqualified teachers, poorly maintained facilities and parents who were less than enthusiastic about the prospects of the school.

 

Rev. Lambert said he worked to increase the population of the school, to a high of 180 currently, by changing the perception of the institution in the community. Total monthly attendance at the school was also improved, which was achieved by giving tokens to students who were consistently present.

 

He also embarked on a programme geared at educating parents about the value of ensuring children attend school regularly.

 

 “The children had not been passing the exams, so I had to engage the parents on the importance of attendance and have them make a commitment to the education of their children. It was a long process, it did not happen overnight,” he said.

 

Attendance at the school moved from 50 per cent to an average of over 85 per cent.

 

He explained he also ensured that teachers furthered their studies to receive at least a Bachelor’s degree.

 

“It has been a fulfilling journey and I am happy with what I have achieved so far,” Rev. Lambert said.

 

Seeking to improve the physical condition of the school and by extension the outcomes of the pupils, he approached the Japanese Government in 2016 for help to carry out refurbishing work at the school, and received a donation. This donation was matched by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, which led to the first phase of improvement works at the institution.

 

A second phase of work is to commence, which will lead to an additional five classrooms, a computer room, principal’s office, a staff room, among other facilities.

 

Rev. Lambert said he is happy his successor will be able to benefit from the improvements to the school and is confident that the improved facilities will significantly impact teaching and learning at the institution.

 

“I am glad I am able to leave a legacy that the person who takes over leadership after me won’t have to start from scratch,” he said.

 

Under his leadership, Campbell’s Castle has seen steady improvements in both the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and the Grade Four Literacy Test.

 

In 2013, it won the prestigious Aubrey Phillips Memorial scholarship for the student with the highest (GSAT) average for primary schools in Manchester. The award was given to Anni-Vee Moore, who received an average score of 97.5 per cent.

 

The following year, Campbell’s Castle placed first in the Ministry of Education’s GSAT ranking in the Primary School section, for the parish of Manchester.

 

That same year, the institution also saw a 96 per cent pass rate in the Grade Four Literacy Test. Additionally the school has repeatedly won the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) district spelling competition for the Grades one to three category.

 

“I am a goal-oriented person, and one of my goals is always to make anywhere I am better than it was when I came there. I am driven by a passion for education and for service and as long as I have people who will work with me, I will guide the vision,” he said.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, (left) presents Retired Principal of Campbell’s Castle Primary and Infant School, Rev. Owen Lambert (right) with the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education at the awards ceremony held on the lawns of Jamaica House on June 27.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) will allow students to be better prepared for high school.

 

Speaking at the Ministry’s Region Six appreciation banquet for retired principals, and launch of the School Improvement Support Initiative at The Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on July 12, the Minister said the profile of students will reflect more their ability and the likelihood of the foundation as they transition into secondary school.

 

“Multiple choice [questions] actually skew the results. They get good grades through Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and after the first year in high school you really wonder, was this a student with 90 per cent, because 90 per cent was with multiple choice,” he argued.

 

The PEP, which students will sit for the first time next year, replaces the GSAT as the national secondary school placement examination. It is intended to provide an improved and more complete profile of students’ academic and critical-thinking capabilities at the end of primary-level education.

 

Senator Reid pointed out that high schools require a higher level of critical thinking, for which PEP will prepare the students.

 

“It will give you greater certainty and predictability in even your Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) or any other achievement later on. So, we are going through the change, and it’s a change for the better. We need to push the system along that pathway,” the Minister said.

 

Meanwhile, the Minister congratulated the retirees, noting that they have been able to inspire others through exhibiting good leadership.

 

“You are adept at building relationships with people. You balanced tough love with earned praise, you exhibited fairness and consistency and you were prepared for everything and at all times,” he said.

 

For her part, Regional Director, Region Six, Elaine Roulston, said the School Improvement Support Initiative is part of plans to improve the institutions in the region, based on the results from the National Education Inspectorate Report.

 

“Our schools are really not where we want them to be in terms of the academics. [However], many schools have moved from unsatisfactory to satisfactory and some have moved from satisfactory to good. What is of importance to us in the region is that everybody moves to satisfactory and above,” Mrs. Roulston said.

 

The Initiative is designed to support schools that have been rated unsatisfactory and below by the National Education Inspectorate.

 

Schools will be exposed to results-based monitoring and evaluation training. This will seek to provide school administrators with the skills to develop results-based intervention programmes and projects.

 

Each school will be required to implement two intervention programmes. One of the programmes must focus on teaching and learning (Mathematics, English Language or Science). Other programme areas include leadership and management, co-curricular and student leadership, safety and security, social and welfare, and technical and vocational.

 

A school improvement partner will be assigned to each school for a period of two years. The Ministry and the school-improvement partners will provide the coaching and the required resources during the implementation period. The initiative will be evaluated quarterly and annually.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addresses the Ministry’s Region Six appreciation banquet for retired principals and launch of the School Improvement Support Initiative, at The Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on July 12.

JIS: Approximately 600 mathematics coaches and specialists assigned to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information are slated to benefit from the second staging of the Book Merchant Limited’s (BML) Mathematics Teacher Training workshop from August 21 to 23.

 

The three-day session involves collaboration with Shortwood Teachers’ College and will be staged at the institution’s campus, 77 Shortwood Road, Kingston 8.

 

Addressing a JIS Think Tank on Wednesday (July 11), Chief Executive Officer of BML, Sharon Neita, said that this year’s event comes against the success of the inaugural workshop held in 2017.

She informed that a programme called Scholastic Prime Mathematics will be employed during the training.

 

The programme is a compilation of the best practices of the three top-performing mathematics nations – Singapore, Republic of Korea and Hong Kong.

 

BML, an agent of the United States-based Scholastic International, discovered the programme through Scholastic in 2015 to assist local teachers and students with the teaching and learning of maths.

 

Ms. Neita said the three-day workshop will be divided into panel discussions and breakout sessions covering various topics.

 

These include key practices of top-performing nations, the concrete-pictorial-abstract approach, introduction to the Bar Model Method, lesson planning and developing assessment instruments of the 21st century learner.

 

A new course called Differentiated Literacy Instruction will be introduced this year, through which teachers will learn how to interpret and use data to plan and deliver lessons that meet the needs of diverse learners in their classrooms.

 

Mathematics instructors will include Scholastic Programme Implementation and Professional Development Specialist, Kelly Lim from Singapore, along with several local and regional Prime Mathematics trainers. The literacy component will be delivered by renowned educational consultant and lecturer, University of the West Indies, Mona and Educator, trainer and senior Manager for Scholastic Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and the Caribbean, Miguel Melendez. Ms. Neita is appealing for public- and private-sector support for the workshop.

 

Acting Vice Principal of Administrative Affairs at Shortwood Teachers’ College, Dr. Claudette Barrett-March, said that the institution is elated to be partnering with BML to host such an important workshop.

 

She noted that the college is always in the business of capacity-building; therefore, it welcomes every opportunity to provide training.

 

Shortwood Teachers’ College will provide accommodation and meals for participants who are desirous of staying on campus. Persons, who successfully complete the workshop, will receive certification from the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC).

 

Deadline for registration is Sunday, August 5. For further information on registration and cost persons may contact the BML at [email protected].

 

CAPTION: Chief Executive Officer of Book Merchant Limited, Sharon Neita, provides details about the Mathematics Teacher Training workshop, during a JIS Think Tank on July 11. The three-day workshop will take place from August 21 to 23 at Shortwood Teachers’ College, St. Andrew.

JIS: Six hundred and fifty high-school students across the island are to benefit from a $100-million Hospitality and Tourism Management Programme (HTMP) this year, which will see them gaining internationally recognised certification in the industry.

 

To be rolled out in 30 high schools in mid-September, the intense two-year programme will be offered to students in grades 11, 12 and 13, free of cost.

 

It will provide participants with broad-based learning on the tasks, knowledge and skills required to build a career within the hospitality and tourism industry.

 

A joint initiative between the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, and the Ministry of Tourism, the programme is being facilitated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

 

The MOU was signed by portfolio Minister in the Education Ministry, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, and Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, during a ceremony at Jamaica House on Wednesday (July 11).

 

Minister Reid said he endorsed the initiative, noting that it is timely and consistent with the Ministry’s overall plans for the education and training sector.

 

He said it is specifically aligned with the Ministry’s ‘K-13’ strategy, which seeks to ensure that the education system reaches students from conception to age 18.

 

Senator Reid further noted that the programme is also important in preparing students to be adequately trained for the nuances of the industry.

 

In his remarks, Minister Bartlett said the programme will result in a fully trained, highly efficient workforce that can provide the best experience for visitors.

 

“There is nothing that makes a destination more appealing than (high levels of service). We seek to build the capacity of our human resources, because tourism is all about people and building people for creative exposure,” he said.

 

The HTMP is offered by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI), as part of its suite of programmes aimed at high-school students. It was developed by industry experts and members of the American Hotel and Lodging Association as the official industry-recognised curriculum to prepare students for roles in hotels and the hotel industry at large and beyond.

 

The 30 teachers who will be delivering the programme content for the courses will be specially trained to do so. They will participate in the AHLEI’s Certified Hospitality Instructor (CHI) training programme in August. This will also involve participation of teachers from 15 colleges.

 

Graduates of this programme will gain an Associate Degree in Customer Service; AHLEI Certification; National Vocational Qualification of Jamaica (NVQ-J) level 4 Certification; and Customer Service Industry Association recognition.

 

The programme will also include internships, facility tours and the completion of academic and practical tasks in class and online.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (centre), presents Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left), with a copy of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see the implementation of a $100-million Hospitality and Tourism Management Programme in 30 high schools across the island. Both Ministers signed the agreement during a ceremony at Jamaica House on Wednesday (July 11). Also pictured is Permanent Secretary in the Tourism Ministry, Jennifer Griffith.

JIS: Jean Hastings will tell you that she is not an educator by profession, but her contribution to the transformation of Jamaica’s education system is second to none.

 

For almost two decades, she has worked with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information on various projects, including the Education System Transformation Programme (ESTP), which was established to execute the Ministry’s modernisation agenda.

 

For her outstanding contribution, Ms. Hastings has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for service to education. She was among 40 persons recognised at the awards ceremony held in June at Jamaica House.

 

Chief Technical Director in the Ministry, Barbara Allen, who has worked with Ms. Hastings, tells JIS News that the honour was well deserved.

 

She noted that Ms. Hastings’ knowledge of Jamaica’s education system is on par with the most seasoned educator.

 

“She has contributed significantly to the growth and development of the education sector and has, therefore, deservedly earned this recognition,” Ms. Allen adds.

 

A native of western Jamaica, who worked as a management consultant, Ms. Hastings’ sojourn in education began in 1998, when she was contracted as project manager of the Primary Education Improvement Project Phase 11 for 15 months. Among the objectives were to develop the revised primary curriculum, complete the national assessment programme that was already under development, coordinate construction work for 26 schools under that project, and organise institutional strengthening activity within the Ministry. With the successful completion of the project, Ms. Hastings was engaged to manage several other undertakings and would work with the Ministry up until her retirement in May, 2017.

 

These include the Primary Education Support Project, which saw the roll-out of the revised primary curriculum aimed at improving the quality of delivery of primary education and the strengthening of the capacity to manage that delivery.

 

Ms. Hastings is perhaps best known as Director of the ESTP, aimed at modernising the operations of the Ministry and creating a more effective, efficient and accountable system.

 

The cornerstone of the programme is a restructured Ministry, with independent agencies that are accountable for results, quality assurance, service delivery, and monitoring of reforms.

 

The ESTP has seen the establishment of six new entities, including the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL), the National Education Inspectorate (NEI), the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (J-TEC), and the National Education Trust (NET).

 

The programme resulted in the establishment of a modernised Ministry of Education and related support agencies, development and implementation of the National Standards Curriculum, and revisions to the National Assessment Programme at grades two, six and nine.

 

Other measures include initiatives to improve special education service delivery and improvements to education management information systems, all aimed at improving educational outcomes and increasing efficiency and effectiveness in the management of education in Jamaica.

 

Ms Hastings hails the significant strides that have been made over the years in improving the education system.

 

“The thing about education is that we are never short of ideas and we are always seeking to improve, and that was what the projects that I managed were all about. Overall, I think everyone is motivated to work towards improving the system, and there have been notable improvements,” she tells JIS News.

 

She notes that the Ministry must be focused on meeting the demands of the 21st century learner.

 

“The children in 2018 are vastly different from the children in 1962. They are much more aware, they are born better equipped to deal with a 21st century world, so the education system has to deal with engaging these children,” she argues. Ms. Hasting, who is the mother of one son and has one granddaughter, tells JIS News that her philosophy in life is “we are here to make a difference, and I try to do so and give of my best at all times”.

 

“Whatever I am involved in, I want to know that I give of my best. I am eternally motivated, so I have to feel good about what I am doing and what it is I am contributing,” she adds.

 

She says it is important for children to know that “failure is really about giving up, not trying. It is not about not succeeding the first time you try”.

 

Citing her own life experience in this regard, she tells JIS News that she did not pass the Common Entrance Examination, but was given the opportunity to sit an entrance test to Mount Alvernia High in St. James, which she passed “with flying colours”.

 

She would later attend Hampton High in St. Elizabeth, before matriculating to the University of the West Indies where she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics (with honours) and a postgraduate diploma in management studies.

 

She also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Baruch College, City University of New York.

 

Though retired, Ms. Hastings continues to offer her services as a management consultant.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, presents former Director of the Education System Transformation Programme (ESTP) in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Jean Hastings,with the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education at the awards ceremony held in June at Jamaica House.

 

JIS: More children with disabilities will benefit from early intervention services, with the opening of the expanded Stimulation Plus Early Childhood Development Centre (Stim-Plus).

 

The facility, located in Rockfort, Kingston, was upgraded through $70 million in funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

 

It comprises seven classrooms, bathrooms, administrative offices, sickbay, physiotherapy rooms, a caretaker’s cottage, and a specialised play area.

 

With the improvement, the centre, which previously accommodated 126 children, is now able to increase enrolment by at least 40 per cent, adding another 80 children.

 

Minister of State in the Social Security Ministry, Hon. Zavia Mayne, who spoke to JIS News that the opening ceremony in May, noted that the upgraded building will advance the growth and success of the disability agenda in Jamaica.

 

He hailed the partnership with the IDB, while affirming the Ministry’s commitment, through the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP), to improve the quality of life of children with disabilities.

 

“It is a crucial responsibility of the Ministry and a duty that we take very seriously,” he said.

 

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, pointed out that the expansion project is in keeping with the Government’s commitment “to ensure that every child is targeted from birth”.

 

“We want to make sure that everybody gets an opportunity for full education and proper development,” he noted.

 

For her part, Director at the ESP, Antonica Gunter-Gayle, said that the opening of the upgraded centre “is a bright day in the lives of our children with disabilities”.

 

She noted that the additional classrooms, along with the services provided, will increase enrolment and enhance the quality of the interventions provided, better enabling the children to realise their full potential.

 

“Jamaica is on the right path where caring for special needs children is concerned,” she said, adding that the staff is committed to fostering the cognitive, social and emotional development of the children.

 

“When they leave here, they must not leave here like they came. We want to make a difference in the lives of our children with disabilities,” she said.

 

For parent Nicola Bright, the centre has been invaluable in the development of her nine-year-old son.

 

She hailed the “very dedicated support” from the staff, noting that “it is just a family affair”.

 

“The care for the children is just tremendous,” she added.

 

Miss Bright is encouraging more parents with special needs children to seek help for them, rather than keeping them at home.

 

“We are here with children (who have) special needs just like yours. It is okay for you to reach out for help,” she pointed out.

 

In her remarks, Chief of Operations at the IDB, Adriana La Valley, said the completion of the project is a “tremendous achievement” for Jamaica and a demonstration that the country is focused on “developing capabilities and expanding possibilities”.

 

“It is a quality-care educational facility dedicated to providing needed interventions,” she noted.

 

The IDB official lauded the work of the ESP. “We are pleased to see the wide range of services offered, including its home-based visits,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Managing Director, Omar Sweeney, is encouraging the Rockfort community to “cherish and treasure this facility”.

 

JSIF provided project management during the construction phase of the centre.

 

Mr. Sweeney said the agency’s participation in the undertaking is a source of pride, as the facility is dedicated to a vulnerable segment of the society, which is in keeping with the organisation’s mandate.

 

“The most important thing we can do in today’s Jamaica is set our youth on the right path; there is no cause that is more important,” Mr. Sweeney contended.

 

The ESP caters to children from birth to six years with challenges such as cerebral palsy, sensory impairment, autism, Down’s syndrome, developmental delay, psychosocial deprivation and co-morbid behavioural problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

 

The programme’s services fall into two main categories – centre-based and community-based, with the former comprising clinical assessment, re-evaluation, reviews, physical therapy, speech therapy, parent orientation and counselling, and parent/staff training workshops.

 

The community-based aspect entails home visits by specially trained early-childhood workers called child development officers. They visit homes, basic schools, day-care centres, private as well as government institutions, to train parents and caregivers to stimulate the child in the various areas of development, such as language, cognitive, self-help, motor and socialisation.

 

Since its inception in 1975, the ESP has provided early intervention and assessment for thousands of children across the island.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (third left), and Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Secuirty, Hon. Zavia Mayne (right), interact with children at the recent official opening of the $70-million Stimulation Plus Early Childhood Development Centre (Stim-Plus), located in Rockfort, Kingston. Others (from left) are Director at the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP), Antonica Gunter-Gayle; parent, Nicola Bright; and Chief of Operations at the Inter-American Bank (IDB), Adriana La Valley.

JIS: Senators began debate on the Child Diversion Bill 2018 at a sitting today (July 6).

 

The Bill seeks to enable the implementation of child-diversion measures in dealing with children who come into conflict with the law.

 

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, in opening the debate explained that child diversion is a process of implementing measures for dealing with children who are alleged, accused or recognised to have infringed the penal law, without resorting to the formal judicial proceedings.

 

He said in most cases, diversion of children provides greater benefit to the offender, the victim, and the society than the formal criminal justice process.

 

“Let me hasten to point out that diversion is not intended to make child offenders less accountable or less responsible for their actions; instead, it is intended to provide them with an opportunity to rethink their lives without getting a criminal record and without the harmful effects of the criminal justice system,” he explained.

 

Senator Reid added that the challenges faced by children in conflict with the law in Jamaica has brought into sharp focus the necessity for legislation that recognises and upholds the basic human rights of children who face the prospect of being deprived of their liberty.

 

He pointed out that as a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Jamaica has a duty to put measures in place to deal with children who are accused of breaking the law, as they have the right to legal help and fair treatment in the justice system.

 

“Gone are the days when we ignore a child’s circumstances and focus only on the wrong that he or she did,” Senator Reid said.

 

He noted that research indicates that factors contributing to the number of children before the court include lack of adequate parental guidance, mental health issues and poverty.

 

“It has also been reported that a large number of children in State care are suffering from mental-health or substance-abuse issues. It is, therefore, crucial that solutions are implemented to address the issues impacting these children and a holistic approach be taken towards addressing the underlying factors,” he said.

 

A National Child Diversion Policy was tabled in 2015 after consultation with all major stakeholders in Government, civil society and non-governmental organisations. Through this policy, a formal framework was established for dealing with children in conflict with the law throughout the criminal justice system and sought to ensure that detention of a child offender as punishment for antisocial behaviour was a measure of last resort.

 

One key objective of the policy was to develop the mechanism to not only divert children who come into conflict with the law, but also to empower them to become responsible and productive citizens through the use of methodologies that are consistent with restorative-justice practices.

 

The main objectives of the Bill are ensuring that every child in conflict with the law is treated in a manner that recognises and upholds human dignity and worth; diverting the child away from engaging in deviant and delinquent behaviours; and instilling in the child respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.

 

The Bill will also see to the establishment of a Child Diversion office; Child Diversion Committees; and a Child Diversion Oversight Committee. It also addresses the structure of the Child Diversion programme, the circumstances under which a child is to be referred, among other things.

 

Government Senator, Don Wehby; and Opposition Senator, Damion Crawford, also contributed to the debate.

 

The Bill was passed in the House of Representatives on May 9, 2018. Debate on the Bill will continue at the next sitting of the Senate.

 

CAPTION: Senator, the Honourable Ruel Reid, Minister of Education, Youth and Information