OBSERVER: THE Ministry of Education (MOE) says the greater emphasis placed on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the National Standards Curriculum is deliberate and aims to rebrand the technical and vocational areas.

 

“STEM was used as one of the philosophical underpinnings for the development of the curriculum. We looked at what was happening in other countries and utilised a similar approach. So the whole aspect of project-based learning is infused in the curriculum where the students are actually learning the fundamentals of science,” said Dr Grace McLean, chief education officer.

 

She was speaking to reporters and editors at last week’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange.

 

In relation to the progress of a STEM -based curriculum, Dr McLean said the MOE, since 2014, has been doing the integration and infusion of STEM in the education system, wherein eight secondary level institutions were identified as pilot in the curriculum’s development, which ensured that the STEM underpinnings were included right through to grade nine.

 

“Having completed the curriculum for the implementation, and we are sure that our students, after leaving the primary level, would have those basic competencies that are needed between grades seven to nine, through our resource and technology, which is what we use to infuse TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) as well as STEM, the curriculum would be advanced further,” she said.

 

Additionally, she said the MOE is in talks with external examination providers — Caribbean Examinations Council, City and Guilds and the National Council on Vocational, Education and Training — to ensure that they are now introducing project-based learning and the infusion of STEM in the curriculum.

 

“STEM is an effective way of rebranding our technical and vocational programmes. For example, if you have a table to be built, outside of those who look at the board and ensure the joints are aligned, there is another side behind it where you now have to do the research to ensure that the kind of glue that you utilise has the correct kind of materials to ensure that when it is placed on the joints for you to put it together, it will stick and last for many, many years. That’s STEM at work…it assists in rebranding how TVET actually works,” Dr McLean said.

 

Further, Dr McLean said the MOE has also taken an approach to providing greater support for students going to universities to do engineering skills, ICT and other STEM-based studies.

 

“These are the areas to use for innovation to plug back into the system. We are at a good place based on what we started a couple years ago and over time we will continue to see the implementation,” Dr McLean said.

 

CAPTION: Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education,  Youth and Information Dr. Grace McLean.

OBSERVER: COME September, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will formally institutionalise a full seven-year high school programme.

 

Speaking to reporters and editors at last week’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange, chief education officer Dr Grace McLean said this will be done through the implementation of the Career Advancement Programme across high schools, 67 private institutions, community colleges, and teachers’ colleges.

 

According to Dr McLean, this will see 20,000 students utilising different modalities being added to the 12,000 that matriculate to the traditional sixth form. These students will also leave school with an associate degree, complete tertiary education in shorter times, and subsequently increase the 18 per cent of tertiary graduates locally.

 

This move, Dr McLean said, models the education system in Finland. At the secondary level, she explained that the first five years of a child’s education will focus on equipping them with the fundamental skills required for the general curriculum, then specialisation begins at grades 12 and 13.

 

“At the high school level there is a general education system up to age 16 then they move into areas like vocation, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and arts. They develop basic educational principles before moving into specialisation and we have started to adopt some elements of that system,” Dr McLean said.

 

“Having decided to formalise fully and provide opportunities at grades 12 and 13, means that in the first five years we can focus on ensuring that the students now have all the fundamental skills required as it relates to the general curriculum, and then in grades 12 and 13 they can now do the specialisation to complete with an associate degree which is an associate occupational degree, currently being rolled out in the TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) and STEM areas, or an associate degree at Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE),” she said.

 

The chief education officer further added that the Caribbean Examinations Council is reorganising their suite of CAPE subjects to ensure that the students at the end of grade 13, in each cluster, will have 60 credits tenable at tertiary institutions.

“We are now currently doing the consultations to ensure that the universities will accept these 60 credits, give the students the exemption, and they move on to the other areas,” she said.

 

And changes are also coming at the early childhood and primary levels.

 

“At the early childhood level we are now moving into supporting day-care centres — 126 day-care centres funded by the Government for parents below the poverty line to see how we can get to provide the basics they need for their children from ages zero to three.

 

“In primary schools, while we are not able to have one teacher right through (the Finnish system ensures that at the primary level one teacher takes the students through the six grades to become familiar with them and build on their weaknesses), we are now moving into specialised mathematics and science teachers at that level which we will be piloting this year in about 35 schools. All primary school teachers are generalists, they teach all the subjects, so these specialists will be providing direct support to assist the students in the weak areas.”

 

Dr McLean added that the MOE is ensuring that the Finnish model is adapted to our cultural context, and completely applicable to the Jamaican environment.

 

CAPTION: Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Grace McLean.

OBSERVER: THE special education policy being formulated by the Ministry of Education (MOE) is expected to be ready for implementation in September.

 

Dr Grace McLean, chief education officer in the MOE, told reporters and editors at last week’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange that the special education policy is going through the process to be sent to Cabinet for approval, which is expected in short order.

 

“There’s just one stage of another ministry it has to pass through before it goes on to Cabinet for approval and we expect that this will be done within the next three months or so and be ready for roll-out in September,” she said.

 

In relation to special needs, Dr McLean said the ministry spends a significant amount of money — close to $250 million annually for special education.

 

“We purchase spaces in schools which provide the specialised setting, the equipment and material for students with varying levels of special needs, especially for those who have the severe special needs and in some cases the moderate. We place them in the specialised settings,” she said.

 

She added: “The ministry also has about 35 centres that are part of our establishments where students are also placed. In addition to that, in selected institutions we have what we call a pull-out centre where for those who have some kind of mild special needs, we allow them to be supported in those institutions.”

 

But she said when the policy comes on stream, more schools will have to ensure they are inclusive to the needs of special education students.

 

Dr McLean further made an appeal to the public and stakeholders to understand that these children are the vulnerable among us and we must ensure that the duty of care is exercised for them.

 

“They are not going away, and we don’t want them to go away. We want to identify them early and start treating before it becomes chronic. While they are with us we have to find a way to ensure we exercise the duty of care and I’ll appeal to persons to report inadequacies and for parents not to hide these children when you realise they will need special care,” she said.

 

“Where there are inadequacies, bring them to our attention and we will do the necessary investigations and ensure the child is maximising his or her potential.”

 

Dr McLean added that the ministry has a full special education unit, which parents of special needs children should utilise.

 

— Kimberley Hibbert

 

CAPTION: Dr Grace McLean, Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information

JIS: Her Excellency, the Most Hon. Lady Allen, officially launched the 2018 staging of the ‘Western Union I Pledge (Reading) Programme’ on April 27, at King’s House.

 

The objective of the programme, launched for the 12th  consecutive year,  is to promote and encourage the nation’s youth in each parish to continuously read for their individual growth and development.

 

Activities of the programme will take place in numerous schools across the island during the month of May, when Jamaica celebrates Child Month, Education Week and Read Across Jamaica Day on May 8.

 

In her remarks at the launch, Lady Allen, who was a teacher for 18 years, reiterated that reading should always be considered as important for the development of each youth in the  country, and it is through reading that good leadership skills are developed.

 

“I learnt long ago, a little gem that says ‘One who reads, leads’. Books can give you counsel and wisdom when you need it most. Through history, biographies of remarkable men and women tell us that most of them became great because of the inspiration they got from reading books, especially during their childhood days,” Lady Allen said.

 

She added that the 2018 theme of the programme: ‘Winning with Reading’ captures the essence of the gem.

 

“It also speaks to how reading can inspire, empower and boost one’s confidence to achieve greatness,” she said.

 

The 2018 staging of the Western Union I Pledge (Reading) Programme will include a new social media aspect for participants to read to children and make posts of the activity with images and videos on their social media pages, and then tag others to do the same.

 

Lady Allen said she is pleased to witness technology being incorporated in the Programme, in addition to its previous initiatives of face-to-face reading with youth, and competitions.

 

“The constant evolution of technology has influenced the way children read. Now, they can do so with the use of audio books and electronic books, which are available on electronic devices,”  she said.

 

“Although technology has changed the way we read, the ability it has to inspire and provide knowledge is unchanging,” Lady Allen added.

 

For her part, Chief Executive Officer, GraceKennedy Money Services, Ms. Michelle Allen, said her organization,  title sponsor of the Western Union I Pledge (Reading) Programme, is  pleased to  satisfy the requests to have social media incorporated in the programme.

 

“The social media campaign to this programme is very exciting for me… We’re going to ask you [participants and members of the public during the month of May] to do two things. You’re going to  challenge someone, as the bucket challenge, to read to a child or children for 30 minutes. We’re then going to ask you to post and tag on your favourite social media handle, using the hashtags #GKMSOnline and #IPLedge2018 or #GKMSIPledge,” Ms. Allen said.

 

“So, challenge someone to nominate another to keep the reading going, so Reading Week will not last one week [in May], but instead it will last one month,” she said.

 

CAPTION: Her Excellency, the Most Hon. Lady Allen (left), reads to children at King’s House on Friday (April 27), after launching the 2018 Western Union’s I Pledge (Reading) Programme.

JIS: The Education, Youth and Information Ministry will introduce a mentorship programme later this year to guide youth exiting State care.

 

Education Minister of State, Hon. Floyd Green, said these youth will be peered with mentors, who will receive ideas from them and, in turn, provide them with feedback.

 

Mr. Green was speaking at the third staging of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) National Exiting Care Expo, at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on April 26.

 

Noting that a few mentors have already been chosen for the programme, Mr. Green appealed to corporate Jamaica for support by organising their staff into mentorship groupings to assist the children.

 

“Additionally, I believe (this) is a great opportunity to work with our universities (and) other tertiary centres to use their tertiary students to help us develop a mentorship corps to work with our children who are transitioning,” he said.

 

The State Minister assured the 600-odd students in family integration and residential childcare facilities that their progress will be tracked.

 

“Even though a number of you are leaving State care, we do not want you to believe that you have left the family. Despite the difficulties and experiences, we stand here as a family to support you and to provide guidance and to work with you to ensure that you are successful in life,” he said.

 

Mr. Green charged the students to set goals and “write down the steps you will take to achieve your dream, as writing down your dreams works”.

 

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CPFSA, Rosalee Gage-Grey, said that her agency believes in the holistic development of the children in its care.

 

She said the purpose of the Expo was to ensure that the children “have a solid foundation as they transition into independent living”.

 

“We (also) want you to be confident about your preparation for independent living. We know that some of you are facing this reality with anxiety and great expectations, and we want to ensure that where there is doubt, we erase that, and where there are fears and anxiety, we will prepare you for taking the next step,” she said.

 

Held under the theme ‘Inspire. Succeed. Win’, the National Exiting Care Expo targets those between ages 17 and 18 for independent living.

 

During the course of the one-day event, the youngsters were exposed to a variety of services from several organisations, as well as information on career planning, self-development, financial management, health and lifestyle and living arrangements, as they transition from State care to adulthood.

 

CAPTION: State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (centre), converses with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), Rosalee Gage-Grey (left), at the agency’s National Exiting Care Expo held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on April 26. At right is Executive Assistant at the CPFSA, Deverline Burrell Wallen.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says a review of tertiary education funding arrangements is being considered to ensure that more students have access to higher learning.

 

He was speaking at a graduation ceremony for 150 participants of the firefighting training course at the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), Palisadoes Park, Kingston, on April 25.

 

The Minister emphasised that the Government is committed to increasing tertiary access.

 

“I am going to Barbados tomorrow (April 26) to conclude the discussions, because we have to target the University of the West Indies first, as they get the bulk of the resources for tertiary education,” he said.

 

“What is interesting is that in both Barbados and Trinidad, persons at the lower socio-economic quintile get full scholarships. Jamaica is the only one where the poorest of the poor still have to pay tuition fees, so we intend to renegotiate those arrangements,” the Minister added.

 

He said priority will be given to areas focusing on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), as well as skill sets that are necessary for the modernisation of the economy.

 

“Whether they are from Kingston or from Upper St. Andrew; wherever they are and they are deemed to be poor (and) need State assistance… you can rest assured that if you fit that profile, this

 

Administration will reach out to you and ensure that everything is done to ensure that you have access to a university education,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, he said the Government is streamlining the education sector to ensure that students are adequately trained for the 21st century labour market.

 

“What we are doing in this particular structure is that you have your basic education up to grade 11, and then we give you option for specialisation. Based on your career interest, you can begin the early phase, level one and level two in the Career Advancement Programme [CAP],” he said.

 

He added that the CAP “is going to be the modality for the entire education system as of 2018, so the 171 high schools will be part of the overall CAP”.

 

The introductory firefighting course was made possible through the donation of emergency vehicles, including three fire trucks from the Government of Japan and sponsorship from the CMU. It was offered without charge to a wide cross section of volunteers, based on the need for firefighting skills in many organisations and communities.

 

The graduates will form part of the voluntary firefighting reserve that will be managed through the Project for the Improvement of Ambulance and Fire Trucks of Emergency Response in Port Royal and its environs.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addresses graduation ceremony for participants of the firefighting training course at the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), Palisadoes Park, Kingston, on April 25.

 

      

JIS: Prime Minister Andrew Holness has congratulated members of the Career Advancement Programme (CAP) Entrepreneurship Team who copped second place at the recently staged Youth Entrepreneurship Summit at Delaware University in the United States.

 

The Prime Minister yesterday (April 24) addressed the seven member team at Jamaica House.

 

The team, under the name Paradise Care took the runner up prize in the Diamond Challenge competition in the social innovation concept segment.

 

Paradise Care is a not-for-profit organization that addresses the improper disposal of plastic bottles and transforms disposed plastics whilst beautifying the environment and educating the population about recycling.

 

Prime Minister Holness who conceptualized the Career Advance Programme had high praises for the team members and their achievement in the international arena.

 

“It is very good to see the idea conceived to the point where it is now working. An employer can now make an investment without worrying that he/she will have to train and develop the right attitude because you would have already gone through the technical, vocational and apprenticeship stage,” said Prime Minister Holness.

 

The CAP students competed against approximately 700 teams from across the globe.

 

The team’s concept to re-use plastics to create energy efficient utility received high commendations at the competition.

 

Prime Minister Holness noted that the innovation is timely.

 

“As a responsible government and responsible citizens, we have to find ways to address energy costs. What you have done as a social entrepreneur is to find a way to re-use plastic while at the same time providing the product that has great utility particularly for persons who can’t afford electricity. This is a good solution and I can see why you would have won,” said Mr. Holness.

 

The CAP entrepreneurship National Competition forms phase one of the programme’s entrepreneurship activities. Phase two allows for students to gain international exposure by embarking on opportunities which support skills development while embracing creativity and innovation.

 

In the meantime, the Prime Minister charged more young Jamaicans to get on board the CAP.

 

“The Government of Jamaica wants all our young people to be engaged. The strategy is to use energy, innovativeness of our young people to solve the burning social, environmental and economic problems of the day and that is what CAP is about,” expressed Mr. Holness.

 

The Youth Entrepreneurship Summit was held from April 11 to 13, 2018.

 

CAPTION: The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, Prime Minister with Audrey Sewell, Permanent Secretary and Ruel Reid, Minister of Education, Youth & Information addressed members of the Career Advancement Programme Entrepreneurship Team who copped second place at the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit at Delaware University in the United States recently.

 

JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has lauded educators at the Bog Walk High School in St. Catherine for implementing the ‘Boys Big-Up Programme’, which rewards boys for displaying good behaviour and deportment.

 

“It is important that we recognise that there are differences in how boys and girls learn within the education system. I can see that this is one way in which the system is responding, and I believe it is to the credit of the administration of the school to do this. This initiative is worthy of praise, and I want to extend my own recognition and congratulations to you for doing this,” Prime Minister Holness said.

 

He was addressing students from the school who are members of the ‘Boys Big-Up Programme’ when they called on him, today (April 25) at Jamaica House.

 

Mr. Holness said that there is, emerging within the Jamaican culture, a rejection of being disciplined, adding that the value system in the society has “been turned on its head”.

 

“What is praised is how bad you can do things, instead of how good you can do things. So, I see this as an attempt to counteract the counterculture that is becoming the mainstream culture. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being properly groomed and well spoken,” he told the students.

 

The Prime Minister also emphasised that school is a training ground for them to be able to meet the standards of the workplace.

 

“So, the school in maintaining a dress code is not saying that styles and fashion that exist within the broader society should not exist, but what the school is saying is that the standards that are necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the workplace, that culture starts in the school,” Mr. Holness said.

 

He also emphasised the need for self-discipline, while encouraging the boys to see themselves as leaders.

 

For his part, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said it is important for positive behaviours to be recognised within the school system.

 

“It is important to reinforce good and positive values. I believe that if we can create an education system that nurtures and produces these kind of quality students, disciplined and trained, then we are providing the kind of raw material for Jamaica’s growth and development,” Senator Reid said.

 

The Minister also commended the staff at the Bog Walk High School for implementing the programme.

 

“Congratulations to you youngsters for this recognition, and now you have a responsibility to be exemplars of excellence,” Mr. Reid said.

 

Meanwhile, Principal of Bog Walk High School, Patrick Phillips, said the initiative seeks to create a culture of excellence at the institution, especially among boys.

 

“We want to say to our boys – you are valuable, you can be positive and you can make something of yourselves,” he said.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (front, centre); State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (second left); Principal of Bog Walk High School, Patrick Phillips (third left); and Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (second right), with students and administrators of the Bog Walk High School, who are participants in the institution’s ‘Boys Big-Up Programme’, at Jamaica House on April 25.

JIS: A new multipurpose building, valued approximately $16 million, was officially opened at the St. Augustine Place of Safety, an all-boys institution located in Clarendon, on Tuesday (April 24).

 

Construction of the building, which was funded by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information through the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), is in keeping with the Government’s commitment to improve service delivery to children in State care.

 

State Minister, Hon. Floyd Green, who participated in the ceremony, said he was elated that the building has been provided, noting that St. Augustine was in dire need of the facility.

 

He told JIS News the building will help with the development of the boys residing at the home, noting that it will be used for skills training and sports, among other activities.

 

“The area gives us the ability to have a number of interventions with the children. We have areas where they can have indoor games (and activities) such as table tennis, group counselling sessions, and staff training,” the State Minister added.

 

Mr. Green said the facility also includes a new administrative block, comprising office space for the manager, assistant manager and social care workers, as well as a new food preparation area, “which we think (are) important (so) that (the staff) are able to operate in a sense of comfort; so (the building is) a great addition to the Clarendon Child Protection and Family Services”.

 

The State Minister, who toured the compound, commended the administrators on the success of the institution’s farm, which is self-sufficient in the production of layer chickens and eggs, and also supplies provisions to neighbouring all-girls home, Summerfield Child Care Facility.

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Green advised of additional development plans for St. Augustine.

 

“Our next step… is to construct a new… modern dorm facility. We expect to start work this year, and that will go over the next two years,” he told JIS News.

 

CAPTION: State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (left), examines a kite made by boys at St. Augustine Place of Safety in Clarendon along with Manager of the facility, Michael Coward (centre); and Chief Executive Officer, Child Protection and Family Services Agency, Rosalee Gage-Grey, following Tuesday’s (April 20) official opening of a new $16-million multipurpose building at the institution.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, is assuring teachers that the pending licensing and registration regime for the profession will serve to enhance their capacities and should not be feared.

 

“I don’t want people to be afraid of (registration and licensing). I think it will be good for the system,” he said.

 

The Minister was delivering the 10th public lecture of the Institute for Educational Administration and Leadership –Jamaica (IEAL-J) at the Papine campus of the University of Technology (UTech) on April 18.

 

He pointed out that there are persons in the early-childhood sector who say they are teachers, yet are not trained or certified, noting that this is one of the areas the regime would seek to address.

 

“It will mean, therefore, in the licensing regime, that people are trained, certified and serving appropriately, based on their qualifications. So, you don’t have people who are early-childhood specialists teaching grade nine and subjects that they are not actually qualified to do,” he said.

 

This will be facilitated under the pending Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) Bill, which seeks to provide for the establishment of a governing body for the teaching profession and institute a regime for licensing and registering of all government-paid teachers.

 

Mr. Reid informed that much work has been done on the JTC Bill, which is to undergo a final review this week “to make sure the last draft is consistent with what we have agreed to”.

 

Following this, the Minister said the legislation will then be taken to Cabinet, “and I hope to have it tabled in Parliament in short order”.

 

“It will be my first major piece of legislation, and I think it will further position the education system on a path for sustainable growth and development,” he said.

 

In the meantime, Minister Reid praised the IEAL-J for staging the lecture, which has served to keep leadership in education at the centre of public discourse.

 

“We need more of these stakeholder sessions to discuss varied ideas and pathways to improving our education system as we continue to fashion more inclusive solutions to our long-standing economic, social and political issues, and move faster towards the building of a knowledge economy,” he said.

 

Senator Reid further congratulated Professor Paul Miller of the University of Huddersfield and President, IEAL-J, on the launch of his book, which took place prior to the lecture.

 

The book, titled ‘The Nature of School Leadership: Global Practice Perspectives’, looks at the different issues faced by school leaders and the approach to school leadership adopted by school leaders in 16 countries.

 

The lecture was staged in collaboration with UTech and the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), is greeted by Professor Paul Miller of the University of Huddersfield and President, Institute for Educational Administration and Leadership-Jamaica (IEAL-J), when he arrived at the Papine campus of the University of Technology (UTech) on Wednesday (April 18) to deliver the IEAL-J’s 10th public lecture.