GLEANER: There has been confusion among some educators, parents, and students surrounding expectations for the National Standards Curriculum (NSC) and the exam slated to replace the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) in 2019 the Primary Exit Profile (PEP).

 

The confusion stems from a misunderstanding of the concept of modern-day teaching, learning, and skill development.

 

Additionally, there is a deep-rooted belief that policymakers and educators alike are not adequately resourced to effectively administer contemporary methodologies and assessments by the time PEP is to be rolled out.

 

While there is some truth to the latter, the Ministry of Education, Youth & Information (MOEYI) has taken the position that it is imperative for the students to be cognisant of the changes in the world at large.

 

The risk of being left behind and becoming irrelevant is far greater than that of making the move to make the adjustments, which are to be implemented in a phase-by-phase manner beginning in 2019.

 

 WHAT IS PEP?

  

PEP was designed to serve as an assessment tool to support the National Standards Curriculum for grades 1-13 that, according to MOEYI, is “aimed at improving the general academic performance and places direct emphasis on current methodologies.

 

These include project-based and problem-solving learning, which will allow students more hands-on experiences that are similar to real-world situations, making the learning experience less abstract and more concrete.”

 

Developing what are known as modern-day skills, i.e., critical-thinking, communication, creativity, and collaboration skills, and also NSC content understanding, will better prepare our students for a fast-evolving world.

 

PEP places increased emphasis on assessing the students’ demonstration of these skills. GSAT, on the other hand, is focused primarily on content for secondary-school placement.

 

The approach has to change in order to instil competencies relevant for today and tomorrow and to prepare students for the future. It will take time to move to the ideal, but PEP is a move in the right direction.

 

PEP will focus on the students’ demonstration of skills over a longer period of time (grade four to six), developing a profile of where each student is academically heading into grade seven.

 

This generated profile will begin the process of informing the child’s learning up to grade 13. PEP is essentially a passport for future success that will guide the MOEYI in preparing grade 13 graduates to obtain the equivalent of an associate degree.

 

This, however, will take time and effort.

 

Educators will require more resources to effectively implement the changes to come. They must ensure that students preparing for PEP continue to grasp optimum content knowledge in mathematics, science, language arts and social studies using multidisciplinary approaches outlined by the NSC.

 

A progressive education system is dynamic and can’t happen overnight. It is fluid and is ever-changing, and requires a willingness to channel funds towards new and creative ideas and provide support where needed.

 

In Jamaica, we may be challenged with the economics of making the transition from content regurgitation to skill development. However, it should not cause us to remain static or prevent us from moving in the right direction.

 

There is no denying that there are challenges that lie ahead. The financial concerns weigh heavy, especially as it relates to the delivery of the curriculum. Increased projects and problem-solving-based activities require increased funding in the classrooms and at home. This leaves the question of whether or not this new curriculum and exam are, in fact, supporting equitable education for students and families from all levels of society.

 

Introducing A New Culture Of Learning

  

A transition to a sustainable and effective education system with changing and evolving practices is one that has to occur with a level of fluidity by all stakeholders.

 

It is for this reason that PEP will be implemented in phases to begin the development of learning profiles for the students while enhancing the development of the assessment tool over time.

 

With fluidity come a necessary investment in change and mindset management. As parents, we have to take the bull by the horns and focus on how we can transition our children in spite of an imperfect system.

 

Preparing children for fresh approaches to learning and citizenship is a team effort, and parents must begin to focus on the end goal rather than the exam itself. By reinforcing the importance of new skills through age-appropriate activities at home, the parents can help their children adapt to the renewed expectations for their learning.

  

COMMUNICATION

  

Apart from the obvious with regards to homework assistance, discuss current and local events and news with your child to get them engaged with what they may be learning in subjects, like, social studies. Have them share how the specific issue makes them feel and how they propose to solve the problem.

 

Engage your child with open-ended questions from every subject area.

  

GET HANDS ON WITH AT-HOME AND LOCAL ACTIVITIES

  

Travel the island. Expose your children to various Jamaican subcultures and communities. Have frank discussions about how people live; compare this with other cultures and languages.

 

 MODEL BEHAVIOUR

  

Be a role model and mentor to your children. Make working with others an open mindset priority.

 

 GET INVOLVED AT SCHOOL

  

Join the parent-teacher association or volunteer at afternoon activities.

  

MAKE CONNECTIONS TO AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

 

 Select extracurricular and out-of-school activities that reinforce problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and creativity skills.

 

There is no hard-and-fast solution to easing anyone’s concerns regarding an evolving education system. We must begin to see our individual and corporate roles in the journey to become relevant, and current and to keep pace with the developments in the world.

 

– Brittany Singh Williams is an education strategist and founder of SPARK Education. Feedback can be sent to [email protected]

 

CAPTION: Clipart 

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says 103 early-childhood institutions have, so far, been fully registered by the Early Childhood Commission, and that another 300 will be certified in short order.

 

Delivering the keynote address at the launch of the Ministry/Joint Committee for Tertiary Education (JCTE) Symposium and Expo on February 28 at the St. Hilda’s Diocesan High School in Brown’s Town, St. Ann, the Minister commended members of the Commission for their work in ensuring that early-childhood institutions across the island are compliant with the Ministry’s operating standards.

 

He emphasised that the Government is committed to ensuring that a high standard is maintained throughout the entire educational system, through the adoption of the National Standard Curriculum, starting at the early-childhood level.

 

“This Administration intends to promote and uphold standards. We want quality education for all, so we are working with the early-childhood institutions to ensure there is capacity for all our children… and all get an opportunity and are well prepared and stimulated from early childhood,” the Minister added.

 

Senator Reid said the Government is fully aware of the challenges being faced by the sector and will be doing all that it can to ensure that no one is “left behind”.

 

He pointed out that, this year, the Administration will be seeking to launch two day-care centres in each constituency and engage stakeholders to be able to better advance the thrust of the Ministry.

 

“There are some vulnerable households with mothers sometimes under stress. They need to go to work, but they have nobody to leave their children with, and some of them, when they have older children, those children suffer because the older child has to stay home to take care of those children, and their education suffers. This Administration says that we will leave no one behind,” he stressed.

 

According to Senator Reid, the Ministry will also be seeking to engage private institutions aimed at “rationalising some of the current basic schools to become infant schools or infant departments”.

 

Meanwhile, the Minister said that plans by the Government to ensure that all students go up to grade 13 are part of the strategy to make sure that all students have full access to education and training at the high-school level, which will ultimately reduce the cost for a college education.

 

“It is a very novel idea if we can ensure that you do some of your credits in high school to make sure that they can be transferred to your other institutions to reduce your cost, so you stay in those institutions over a shorter period,” he said.

 

“Instead of creating a pyramidal education system, we are creating an education system with equity, so that everybody gets early-childhood education, quality primary education, quality secondary, and all get an opportunity for tertiary education. What a revolution we are going to have in Jamaica,” the Minister added.

 

To facilitate these plans, the Minister said that funding to the educational system was increased for the fiscal year.

 

“Our Ministry was able to increase the funding to our primary schools for our regular grant by 169 per cent. We increased the maintenance grant by a whopping 40 per cent; and we increased the contribution to our all-age and junior high schools from $11,150.00 per student to $19,000.00. We also distributed book vouchers for some of our very needy students up to $ 50 million,” he outlined.

 

The symposium was held under the theme ‘Creating Educational Opportunities to Enhance Sustainable Economic Growth and Development in Communities’.

 

Partners included HEART Trust/NTA, Centre of Occupational Studies, Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission, University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC), Caribbean Maritime University, The Early Childhood Commission, Career Advancement Programme, National Parenting Support Commission, Sagicor, Irie FM and Power 106.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid with grade-10 student, Atoya Anderson, of Frome Technical High School after delivering the keynote address at the launch of the Ministry/Joint Committee for Tertiary Education Symposium and Expo held at the St. Hilda’s Diocesan High School, in St. Ann, on February 28.

JIS: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Government is in an advanced state of readiness for roll-out of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) in the 2018/19 academic year, which begins this September.

 

Addressing the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament meeting at Gordon House on March 1, Senator Reid said stakeholders are being engaged to ensure “all will be well”.

 

“There has been a lot of training for teachers, and the training is still ongoing. Right now, we are working with grade-four and -five teachers to ensure they understand the design of the different assessments,” he informed.

 

Additionally, Senator Reid indicated that mock exams for grade-five students are scheduled to take place, with sample questions being made available to the youngsters and their parents, “so that they are familiar with the likely modalities of the questions”.

 

“We will make sure that we journey with our students and parents right into the execution of the first set of exams,” Senator Reid assured.

 

PEP replaces the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and is intended to provide a better and more complete profile of students’ academic and critical-thinking capabilities at the end of their primary-level education.

 

PEP is designed to focus on what the Ministry describes as “higher order cognitive skills”. It will not just assess the student’s ability to remember information, but more importantly assess their ability to think critically, effectively process information, and be creative.

 

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

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has commended the Embassy of Japan for its continued investment in Jamaica’s education system.

 

The Minister was making his keynote address at the official handover ceremony for the newly renovated and expanded facilities at the Warsop Primary and Infant School in Southern Trelawny on February 27.

 

The project, which falls under the Japanese Grassroot Human Security Projects, was funded by the Embassy of Japan at a cost of US$85,444.00 (J$10.3 million), in collaboration with the National Education Trust.

 

Mr. Reid said the investment would not only impact the direct beneficiaries, but the wider Warsop community and its environs, as has been the case with other schools in other parishes that have been provided with similar support.

 

He said the donation by the Japanese is in keeping with the Government of Jamaica’s thrust to continue to “invest in its people”.

 

In his address, Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Hiromasa Yamazaki, said the Government of Japan is pleased to support Jamaica’s educational institutions, as education is one of the priority areas of the Official Development Policy of his country.

 

“As you will recognise from the name of our assistance scheme, by focusing on human security, it is Japan’s aim that no one should be left out of the development process and everyone should be protected and empowered to achieve sustainable development and inclusive growth,” Ambassador Yamazaki said.

 

“This holds true, especially as we have been assisting many other schools in Jamaica through building infrastructure and other rehabilitation works. It is the shared commitment by both our countries to the belief that education of our peoples is a pivotal cornerstone towards nation-building through continuous human resources development,” he added.

 

Chairman of the Warsop Primary and Infant School Board, Pastor Casbert Bryan, expressed gratitude to the Minister and Government for what he said was the unprecedented State support to primary education in the country.

 

“I have been in the education system as a Board Chairman and I have not seen so much resources being pumped into the primary schools,” Pastor Bryan said.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (second left) and Japanese Ambassador, His Excellency Hiromasa Yamazaki (third left), clasp hands following the unveiling of a plaque marking the official handover of the recently renovated Warsop Primary and Infant School in Trelawny on Tuesday, February 27. At left is Member of Parliament for Trelawny Southern, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert and Principal of the school, Stephanie Codling-Smith.

JIS: Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, says education is one of the fundamental pillars on which successful societies continue to endure, and which persons use to take them from poverty to success.

 

Delivering the keynote address at the 160th anniversary celebrations for the Hampton School in Malvern, St. Elizabeth, on February 27, the Governor-General said that some of the social ills in Jamaica can be attributed to the lack of a good education.

 

He argued that this can be addressed once a solid foundation is built within the family structure and young persons are made to feel that they are the “nation’s hope”.

 

“Lay the solid foundation starting with the family and the result will be strong, confident and ambitious young people, but where we have broken homes, we have girls who are not so confident, who are not so sure of themselves and who are crying out through their actions for some form of support or simply a listening ear,” he said.

 

The Governor-General lauded the administrators of the Hampton School for creating an environment in which the girls have a voice and are given the opportunity to be well rounded.

 

“Hampton has earned her place in the top echelon of secondary educational institutions in Jamaica. I hope the school will continue to cater for girls holistically, while building firm moral and educational foundations and opening for them the windows to the world,” he said.

 

The Governor-General said the teachings of the Hampton School epitomise the core message of the ‘I Believe’ initiative, which serves to restore hope, belief and sound values in Jamaica’s families, youth and educational programmes… at the same time acknowledging the outstanding achievements of those who seek to effect positive change at the community level.

 

He underscored the importance of students being a part of initiatives of that nature, emphasising that “there is an urgent need for young people who will be called upon to take the reins of this country”.

 

“We must urgently motivate them to believe in themselves, to take all the steps necessary to pursue and reach their goals, so that they, in turn, can give back to Jamaica,” he added.

 

CAPTION: Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, plants a Poui tree in commemoration of the 160th anniversary of the Hampton School, in St. Elizabeth. The anniversary celebration was held at the school on February 27.

JIS: As the nation celebrated the 16th staging of Jamaica Day, at least one West Kingston educator believes in its continued relevance as a source of reinforcing the country’s heritage for future generations.

 

Principal of the Denham Town Primary School, Eugenie Brown believes the day’s significance, as well as its accompanying activities must be celebrated continuously.

 

“We want the children coming up to know about our heritage and so we do not want it (the day) to be lost any at all,” she told JIS News, at her school’s Jamaica Day celebrations, on February 23.

 

“The more we talk to the children about its importance, is the more they will know. The more we celebrate it, the more it will be in them. So Jamaica Day is still relevant,” she added.

 

The Denham Town Primary School Principal also indicated that she wanted her school to lead the charge in celebrating Jamaica’s rich heritage and culture by showing to the rest of the nation that “there are positive things happening in West Kingston as well as at Denham Town Primary”.

 

Ms. Brown is hoping that students and the rest of well-thinking Jamaicans will take a moment to “remember (the) ancestors” and their sacrifice for all.

 

“No other country has the rich culture that we have here. Our songs, music, dance, dress and sports we must keep them alive,” she said.

 

Activities at Denham Town Primary included: the playing of Jamaican ring games, dancing to music such as Ska, reggae and religious songs and the eating of foods and desserts such as the corn-based, asham.

 

Addressing students, at the school, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid said they were privileged to reside in Jamaica and encouraged them to be proud of the nation’s accomplishments.

 

The Minister emphasised the contributions made by the National Heroes, as well as the many investments made by governments in the education system.

 

“We can proudly say we have early childhood facilities for every child in Jamaica. We also have primary and high school education for every child in Jamaica in order to develop your talents so that you can become useful,” Senator Reid said.

 

He further told the students that the Government is committed to building a better Jamaica, which starts with them as they are a part of “Jamaica’s possibility”.

 

In a February 21, 2011 proclamation for Jamaica Day, Governor General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, noted that the day is critical to the development of a strong spirit of patriotism and responsible citizenship.

 

He explained that Jamaica Day provides an opportunity for all Jamaicans to partner with young people to help define and create the most suitable context within which Jamaicans can be the best examples of humanity.

 

“The time has come to enhance the profile of Jamaica Day and thus broaden national participation in the activities in order to align with national development objectives,” the Governor General said.

 

Jamaica Day 2018 was celebrated under the theme: ‘Celebrating Jamaica: Nurturing our culture and Natural Heritage’.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left) interacts with students at the Denham Town Primary School in West Kingston during their Jamaica Day celebrations on February 23.

GLEANER: Director of the Safety and Security Programme in the Ministry of Education, Assistant Superintendent Coleridge Minto, is confident that Jamaica has the systems in place to deal with most emergencies in the nation’s schools.

 

With security at Jamaican educational institutions again in the spotlight following the latest school shooting in the United States and the voice note threat from a student at the Corporate Area-based at Wolmer’s Boys’ School, Minto underscored that Jamaica is ready for the possibilities.

 

“The ministry has what is called a Critical Incident Management Plan. Within this plan are a number of components which speak to the various types of incidents – from stabbing, shooting, disaster, some form of disturbance in schools.

 

“And so we are doing some reviews in terms of our plans, looking at whether or not we need additional training of some of our critical persons in the schools,” said Minto

 

He said the plan covers areas such as objectives, priorities, how do you manage a critical incident in schools, and establishing a critical incident management team.

 

“If something happens, there is not a panic mode that everybody goes into, but persons know what they are to do and how they are to respond in the various type of incidents,” said Minto.

 

He said the Critical Incident Management Plan has been tested in instances such as the 2017 emergency at the Glendevon Primary in St James, where gunmen were running through the school, shooting at each other.

 

SUCCESSFUL TEST

 

 “They managed that incident well, they kept all the students and the staff safe. For more than 30 minutes, they contained them and they waited until they got clearance from the Jamaica Constabulary Force before they allowed the parents to come in and remove the children safely and not one person was hurt in the school, although bullets were being traded in the proximity, so it does work.

 

“What we saw at Glendevon is what we would want to replicate in almost all schools where there’s an active Safety and Security Committee and an active Critical Incident Management Team in place,” said Minto.

 

CAPTION: Director of the Safety and Security Programme in the Ministry of Education, Assistant Superintendent Coleridge Minto

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid has reiterated the importance for today’s youth to be trained and certified in specialised skill areas that are in demand in an increasingly competitive labour market.

 

He made the call at the closing ceremony for the National Skills Competition held at the National Arena on February 22.

 

He encouraged the youth to make use of training opportunities at the HEART Trust/ NTA and other training institutions.

 

“This economy is poised for take-off. The rate of job growth is going way ahead of the labour force. We don’t have enough trained persons. In fact, we are running out of Jamaicans for the jobs that are becoming available,” Mr. Reid said.

 

Jamaica’s overall labour force comprised 1.34 million persons as at October 2017, according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) survey, reflecting a decrease of 6, 500, compared to the previous year.

 

Senator Reid stated that with new developments and the restructuring of some major sectors in Jamaica, more skilled-based job opportunities will become available for which Jamaicans need to be prepared for.

 

“If the Business Process Outsourcing (PBO) sector continues to grow at the rate it is going, and then it goes to 100,000 and 200,000 [employees], we are going to need enough workers for that,” he said.

 

Mr. Reid also mentioned the Chinese investment of US$6 billion to develop an industrial park and special economic zone alongside the JISCO/Alpart operations in Nain, the St Elizabeth and the proposed Vernamfield aerodrome in Clarendon.

 

“We can’t allow all these developments to occur in our country and not ensure that our young people are ready for these opportunities. So this Skills Competition is not only showcasing our capabilities, but also our possibilities, because equally, we as Jamaicans are competing for markets, investment, logistics and international business,” he said.

 

More than 6,000 students participated in the 2018 National Careers Week (NCW) and Skills Competition.

 

Under the theme ‘Building the Future by Guiding the Present, the initiative, organised by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information in collaboration with public- and private-sector partners, aims to promote and introduce new skills and entrepreneurial opportunities to youth.

 

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

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has announced that grade-five students will sit the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) grade-six mock examinations in June.

 

In an interview with JIS News, Senator Reid said all the necessary arrangements have already been made for students islandwide to sit the examinations, of which they will be the first cohort to officially sit in 2019.

 

“We’re just working on the final Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) in March and then we will ramp up PEP,” Senator Reid said.

 

The Minister explained that administrators of schools and parents can expect ongoing updates regarding PEP, and reassured that there is no need for them to be alarmed about the new examination process.

 

“The first big ramp-up for PEP is to distribute what we call ‘learning material’ to schools and parents alike in their preparation for their PEP assessment in June, so people will become familiar with the type of questions and assessment that we will do under PEP,” he said.

 

PEP, which will replace GSAT as the national secondary-school entrance test, is intended to provide a better and more complete profile of students’ academic and critical-thinking capabilities at the end of primary-level education. It comprises a Performance Task Test, Ability Task Test and a Curriculum-Based Test.

 

The PEP will be rolled out on a phased basis beginning in September 2018, with students who are now in grade five to be the first cohort. They will do only the grade-six components in 2019.

 

Students who are currently in grade four will do their grade-five performance task in 2019, and in 2020 they will do the grade-six components.

 

Students who are currently in grade three will be the first cohort that will have a complete profile generated. This means that they will do the grade-four performance task section in 2019, grade-five performance task in 2020 and all grade-six components in 2021.

 

The PEP grades will be made available to schools in the third week of June every year.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addresses a Primary Exit Profile (PEP) Town Hall Meeting at Jamaica College in December 2017.

JIS: Thousands of students from educational institutions across Jamaica will celebrate Jamaica Day on Friday, February 23.

 

Senior Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and Chairman of the Jamaica Day Planning Committee, Marlon Williams, told JIS News that Jamaica Day 2018 will be observed under the theme ‘Celebrating Jamaica: Nurturing our Natural and Cultural Heritage’.

 

“Every year the Jamaica Day theme starts with the stem ‘Celebrating Jamaica’, because the Day is all about celebrating Jamaica, land we love. This year’s theme is really to bring about an awareness of Jamaica’s cultural and natural heritage and to encourage not only the students but every single Jamaican here and abroad to protect it,” he said. Mr. Williams explained that schools are allowed to plan activities based on their interpretation of the theme. For example, they may want to highlight practices and ways in which the environment can be protected, or create innovations through technology that can be used to protect aspects of the environment and preserve the cultural heritage. On the day, Principals will introduce the student who is assigned as the culture agent to the school population. This will be followed by the reading of the official Jamaica Day Proclamation at 9:00 a.m.to signal the start of the day’s activities. All radio and television stations are being encouraged to have a student read the proclamation simultaneously with the schools.

 

The Proclamation can be accessed by logging on to www.moeschools.edu.jm, the Ministry’s portal in the Civic Citizenship and Culture in Education Programme folder.

 

Mr. Williams said that while the day will be celebrated in all schools, Munro College in St. Elizabeth will be the featured school that will get national attention.

 

“The boys at Munro College will have on display their innovations depicting the theme, and, through partnerships with several organisations, will showcase these to Jamaica,” he said.

 

Mr. Williams noted that each educational region will select a focus school, which will lead the Jamaica Day charge in the regions. For Region 1, the focus school will be Golden Spring Primary in Kingston; Region 2, Port Antonio Primary in Portland; Region 3, St. Hilda’s High School, in St. Ann; Region 4, Green Pond High in St. James; and in Region 6, Old Harbour Primary in St. Catherine.

 

The Ministry has also partnered with the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in the Culture Passport programme; therefore, the Culture Ministry will be promoting this initiative and issuing culture passports to students on the day. The culture passport allows students access to heritage sites across the country at a discounted cost or free of charge where applicable. Mr. Williams is appealing to Jamaicans here and in the diaspora to don the Jamaican colours – black, green and gold – or bandana on the day to celebrate and show their appreciation for the culture and natural heritage. Jamaica Day, which is part of the Culture in Education programme, was instituted in the nation’s schools by the Ministry of Education in an effort to celebrate what is called ‘Jamaicanness’ and the country’s contribution to the world.

 

CAPTION: Chairman of the Jamaica Day Planning Committee and Senior Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Marlon Williams, giving an overview of Jamaica Day at the launch recently.