JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says a deeper partnership can be forged with the University of the West Indies (UWI), to solve challenges in the education system.

 

Speaking at the UWI Research Days, at the Mona campus, on February 7, the Minister argued that the partnership could enable major results from meagre resources.

 

He pointed out that the issue of the shortage of science teachers in the classroom could be improved by the UWI.

 

The Minister told the gathering that high-quality research in teaching can offer solutions, and provide students with “solid skills for the future”.

 

Senator Reid emphasised that if Jamaica is to be very competitive, workers must be on the cutting edge of technology and versed in “new ways of doing things”.

 

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Donovan Stanberry, said areas in the agricultural sector are in need of more research, such as rainwater harvesting, irrigation, climate proofing and production.

 

He also called for new approaches in the utilisation of human and national resources to “build an economy that grows sustainably and equitably for everybody”.

 

Research Days was staged between January 7 and 9, with a focus on solutions to climate change, poverty and health issues. Some 80 exhibits were showcased in the Research Days Village, from all the faculties of the university.

 

The event was held under the theme ‘Bridging the Research and Innovation Gaps between Academia and Industry’.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (at podium), addresses aUniversity of the West Indies (UWI) Research Days Lecture, at the Mona Campus in St. Andrew, on February 7. Seated is Pro Vice-Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research at the institution, Professor Dale Webber.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has reiterated the call for Jamaicans to better protect children against all harm, especially the danger of fires.

 

This comes against the background of a series of fire-related incidents, the latest of which claimed the life of seven-year-old Amelia Williams on February 8.

 

“It concerns us that we have had too many of these fires, so we have to ensure that our homes are safe places for our children and that they are monitored at all times,” he said.

 

The Minister was speaking to journalists on February 8, following the launch of a coin drive, dubbed ‘Education Makes Cents’, at the Friendship Primary School in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, where Amelia was a grade-one student.

 

Senator Reid emphasised that young children must always have adult supervision, noting that it is “really disconcerting when our precious children are taken from us so soon and in such tragic circumstances”.

 

He added that greater effort must be made “to strengthen our capability to ensure that we better care for, nurture and protect our children”.

 

Senator Reid said the Education Ministry is working to increase its input in safeguarding the nation’s children, particularly through the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, “to make sure that our children are well taken care of, and that there are no vulnerable situations that our children find themselves in”.

 

In extending condolences to Amelia’s family and school community, the Minister expressed the hope that this latest tragedy “will inspire us to even greater resolve to make sure we protect our children from all harm and danger”.

 

At least six children have died in fires since the start of the year.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), is greeted by Tashri Thompson, a student of the Friendship Primary School in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, as he arrives at the school on February 8 to participate in the launch of a coin drive dubbed ‘Education Makes Cents’. Also pictured (from left) are:student, Mykalia Peak; Chairman of the school Board, Abdon Campbell (partially hidden); and principal of the school, Collington Powell.

JIS: The Government of Japan has provided grants totalling $10 million to fund development projects at the Buff Bay and Iris Gelly Primary schools.

 

The provision of $8 million to Buff Bay Primary in Portland will be used to purchase a bus for the institution.

 

Iris Gelly Primary School in Kingston received $2 million towards the installation of a water harvesting and sanitation solution.

 

Both allocations have been provided under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project and initiated through a partnership forged between the National Education Trust (NET) and the Japanese Embassy in Jamaica.

 

Agreements formalising the provisions were signed by Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, and Japan’s Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Hiromasa Yamazaki , on February 7 at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices.

 

Senator Reid said Jamaica and Japan have signed a number of similar agreements in recent years, which is indicative of the strong bilateral relationship both countries have enjoyed since 1964.

 

He welcomed the provision of a bus for the Buff Bay Primary School, adding that it will contribute to the development of the rural school bus system.

 

“We have seen…the provision of a dedicated school bus service, making a difference in the attendance and punctuality of students, so this is most welcomed. We have about 7,900 [students] who are beneficiaries of this new Government initiative, born out of the fact that we are not pleased that we have a national average of 20 per cent of our students who are regularly absent from our schools in some areas,” Mr. Reid said.

 

The Education Minister explained that the survey of living condition shows that 42 per cent of parents, whose students are regularly absent from school, indicate that they have a challenge in finding bus fares to send their children to school.

 

“Therefore, our Ministry is now focused on ensuring we have a national programme to make sure that those vulnerable households and children get Government support,” he added.

 

For his part, Ambassador Yamazaki, said he is pleased that the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project continues to support small-scale projects, especially in the areas of health and education. He added that he looks forward to visiting both beneficiary institutions.

 

Meanwhile, Principal of the Buff Bay Primary School, Karl Coke, said the new bus will transform the attendance pattern of his students.

 

“Buff Bay Primary School had an issue with students traversing from rural areas where transportation to and from school was, for the most part, inadequate. In addition to this, transportation, especially in rural Jamaica, continues to be a safety risk for students,” Mr. Coke said.

 

He added that the provision of the bus will help to mitigate this, by providing safe and reliable transportation for the children.

 

Principal of the Iris Gelly Primary School, Veronica Gaynor, said both schools “will never be the same because we are securing pupils’ lives, harnessing [their] skills, abilities and talents.”

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (centre), along with (from left): Student, Iris Gelly Primary School, Daneille James; Director, Donor and Partnership Management, National Education Trust, Latoya Harris; Member of Parliament for St. Andrew Southern, Mark Golding; Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, His Excellency Hiromasa Yamazaki; Student, Shantel Francis and Principal, Iris Gelly Primary, Veronica Gaynor, display a symbolic cheque during a signing ceremony held at the Education Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices on Wednesday (February 7). The J$2 million (US$18,601) will be used to implement a water harvesting and sanitation solution.

JIS: Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Grace McLean, has welcomed support from Sterling Asset Management towards an initiative aimed at improving student achievement in mathematics at the primary level.

 

The securities dealer has donated $500,000 to the Caribbean Centre of Excellence in Mathematics Teaching (CCEMaT) at The Mico University College. It has also committed to providing another $500,000 for 2019.

 

“We are indeed delighted that you have come on board to support The Mico University and, by extension, Jamaica’s education system,” said Dr. McLean.

 

She was speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at Sterling Asset Management’s boardroom in New Kingston on Tuesday (February 6) to formalise the agreement.

 

“The Mico University is one of those institutions that we have great confidence in as it relates to mathematics, to provide the support that is needed in the education system to assist us in lifting the performance of mathematics at the primary as well as the secondary levels,” Dr. McLean said.

 

She noted that progress has been made in recent years; however, there is room for improvement.

 

“We are now at about 67 per cent for the grade four numeracy (test) and it has been trending in the right direction by about three or four percentage points each year. We would like to move this to at least 85 per cent by the year 2019/2020, so we have about two years within which to do that,” she pointed out.

 

Formed in collaboration with the Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching (CIMIT) at the University of Plymouth in the United Kingdom, CCEMaT’s mandate is to conduct research and training/teacher-preparation activities designed to improve the quality of mathematics education in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

 

The centre incorporates innovative strategies observed in mathematically high-achieving countries such as Hungary, Finland, Singapore, Russia and Japan.

 

CCEMaT is piloting a Mathematics Enhancement Project (MEP) in select primary schools from September 2017 to August 2020 to garner insight on how the project can impact the teaching and learning of mathematics at the primary level of the education system.

 

The pilot got underway in five schools and three others have since been added.

 

President of The Mico University College, Dr. Asburn Pinnock, said he is grateful that Sterling Asset Management has come on board.

 

He said this investment, which will reach 80 teachers in the eight pilot schools, will result in a multiplier effect that will positively impact the lives of Jamaica’s youth and boost their performance in mathematics.

 

“Eighty may sound small, but if you look at the multiplier, with each teacher teaching probably close to 50, 40, 35 students, it is critical,” he pointed out.

 

Director, Sterling Asset Management, Charles Ross, said his company is pleased to be a part of the CCEMaT programme.

 

“It’s a very worthwhile endeavour aimed at improving mathematics education in our primary schools. Education has always been a major focus of Sterling’s corporate social responsibility activities. I appreciate the importance of a good foundation and primary education is the foundation of our education system. It’s really important for us to strengthen that area,” he noted.

 

Mr. Ross, who has a background in engineering and finance, said “mathematics is close to my heart and I know the importance of good grounding in the field for success in so many ventures and so many endeavours in life”.

 

“The project has the potential to have a very wide impact because it’s focused on teaching the teachers and empowering them, especially those at the foundation level in primary schools,” he added.

 

The eight schools benefiting from the MEP are Allman Town, Clan Clarthy, Elletson, Windward Road and John Mills Infant, Primary and Junior High in Kingston and St. Andrew; Devon Primary in Manchester; Mineral Heights Primary, Clarendon; and Mount Olivet in Manchester.

JIS: Fifty environmental wardens are to be placed in primary schools in Clarendon and Manchester under a pilot programme involving the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, and Recycling Partners of Jamaica Limited (RPJL).

 

The wardens, who have already been trained, will have responsibility for managing the collection of plastic bottles in the institution they have been assigned.

 

Education Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the Environmental Wardens Programme is an important part of Jamaica’s national development plan, Vision 2030, which speaks to cultivating a healthy environment.

 

“Lessons learned in school lay the foundation of habits for a lifetime, and among the more important lessons we can teach our children, is the importance of recycling, whether it is bottles, paper or (tin) cans. School recycling programmes such as this one can demonstrate the power of how small actions by many can achieve big things,” he pointed out.

 

The Minister was speaking at the launch of the initiative on February 1 at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston, where the parties signed a memorandum of understanding (M\OU).

 

Chairman of RPJL, Lucille Brodber, said the joint venture is a signal of public- and private-sector commitment to protecting and sustaining Jamaica’s environment and its beauty.

 

“We anticipate that the programme will be expanding to the Ministry’s other regions, so that other schools can be involved in this programme,” Ms. Brodber noted.

 

The Environmental Wardens Programme aims to educate youth about the importance of recycling and help them develop responsible attitudes towards the environment.

 

It is being delivered through the Work to Learn, Earn, Give, Save (LEGS) programme with training, assessment and certification of the environmental wardens facilitated by the HEART Trust/NTA.

 

Supervision of the wardens will be provided through the LEGS programme. The RPJL will ensure that schools have enough receptacles and that they are placed at strategic points to facilitate collection of plastic bottles.

 

RPJL is the designated national recycling entity and a registered charity with a mandate to separate and remove plastic material at the source to prevent these from polluting waterways, gullies and landfills.

 

Between March 2014 and December 2017, RPJL has removed 4.3 million pounds of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles from the environment.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left) is about to place an empty plastic bottle in a recycling bin, during the launch of the Environmental Wardens Programme in schools on February 1 at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. From right are State Minister for Education, Hon. Floyd Green (right); Environmental Warden, Ricardo Gouldbourne; Chairman of Recycling Partners of Jamaica Limited (RPJL), Lucille Brodber; and Environmental Warden, Samantha Wilson.

JIS: More than 6,000 students will put their technical abilities on display at the 2018 National Careers Week (NCW) and Skills Competition to be held from February 17 to 23 at the National Arena.

 

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.

 

It will feature Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students in the areas of construction and building technology; manufacturing and engineering technology; creative arts and fashion; and transportation and logistics.

 

Among the skills to be showcased are welding, electronics, visual merchandising, graphic design technology, computer-aided design and cooking.

 

This year’s staging will see the introduction of a suite of skills, including freight forwarding and logistics, mobile application development, digital animation, robotics and mechatronics.

 

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, in hailing the staging of the event, said it emphasises 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 was speaking at the press launch on February 1 at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston.

 

“One of the challenges we have is ensuring that we are properly aligned to new economic opportunities that are available. Out of the 75,000 students enrolled in the tertiary sector, we have over 42 per cent pursuing the social sciences in management and accounts, which means that those graduates may have difficulty finding jobs,” the Minister pointed out.

 

Senator Reid said the National Careers Week and Skills Competition is part of a Government-led intervention aimed at transforming Jamaica into a skills-driven society.

 

“(It) is being positioned as the premier event to prepare citizens for their future as they develop new and emerging skills, whether to further education, business or career goals,” he noted.

 

Other activities for the week include the Jamaica Library Service Expo; Junior Achievement Company of Entrepreneurs’ (JACE) Annual General Meeting/School Career Expo, Leaders Summit and Youth Forum; as well as the Entrepreneurial Expo and Competition.

 

Other partners in the staging of the event include HEART Trust/ NTA, World Skills, Career Advancement Programme (CAP), and Junior Achievement (JA) Jamaica.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (centre) cuts the ribbon to launch the National Careers Week and Skills Competition on Thursday ( February 1) at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. State Minister for Education, Hon. Floyd Green (second left), looks on. Others observing (from left) are HEART Trust/NTA National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) level 3 construction student, Paul Staple; Interim Managing Director, HEART Trust/NTA, Dr. Janet Dyer; and Chairman of HEART Trust, Edward Gabbidon.

JIS: The HEART Trust/NTA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ) to provide skills training for Jamaicans who desire to work in the growing business process outsourcing (BPO) sector.

 

The signing took place in the boardroom of HEART Trust’s head office on Oxford Road in Kingston on Friday (February 2).

 

Chairman, Board of Directors, HEART, Mr. Edward Gabbidon, said he is pleased to be officially partnering with the BPIAJ, as this will provide hundreds of Jamaicans with training, skills development, qualifications and job opportunities in the BPO sector.

 

“HEART, the new entity, has a mandate to provide training that is industry-specific and training that will help us to grow our economy. Growth in our economy is dependent on our human capital, and one of the industries that offer that avenue of growth is the BPO sector,” Mr. Gabbidon said.

 

“One of the things that we expect to do from this is to create that base pyramid for entry into the BPO sector, and for training of persons to grow on the value chain to be anything they want to be in that sector,” he added.

 

Mr. Gabbidon pointed out that the training that will be provided from the MOU will not only focus on aspects of BPO but also for business in general.

 

Meanwhile, President, BPIAJ, Gloria Henry, said her organisation is also pleased to be partnering with the HEART Trust/NTA.

 

“HEART has been part of this sector since inception. Even before the BPIAJ was formally inaugurated, HEART was providing training through a partnership with the Montego Bay Free Zone Company, and has been involved in the growth and development of many of the companies that have been here in Jamaica,” she said.

 

“The BPIAJ is very keen on this partnership, because it will help us to create the kind of talent pool that we want to have for new investors who are coming to Jamaica,” Ms. Henry said.

 

She pointed out that there has been growth of the industry, in terms of the number of firms that are now operating in Jamaica, from just under 40 to nearly 60 firms.

 

“Employment (in the BPO sector) has moved from about 13,000 to about 26,000, so that’s a doubling of employment. We have about a 75 per cent increase in export and 75 per cent increase in foreign exchange earnings. We are on a growth path right now, not just to improve the existing businesses that are here but to fill the almost two million square feet of space that is being developed in Jamaica,” she added.

 

Vice President of Sales and Promotions, Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Claude Duncan, endorsed the MOU and the objective.

 

“This move by the BPIAJ and HEART puts us in a better competitive position. Numbers have been quoted as to where we see the sector going. We at JAMPRO are committed to driving those numbers. This move is demonstrative of the commitment of the Government to work with the private sector, and partner to provide solutions to achieve those numbers,” he said.

 

CAPTION: Chairman, Board of Directors, HEART Trust/NTA, Edward Gabbidon (right), addresses the ceremony for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between HEART Trust/NTA and the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica (BPIAJ), to provide skills training for persons interested in becoming employed in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, at HEART’s head office in Kingston, on Friday (February 2). At left is President, BPIAJ, Gloria Henry.

JIS: Operators of private schools are being encouraged to further partner with the Government as it seeks to increase the placement of infants (aged zero to three) and special needs students in these institutions.

 

The call comes from Deputy Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Maxine Headlam, who noted that accommodation for these children is one of the Ministry’s priorities that private schools can take advantage of, “because the Ministry, at present, does not have the scope to meet all the needs in those areas”.

 

She was speaking at the annual general meeting of the Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association (JISA) at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on January 31.

 

Ms. Headlam noted that this aspect, along with other possible areas of collaboration, is part of ongoing discussions with JISA that are expected to be included in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) now being formulated.

 

Other areas for partnership being explored under the pending agreement include accessing furniture, text books, and educational software through the Ministry at a reduced cost.

 

The MOU is also expected to speak to the issues of waivers on shipment fees and taxes for the importation of school equipment, training opportunities, and private schools having access to regional meetings of the Ministry.

 

Ms. Headlam said the Government is fully committed to an inclusive approach to education, noting that the Ministry is always open to dialogue and suggestions from private educators.

 

She noted that the Ministry has had a long history of collaboration with independent privately owned schools, and assured that work will continue to strengthen this invaluable partnership.

 

“We are committed to the independent schools, and we are (grateful) to them for their invaluable roles in educating our children and recommit ourselves to this partnership,” she assured.

 

In the meantime, President of JISA, Karlene Bisnott, said she is looking forward to the strengthening of ongoing partnerships with the Ministry through the MOU.

 

“We are hoping that before the school year is out, things will be so structured that within the next school year we should be seeing some of these things bearing fruit,” she told JIS News, adding that the collaboration has already started regarding text books, where the Ministry has extended the deadline for orders.

 

Founded in 1969, JISA is a professional organisation of principals, vice principals and directors of registered private schools.

 

CAPTION: Deputy Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Maxine Headlam (right), and President of the Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association (JISA), Karlene Bisnott (second right), speak to Sales and Marketing Executive, Hodder Education, Frank Mark Phipps, about some of the books the company publishes and distributes. They were visiting booths mounted as part of the annual general meeting of JISA, held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on January 31.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has reiterated that urgent steps are being taken by the Government to get schools across Jamaica, such as the St. James High School in Montego Bay, off the two-shift system.

 

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the official opening of a new three-storey block of classrooms at the St. James High School on January 30, Mr. Reid said he is proud that despite the double-shift system, the institution has been performing extremely well.

 

“I am in a hurry under my shift, to fix all of these problems. Yes, I have 42 schools still on shift and, systematically, we are going to take them off one by one,” the Minister said.

 

Senator Reid noted that the Ministry responded quickly when St. James High requested financial support for additional classroom spaces and for the construction of a perimeter wall.

 

“This will help to prepare in the transition process to a single-shift system. It is important that we do so, because we are not doing so for ourselves, we are doing it for the future and for the transformation of St. James,” the Minister said.

 

Meanwhile, Senator Reid said the Ministry will be constructing five new high schools across the island, one of which will be in St. James, which will add significantly to the number of classroom spaces available in western Jamaica.

 

“We have a lot of work to do, but, under God, we are going to get it done. I am getting full support, and I have the fiscal space to get it done,” he said.

 

The Minister also visited Anchovy High School in St. James, and the Knockalva Agricultural School and the Knockalva Technical High School in neighbouring Hanover.

 

Mr. Reid told JIS News that he was happy to have visited the institutions to get a first-hand look at their operations and make assessments and recommendations.

 

“My tour has been extremely successful, and I am very happy to be able to get out of the office to see exactly what is happening in these institutions and to give some policy direction,” he added.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (third left), is assisted by Principal of the Mt. Alvernia High School, Stacey Reynolds (second left), to cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of a new block of classrooms at the St. James High School on Tuesday, January 30. Sharing the moment are Director of Region Four, Dr. Michelle Pinnock (left); Principal of the school, Joseph Williams (right); Chairman of the school Board, Reverend Alton Thelwell (second right); and students of the institution.

JIS: Lecturer at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, Keitha Osbourne, says students enrolled in the special education programme are acquiring a very important skill that will make them more marketable at home and abroad.

 

Addressing a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on January 29 at the agency’s Regional Office in Montego Bay, St. James, Ms. Osbourne said the uniqueness of special education is that student-teachers are trained in specialised techniques to deal with “children with those disabilities”.

 

Ms. Osbourne said it is important to recognise that there are students who are naturally gifted, but are plagued by physical or emotional problems.

 

She noted that students who participate in the special education programme at Sam Sharpe cover “a wide variety of areas”, adding that the number of credits are a little more than in the primary programme, “because the students are exposed to the primary curriculum in addition to carrying their specialised areas”.

 

The Lecturer said “it is a win-win” situation for a person who is trained at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College in special education and is exposed to teaching students from early childhood to the secondary level.

 

“When we develop our curriculum, we are also in line with international standards. We are seeing a direct effort by the Ministry of Education to address the problem of students with special needs,” she said.

 

Ms. Osbourne noted that the graduates from Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College are in great demand in the area of special education, as “there are not sufficient graduates to fill the available jobs”.

 

“The students are trained not just to teach those with special needs, but to be able to identify them. They are taught assessment and also given diagnostic training,” she pointed out.

 

Ms. Osbourne said that at Sam Sharpe there is one course that is mandatory in special needs for all students, “because we know there are special needs students who require the specialist teachers to address their problems”.

 

“We also make the programme available to persons who can come to the college and get their undergraduate degree in special education. In addition, sometime this year we are going to open our diagnostic centre where students with special needs can be assessed,” she said.

 

CAPTION: Special Education Lecturer at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, Keitha Osbourne, addresses JIS ‘Think Tank’, at the agency’s Regional Office in Montego Bay, St. James, on January 29.