JIS: Educators across western Jamaica are expressing optimism with the full rollout of the new National Standards Curriculum (NSC) for students in all grades for the 2017/18 academic year.

 

The full rollout comes a year after it was implemented on a pilot basis in 49 schools for students in grades one to nine at the beginning of the 2016/17 school year.

 

The new curriculum is aimed at improving the general academic performance, attitude and behaviour of students.

 

It places direct emphasis on project-based and problem-solving learning, with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics/Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEM/STEAM) integrated at all levels. It also allows students more hands-on experiences that are similar to real-world situations, making the learning experience less abstract and more concrete.

 

Regional Director for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information in Region 4, Montego Bay, St. James, Dr. Michelle Pinnock, says she is excited at the implementation.

 

“I am excited about the NSC, as it promotes the establishment of a learner-centred classroom. Teachers will be able to engage all learners, especially the boys, as they partner in teaching-learning activities that promote the development of 21st-century skills – collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, communication and problem solving,” she says.

 

“This curriculum encourages the partnership of parents, students, teachers and the community. Construction of new knowledge through the integration of technical vocation will cause learners to appreciate new content as they connect and move from the known to the unknown,” Dr. Pinnock adds.

 

She points out that work on the new curriculum started more than three years ago, and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information engaged a number of teachers and other stakeholders.

 

“The new curriculum will allow students to utilise their own talents and experiences in the learning process,” Dr. Pinnock says.

 

She notes that Civics forms a major part of this new dispensation, while Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Spanish have been formally introduced at the primary level.

 

In addition, subject areas such as Geography and History have been separated from Social Studies and are being offered separately starting at grade 7. Chemistry, Biology and Physics have been separated from Integrated Sciences, and will be offered separately at grade 9.

 

Dr. Pinnock says the changes are aimed at ensuring that the requisite foundation for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) in the disciplines is laid during the lower secondary years.

 

Giving his views on the curriculum, Principal of Herbert Morrison Technical High in Montego Bay, St. James, Paul Adams, says his teachers are ready for its implementation.

 

“We have been mandated by the Ministry of Education to implement the new standards curriculum and we have done our preparatory work and are ready. This will be a game changer for our students, and we are looking forward to the benefits which it brings,” he tells JIS News.

 

Meanwhile, parents also welcome the new curriculum, which will further enhance their children’s academic potential.

 

Charles Baker, whose son attends Cornwall College in Montego Bay, tells JIS News that the new curriculum “offers the students lots of avenues for growth and development as they look forward to becoming productive students and take on the rigours of external examinations. Our children will definitely benefit”.

 

Another parent, Michelle Stewart, mother of a fourth-form student at Petersfield High School in Westmoreland, is very optimistic that the subjects and the focus in the new curriculum will ensure that more rounded and qualified students leave the nation’s schools.

 

“The curriculum gives the students more opportunities to fulfil their dreams. I particularly like the idea of getting Civics back into the school, as this will bring our children into a better space to understand the value of knowing about their country, civic pride and good manners,” she tells JIS News.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, interacts with students of Pembroke Hall Primary School, Jabarie Wilson (left) and Jahnae Fletcher. (File)

JIS: The three schools that began operating on the single shift on Monday (September 4) have reported a smooth transition, which should result in more educational programmes for students.

 

They are Mandeville Primary and Junior High School in Manchester, Green Park Primary and Junior High in Clarendon, and Kitson Town All-Age in St. Catherine.

 

Principal of the Mandeville Primary and Junior High, Howard Salmon, told JIS News that parents supported the move to the single-shift system, and administrators were able to implement the move without any difficulty.

 

The way forward, he said, is to continue to provide quality education for the students and to complete their $50-million auditorium that will be used as a homework and after-school facility.

 

Principal of the Green Park Primary and Junior High, Frederick Lattray, said they had prepared the stakeholders for the change.

 

“It means that the students will have greater time in the teaching and learning process,” he said.

 

Mr. Lattray added that more time will be given to extracurricular activities and other character-development programmes, which the shift system did not allow.

 

He noted that the school is now charting a growth path, which includes adding an early-childhood institution. “Having an early-childhood institution will further strengthen our ability to better prepare our students,” the Principal told JIS News.

 

Meanwhile, Principal of the Kitson Town All-Age, Nerica Powell-Hay, reported that parents were “excited” to know that their children will be spending more hours at school.

 

She said the development also means improved security for children, as they will leave the institution long before dusk.

 

“More time will be allotted to teaching and learning sessions, and our children will also be able to participate in more extracurricular activities. We are looking forward to the benefits of this system, with improved performance by the students,” Mrs. Powell-Hay said.

 

Several other schools will exit the shift system in January of 2018 and beyond.

 

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, has said that ground will be broken by 2019 for five new schools, while collaborations will continue between the

 

Government and multilateral partners for the building of 17 new institutions to meet the space needed.

 

He said two schools will be built in North East and North West Manchester, one in the Old Harbour area, one in North West St. Ann, and one in the Montego Bay area in St. James.

 

“Those are the critical areas that we have to look at,” the Minister said in an interview with JIS News.

 

CAPTION: The Ministry of Education’s main office, 2 National Heroes Circle.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says one of the Ministry’s goals this academic year is to prepare school administrators, parents and students for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination, which will be introduced in the 2018/19 school year.

 

The PEP will replace the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), which will have its last sitting this academic year.

 

PEP is the Government’s new primary-school-leaving assessment programme. It will be closely aligned to the National Standards Curriculum (NSC), and aims to create an assessment tracker.

 

The programme will cover the last three years at the primary-school level and will have a continuous assessment component between grades four and six.

 

Speaking on September 5 at the opening of a new sanitation facility at Mona Heights Primary School in St. Andrew, Senator Reid said the Ministry will continue to inform administrators of primary schools, parents and students about the new developments with PEP.

 

“We are looking forward to the final sitting of the GSAT and the smooth transition to high school, and also a smooth transition to the Primary Exit Profile in 2019,” the Minister told JIS News in an interview.

 

“That, itself, is one of the goals we have for this year – to sensitise the public in the transition to PEP,” he added.

 

In addition to the introduction of PEP, there will continue to be a rollout of the NSC in primary and preparatory schools, which should adequately prepare students to sit the examination in 2019.

 

Students sitting PEP will start their assessment from grade four, as they will be doing assignments that will contribute to the overall grade that they will be receiving at the end of grade six. Students will also be assessed in grade five. 

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left), greets students of Mona Heights Primary School during his visit on September 5. The Minister also officially opened a new sanitation facility, which was partially funded by the Ministry.

JIS: Two days into his tour of schools for the new school year, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, visited the Mona Heights Primary School and officially opened a new 24-unit sanitation facility at the institution on Tuesday, September 5.

 

The units were recently constructed at a cost of approximately $5 million, with the Ministry of Education committing $4 million to the project. The remainder was provided by the parents.

 

In his address to the students, the Minister said he was pleased to have been invited by the institution to open the new facility.

 

He congratulated Principal, Fabian Mahabeer, and the staff for overseeing the construction of the new facility and ensuring that it was completed for the start of the new academic year.

 

“We’re very excited about what is happening at Mona Heights Primary. This is a clear example of leadership. This is preparedness… that you can plan ahead for the beginning of the school year,” the Minister said.

 

The Minister said the Ministry would continue to provide more resources for the school.

 

“We will continue to invest in this institution to make it into a First-World institution. We are looking forward to improving the infrastructure and bringing information and communications technology, making sure you’re properly wired and that you have the latest technologies in your classrooms,” he added.

 

In response, Mr. Mahabeer thanked Senator Reid for visiting the institution and opening the facility.

 

“We feel privileged. The Minister has always had an interest in our school. He sees where we are trying to make a difference in all spheres of the education sector, so his association with us continues to grow,” Mr. Mahabeer said.

 

He said the new sanitation facility is needed as in the past there was only one bathroom at the back of the building to serve the children.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (right), addresses students at Mona Heights Primary School during their devotion on September 5. Following the ceremony, Senator Reid officially opened a new 24-unit sanitation facility. Behind the Minister is Principal of the school, Fabian Mahabeer.

GLEANER: Indicating that there were no reports so far of students being reprimanded for inappropriate attire, Education Minister Ruel Reid said his ministry expects that a standardised policy should be established by the end of September.

 

Giving his assessment on the start of the new academic year, Reid said he still expects that there will be an understanding among all stakeholders until a policy is implemented.

 

“Unfortunately, we were not able to conclude the policy ahead of the start of the school year. We are making sure we do the necessary consultations, getting the National [Secondary] Students’ Council and other youth groups to be a part of the final document. By the end of September, we should have that document ready,” Reid said.

 

“In the interim, we did indicate to the schools that while they are allowed under the regulation to set their rules, and there needs to be a set of consultations, there is understanding on the part of students and parents that the policy must be ratified by the board, so persons are very clear what their rules are. You need to demonstrate very clearly and graphically what you mean by the various standards that you are setting.”

 

In the meantime, Reid said a demonstration by residents in Kellits, Clarendon, and road repairs close to the Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew area caused delays for students getting to school on time yesterday.

 

However, he pointed out that most schools reopened incident free.

 

 EARLY FUNDS BOOST PREPAREDNESS

 

Reid also noted that the Government’s efforts of providing funding to institutions from as early as July benefited the overall preparedness of schools.

 

“Externally, a couple challenges were identified not directly related to school, but in terms of students having some trouble accessing school this morning (Monday). There were reports of road repairs taking place in and around the Lawrence Tavern area, which would affect students going to the Lawrence Tavern Primary School, among schools in that area. However, alternate routes were established,” the minister stated.

 

He also said there were no reports of adverse challenges in Montego Bay, St James, especially in light of the intense security presence in the Mount Salem community, which was last Friday declared Jamaica’s first zone of special operations.

 

Reid sought to reassure persons living in trouble areas that special arrangements are being made to ensure that students can access schools without hassle.

 

[email protected]

 

CAPTION: Education Minister Ruel Reid and Captain Kasan Troupe (right), director of regional educational services in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, speak to students at the Half-Way Tree Primary School yesterday as the new school year got under way.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, is reporting that the new academic year got off to a smooth start.

 

“All things are going very well. I’ve also been in touch with my regional directors. Everything seems to be moving quite nicely,” he said.

 

The Minister was speaking to JIS NEWS following a tour of institutions on Monday (September 4), the first day of the new school year.

 

The Minister visited the Old Harbour High and Old Harbour Primary schools in St. Catherine, and the Half-Way Tree Primary and New Day Primary and Junior High in Kingston.

 

“The schools are in very good readiness. The teachers are on high alert; the principals and the students are ready for school,” he told JIS NEWS.

 

Minister Reid said the Government has put everything in place to ensure that schools have the necessary resources to function effectively and to provide an environment for students to thrive.

He is imploring students to remain focused and to strive for excellence.

 

Turning to Mount Salem and its environs, where a zone of special operations (ZOSO) is in effect, the Minister informed that there were no adverse reports coming out of the area regarding the movement of students.

 

“We expect, as the Prime Minister (the Most Hon. Andrew Holness) has indicated, that the security forces will allow free passage of students. We encourage students, nonetheless, to acquire their identification (ID), and that will also help, going forward, for them to have easy access in and out of that area,” he said.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (2nd right), addresses students at the Half-Way Tree Primary School in Kingston during a visit to the institution on Monday (September 4). At right is Principal of the School, Carol O’Connor Clarke. The Minister also visited the Old Harbour High and Old Harbour Primary schools in St. Catherine, and the New Day Primary and Junior High in Kingston.

JIS: My fellow Jamaicans, as we begin this new school year 2017 / 2018, we do so with much optimism and confidence that this will be a very good year for the education of our young people in Jamaica.

 

Much work has been done to lay the foundation for improved student performance. School plants have been renovated, furniture and other equipment have been provided and most important, the first tranche operational grants have been sent to our schools in good time to allow for the smooth re-opening of our institutions.

 

Last year, we experienced a tremendous partnership among stakeholders – teachers, the Jamaica Teachers Association, students, parents, school board members, administrative, ancillary, and staff of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information.

 

Together we must build on that partnership and stakeholder engagement this year as we continue to work for the educational development of our children and overall economic growth in our country.

 

So we start this new school year with a great sense of hope that our united efforts will lead to better education outcomes.

 

The encouraging results from our students’ performance in the GSAT exams and improvements at the CSEC, CAPE, NVQJ and City and Guilds levels point to the progress being made through new initiatives to improve outcomes. With the continued excellent guidance of our teachers and application of our students we will see good results.

 

I turn now to our plans and policies for the education system for the start of the 2017/2018 academic year.

 

We now spend over thirty seven billion, six hundred and ninety nine million, six hundred and twenty four thousand, three hundred and sixty one dollars (37,699,624,361) on secondary education which includes Salaries, Grants, TVET, ICT, Science, Infrastructure, furniture and nutrition. That means we are spending between $176,994 and $190,000 per capita at the secondary level.

 

We will honour our commitment to increase funding to Primary, All Age and Junior High Schools for the academic year 2017/2018 with a budget of $1B outside of salaries.

 

In the meantime, we have adopted a non-obligatory policy towards the payment of parents’ contribution. We are however encouraging parents to contribute to their schools once agreement has been reached and approved by the Board of Governors.

 

New policies are also in place to help schools address pressing problems and help with their cash flow.

 

i. The first tranche has already been disbursed from June 2017.

ii. The second tranche to be disbursed in the second week of September.

iii. The third tranche in the second week of December.

iv. The fourth tranche will be paid in the second week of April 2018

 

All other support grants to school including STEM, TVET, Curriculum, Infrastructure repairs are being disbursed.

 

In addition to the support mentioned earlier, we are also providing other areas of support for the new school year:

 

These include payment for: • Additional teachers for those schools that require special support based on the nature of the students and special programmes being offered.

• Twenty five (25) temporary Deans of Discipline

• Over 1000 young persons to be engaged as lab technicians, Safety and Security Support Officers, Clerical Officers and environmental Wardens will be placed in selected schools.

• Payment of 913 cooks across the system to the tune of 274.8 million.

• Upgrading of canteens and provision of equipment to the tune of over $200 million

 

This administration believes no child should be left behind because of the family’s economic circumstances. So the Government has increased funding for students on PATH to ensure they receive lunch for five days per week and literature books commencing with the grade 7, 10 and 11 in this new term at a cost of $116 million.

 

Payment for insurance will also be made for students on PATH and wards of the State at a cost of $26M.

 

PATH allocation of $2000 will be used to cover the cost of ID and uniform related items. Book vouchers are being provided for the neediest students up to $ 2000 per student. Total to be spent is $50M.

 

Transportation will be provided for students on PATH in eight parishes.

 

This will be done in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) as well as the Ministry of Transport and Mining. A total of $200M will be allocated for this activity.

 

At the early childhood level, many of our institutions need help. As part of the efforts to improve standards and give our children a strong foundation as they begin their education journey, the

 

Ministry will be taking over a number these schools. In addition with the support of the Ministry, 117 basic schools will be converted into 56 Infant Departments.

 

Our mantra Every child can learn, every child must learn is at the centre of what we do. So we are ensuring that our children with special needs are not left behind. The Ministry’s Special Education Unit will place one thousand, four hundred and seventy four (1,474) students in special education facilities at a cost of fifty seven million, seven hundred and eighty six thousand, two hundred and forty dollars ($57, 786, 240), for 2017- 2018.

 

Of course, among the most essential tools for students are textbooks. Therefore under the National Textbook Loan Scheme and the Primary Textbook Programme, the Ministry of Education is spending approximately eight hundred million ($800,000,000.00) on books for the new school year. The delivery of books to schools has started and will be completed by October 6, 2017.

 

With regard to nutrition, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information School Feeding Unit in collaboration with the Nutrition Products Limited will continue to provide funds and or snacks to schools directly for the School Feeding Programme.

 

The Ministry is happy to report that the delivery of furniture to schools primarily for students started from the second week in July and will be completed by the last week of September.

 

To ensure that critical infrastructure issues are addressed, we have identified 172 schools for upgrades from the Schools Maintenance Project at a cost of Five Hundred and Fifty-four Million Three

 

Hundred and Three Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty Dollars ($554,303,880.00).

 

This infrastructure upgrade also addresses sanitation concerns. Forty two schools still utilize pit latrines as the only means of faecal disposal. As such, Seventy-six million dollars ($76,000,000.00) has been allocated in the 2017 – 2018 budgets for 35 schools under the Ministry’s Sanitation Programme.

 

Schools are being encouraged to ensure that safety and security committees are in place and that the safety and Security Guidelines are utilized within the schools to treat with this area.

 

We began the phased roll out of the new national curriculum last year and for this year it will be fully implemented in all grades up to grade 9 in the first term of the new school year. The Alternative Pathway for Secondary Level Education will also be launched in 84 schools.

 

In the meantime, the Career Advancement Programme has been expanded as the flagship programme for the creation of an additional two years at the secondary level. Over 123 schools have been approved to offer the programme to date and others are being processed.

 

My fellow Jamaicans, this year we have another great opportunity to redouble our efforts to help create an education system which enables every child to achieve his or her full potential.

As we do so in a spirit of unity and partnership, this will be to the benefit of all of us in the short, medium and long term. Together let us rise and build Jamaica, land we love.

 

Thank you.

 

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

JIS: Thousands of students and teachers will begin the new academic year on Monday (Sept. 4) in much improved surroundings.

 

Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, told JIS NEWS that 172 institutions were identified for repairs at a cost of $554.3 million under the schools maintenance project.

 

He informed that $316.7 million was disbursed to 122 schools to undertake crucial works to facilitate the re-opening of plants for September.

 

The other 50 institutions are under contracts for various renovations at a cost of $174. 4 million.

 

Meanwhile, 14 early childhood institutions were identified for modifications for the creation of infant departments.

 

Contracts were awarded for projects at 11 schools at a cost of $49.5 million. Construction activities have started with works up to 80 per cent completed on some projects.

 

In addition to the repairs and maintenance, the Minister told JIS NEWS upgrading projects are being undertaken at several other institutions across the island.

 

At Pembrook Hall High School in St. Andrew three classrooms are being constructed at a cost of $14 million. The project is slated for completion in October.

 

The Cedric Titus High in Trelawny is building four classrooms from a $31 million allocation, while at the Sydney Pagon Academy in St. Elizabeth, three classrooms are being built at a cost of $24 million.

 

Work is 50 per cent complete on a $27 million upgrading project at the Bellevue Primary and Junior High in Trelawny, while the tender process is underway for the construction of four classrooms at Maldon High in St. James.

 

The Manchester-based Bryce Primary is being upgraded under a $26 million project, and design work is completed for a $50 million restoration project at Westwood High in Trelawny.

 

Giving an update on the sanitation programme, the Education Minister informed that $76 million was allocated in the 2017/18 budget to upgrade bathrooms at 35 of 42 schools that still had pit latrines.

 

The reminding seven schools will be completed through partnership with the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the Culture, Health, Arts, Science and Education (CHASE) Fund.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (centre), addresses a JIS Think Tank on August 28. He is flanked by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dean-Roy Bernard; and Chief Education Officer, Dr. Grace McLean.

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says some 35,000 pieces of furniture are being distributed to primary and secondary schools in order to ensure that all students are adequately accommodated for the new academic year.

 

“We decided this year to start the procurement process early, so we started from November. This is the first time that we were able to deliver furniture as early as mid-July, so we are way advanced,” he noted.

 

He informed that the acquisition was made possible through an expanded budget of $200 million, up from $75 million.

 

“We are ready for the new term. We don’t expect that furniture will be a major problem,” he said.

 

Senator Reid was speaking with JIS News at a Rotary Club of Kingston luncheon at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on August 31.

 

Meanwhile, the Minister said the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) will play a critical part in ensuring regular school attendance.

 

He noted that the zones will normalise communities and allow free passage for children to go to school.

 

Senator Reid said that the initiative was developed to restore and maintain peace in volatile areas and enable the police to provide service and reassurance to the public and greater protection for children in particular.

 

“I see the special zones as an aid to our Ministry to ensure that all our children are able to get to school and get the education that we want them to get,” he asserted.

 

The zones will address crime and violence, while upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms.

 

Communities where zones have been established will benefit from social interventions and other provisions.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left), enjoys a light conversation with President of the Rotary Club of Kingston, Michael Buckle (centre), and Past President, Michael Fennell. Occasion is the Rotary Club’s luncheon held on August 31 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is moving to optimise schools’ outputs through greater use of information and communications technology (ICT) in teaching.

 

Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Ministry and its stakeholder partners are exploring several options to ensure that trainee teachers are equipped with computer skills as part of their core competencies.

 

He was speaking at the Teachers Colleges of Jamaica (TCJ) professional development workshop at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, on Wednesday, August 30.

 

Noting concerns from several school Principals about the limited knowledge of technology of some trainee teachers, Senator Reid said the Ministry planned to rectify this by incorporating ICT in the colleges’ training programmes to facilitate its use in the preparation of lesson plans, delivery of lectures and general administration.

 

Senator Reid reiterated the Government’s commitment to repositioning Jamaica on the cutting edge of technology, particularly in education, to meet the growing demand for technology skills in business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing and engineering.

 

The two-day workshop, which was held from August 29 to 30, is staged at the start of each semester and targets administrators from the country’s eight teacher-training institutions, who meet for professional development training and discussions on issues impacting education.

 

The institutions include Bethlehem Moravian College, Catholic College of Mandeville, Church Teachers’ College, Moneague College, St. Joseph’s Teachers’ College, Shortwood Teachers’ College, Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, and The Mico University College.

 

The workshop was staged in collaboration with the Joint Board of Teacher Education, University of the West Indies (UWI).

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left), emphasises a point while speaking during the Teachers Colleges of Jamaica professional development workshop at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston on Wednesday, August 30. Looking on is Jamaica Teachers’ Association President, Georgia Waugh Richards. The two-day workshop, held from August 29 to 30, was staged for administrators at the island’s eight teacher-training institutions.