JIS: The Supervised School Intervention Programme by the Dispute Resolution Foundation (DRF) was born out of concern for the wellbeing of youngsters who have been suspended from school and were often observed partaking in idle activities for the suspension period.

 

The initiative, brainchild of DRF Network Manager Sharon Young Palmer, was started at the Foundation’s Spanish Town Peace and Justice Centre in 2006 and later expanded to the peace and justice centres in St. James, Clarendon, St. Catherine and Kingston. 

 

“I conceptualized the Supervised School Intervention Programme because it was my observation that students were suspended from school and were sent home for a period, but they had no treatment for what led to the suspension and so the behavioural problems continued,” Mrs. Young Palmer said. 

 

“So I thought it would be good to have a programme that would assist the youths in understanding their responsibility as young citizens and as students. It was about us just helping them to understand their responsibilities better and to know what they need to do to become good and productive citizens,” she added.

 

She said that the initial stages of the programme highlighted the root cause of certain antisocial, maladaptive and disrespectful behaviour which usually leads to suspension of students. 

 

These included underlying challenges from circumstances such as loss of a parent, untreated trauma, parental separation, as well as academic and intellectual difficulties at school.

 

“It became necessary for us to solicit support from guidance counsellors in the schools. They would volunteer an hour or two and they would be matched with students from schools other than their own and gave great assistance in treating some of the conditions,” Mrs. Young Palmer said.

 

Students doing practicum in social work and guidance counselling were also engaged as a part of the programme to help to identify, treat with the challenges and make referrals.

 

She further noted that a component of the programme is geared at rapport building, achieved through techniques introduced in the playing of games such as chess and dominoes. 

 

“So you help them learn how to get along with each other, to have friendly rivalry, to learn how to lose…to understand that you don’t have to win all the time but you can be a good sport,” Mrs. Young Palmer said.

 

Art classes, done through support from volunteer teachers, is also used as a form of therapy to help the youngsters.

 

She said the programme also conducts parenting sessions to ensure parents have a clearer understanding of the experiences of their children and are prepared to provide support.

 

“One thing we do is say to the students that this is their place, their home away from home. They are always welcomed and are encouraged to come by after school, where they can socialize with each other,” the Network manager said, adding that during these visits, facilitators can interact with the students and assess progress.

 

One 13-year-old Windward Road Primary and Junior High School student who was suspended after getting into a fight hailed the programme for helping her deal with her anger problems, and teaching her ways to prevent conflict with her peers.

 

A 15-year-old Haile Selassie High student, who was twice suspended and became a part of the programme, further noted that the initiative helped her to manage peer pressure and make better decisions.

 

“When I came to the Foundation and I told them what happened, I think they were able to look at it in a different way and help me deal with it,” she said in an interview with JIS News.

 

Approximately 5000 students have been engaged in the programme at the all the centres combined.

 

“I am really feeling good. I am satisfied that we introduced this programme to the schools and the wider community…and it’s heart-warming and I am motivated to continue. When you have students coming in now who can say how good the programme was for them and how it helped them make the decision to change their behaviour, [that is very meaningful],” Mrs. Young Palmer said.

 

The Citizen Security and Justice Programme III (CSJPIII) provides support for the programme, including meals and transportation for participants.

 

CAPTION: Youngsters participate in a group discussion at a Dispute Resolution Foundation summer camp in Kingston in July.

JIS: Prime Minister, the Most. Hon. Andrew Holness, on Thursday (August 10) launched the National Youth Summer Employment Programme under which some 2,300 youths will be employed over a four-week period.

 

The young people, from across the island, will be engaged in the auditing of street lights and identifying vulnerable persons within communities who may require assistance during periods of natural disasters and other forms of emergency.

 

The exercise is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development and will run from August 14 to September 8.  Each participant will be paid $8,000 weekly.

 

Prime Minister Holness, in his remarks at the launch held at the Jamaica College compound, said the work to be carried out by the young people will provide critical information that will better enable the Government to serve the country.

 

He noted that the Government pays “a significant amount of money” for street lighting each year “and we have to know which street lights are working”.

 

“Some street lights are on, but the lights are so dim. They are burning up the electricity but not generating any light. We want to know which street lights are out so that we can better provide the service for the communities,” he said.

 

As it relates to the gathering of information about the vulnerable, he said that this will better enable the provision of emergency assistance and other support services to communities.

 

“For us to provide even better service, we want to know about the shut-ins, because a part of the remit of local government is to deal with some of the welfare issues in communities. (There) are thousands of Jamaicans poor and indigent… and a part of your job will be to go out and identify them and help us to create a database so that we can properly bring service to them,” Prime Minister Holness said.

 

He encouraged those persons who will not be in school or working when the programme finishes, to join the National Service Corps, under which young people will benefit from military, vocational, and life skills training over a one-year period.

 

Meanwhile, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, informed that the teams will also be required to identify streets for which name signs are missing.

 

The findings will be recorded in a database that will provide information for the Ministry and the municipal corporations.

 

He informed that funds have been set aside for “a comprehensive drive across the country in putting up street signs”.

 

The youth employment programme is being implemented through the municipal corporations.

 

An orientation exercise is scheduled for Monday (August 14) to ensure that participants are fully apprised of their tasks. The session will allow for questions and clarifications.

 

The initiative falls under the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) programme, which provides educational and job opportunities for young people, aged 18 to 24, who are not employed or enrolled in a school or programme of training.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (left) participates in the National Youth Summer Employment Programme, at the official launch of the initiative on August 10 at Jamaica College, St. Andrew

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information says it has noted several “inaccurate and misleading” statements in the media regarding its interaction with schools administrations on its funding policy.

 

As such, the ministry today issued a statement outlining the “facts” as follows (in full):

 

1. Several consultations and private meetings were held with key stakeholders including church and trust groups since early last year to discuss a non-mandatory auxiliary fee policy. Coming out of these meetings there was an agreement on a partnership on the policy. In addition a number of bulletins and media statements were issued on this policy.

 

2. It was observed however that there were major breaches in the agreed limits in registration packages and funding policy in the last academic year. After reminders and discussions, the ministry noted a major decline in breaches this year but had to intervene in some schools that came to our attention based on letters sent to parents.

 

3. With regard to outstanding arrears for locum tenens (i.e. substitute teachers), the MOEYI has cleared much of the outstanding payments for the period 2012-2016.

 

4. The MOEYI has been making payments to schools very early and in scheduled tranches thereby creating positive cash flow across the system. The ministry continues to honour its commitments.

 

5. It is not true that the ministry is providing only $ 17,000 to $19,000 per student to cover operational expenses. We have increased the areas of support since last year to include PATH students, ICT, TVET, STEM, temporary staffing, part-time teachers, and maintenance etc.

 

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6. It should be noted that there was no noticeable increase in the amount of support to schools during the 2012 -2016 period, which forced schools to be creative to survive. The ministry has been providing over 100% increase in resources to primary and secondary schools from where they were in 2015-2016. For secondary schools the support for high schools moved from $2.6 billion to $5.3 billion in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 now increased to $7.2 billion.

 

7. The total request for support from parents does not average $50,000 per student but $12,500. The 2016-2017 requests for parents support contributions were only $2.1 billion and not $ 6 billion. Of that amount only $893 million was collected. The parent support contribution has been declining due to economic constraints over the period 2012 to 2016 moving from a high of 65% in 2010 to an average that is now below 50%.

 

8. Over 50% of children in the system are on the PATH programme or are very poor in need of support. They are not able to pay high fees plus for costly books and other related school expenses. The Government through the Ministries of Labour and Social Security and Education, Youth and Information has taken practical steps to care for the poor and is working to reduce their burden. Twenty per cent (20%) of children do not attend school regularly due to economic and related issues.

 

The Ministry’s policy is to provide free public tuition from early childhood to age 18. This is part of the agenda to train our youths for productive activities and build a better, peaceful, crime free, gang free, and prosperous country.

 

9. The MOEYI continues to improve infrastructure in schools and has budgeted $577 million at the primary level and $500 million at the high school level for this year. In addition, funds have been allocated for canteen upgrading and ICT in education programmes integrated with STEM.

 

10. The MOEYI continues to have a positive relationship with the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) and other stakeholders with frequent meetings and dialogue. These meetings will continue as part of the partnership for education.

JIS: The Government is looking to double enrollment of students in tertiary institutions over the next 13 years.

 

Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, tells JIS NEWS that increasing the number of students benefiting from tertiary training is critical for the country to achieve development goals over the next 55 years and beyond.

 

He informs that the gross enrollment rate of the tertiary age cohort (18 – 24 years) is approximately 28.5 per cent, while only about 15 per cent of the workforce has tertiary training and certification.

 

He says the Government recognises that sustainable development goes hand in hand with higher education and, as such, will be providing increased opportunities for students to access tertiary studies at institutions across the island. This includes providing greater access to funding.

 

“We are doing all that we can to find a pathway solution to ensure that all our students, who are aspiring for the highest achievement in education, that they are so supported,” Minister Reid says.

 

Increased tertiary access is in keeping with the Education Sector Plan, which is part of the Vision 2030: National Development Plan.

 

It envisions an education and training system for Jamaica that produces well-rounded and qualified people, who are able to function as creative and productive individuals in all spheres of the society, and be competitive in a global context.

 

Under the plan, the average beneficiary of the education and training system is expected to: complete secondary level education; acquire a vocational skill; be proficient in  English language, a foreign language, mathematics, a science subject, and Information Communication Technology (ICT); participate in sports and the arts; be aware and proud of the local culture; and possess excellent interpersonal skills and workplace attitudes.

 

A major focus of the sector is to build capacities at crucial levels to ensure that training and certification meet industry needs locally and for the international market.

 

Minister Reid says the Career Advancement Programme (CAP) is a bold initiative to ensure that all students leaving secondary education have certification equivalent to an associate degree that they can build on at tertiary institutions.

 

The merger of the HEART Trust/NTA, Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL), and the National Youth Service (NYS) will ensure that more students can access training and certification through a centralised system.

 

“It is a human resource training institution and will be able to continue to improve and upgrade the skills of our workforce to ensure that they are cutting-edge to serve the Jamaican market as well as internationally,” Minister Reid says.

 

Looking at achievements in the sector over the last 55 years, Minister Reid says Jamaica has built a quality system that is providing full access from early childhood to secondary schools, and options for tertiary training.

 

At the dawn of Independence in 1962, education, which was largely regarded a privilege for a select few, become the right of every Jamaican.

 

Over the years, there have been major policy initiatives and significant investments to improve infrastructure, access and outcomes, and provide the highest quality training for all citizens.

 

 

Notable achievements include the development of standards to guide the delivery of early childhood education through the establishment of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) and standardised textbooks and workbooks; universal primary education; tuition-free policy and implementation of a highly subsidised and accessible book rental scheme at the secondary level; and a subsidised lunch programme.

 

In addition, there has been significant building and expansion of schools; development of the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) to replace the Common Entrance Examination (CEE); development and the implementation of various educational policies.

 

Minister Reid notes that prior to Independence, the majority of persons living in Jamaica did not have access to elementary education.

 

He says that since then significant strides have been made by introducing early childhood education “which is now accessible to most children and the Government intends to…ensure that all children have universal access and participation at approved institutions.”

 

Senator Reid notes that while at the point of Independence there was “low” access at secondary institutions, additional schools have been built enabling universal access to a full five years of secondary schooling.

 

At least three indigenous degree-granting institutions have been established since Independence – the University of Technology (UTech), Northern Caribbean University (NCU), and Mico University College – as well as several other multi-disciplinary colleges.

 

With all the advances made in education, Minister Reid says he is “inspired by where we are as a people.”

 

“Looking back at the last 55 years we have been through our successes, we have been through our challenges. Our vision is to give them (children) free access up to age 18 and ensure they can gain degrees by age 30, and move seamlessly into the world of work,” he notes.

 

The Minister sees education as “very critical” in fighting crime, improving discipline in the society, and ensuring better governance.

 

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

JIS:  The Ministry of Education has budgeted just over $226.3 million for fiscal year 2017/ 2018 to six Corporate Area high schools and one in St Thomas in additional financial support outside of their monthly subventions.

 

The funding covers areas such as tuition, furniture supplies TVET equipment, ICT Support, Apprenticeship Programme, the Career Advancement Programme Support, part time, temporary and no-teaching staff, and PATH Feeding Programme in some of the schools.

 

Letters have been dispatched to the principals of these schools which were cited in complaints to the Education Ministry about their breaching the Government’s non-mandatory auxiliary fees policy.

 

According to Education Minister, Senator Ruel Reid, given these figures, there is no basis for claims that only $17,000 is being spent on each child.

In the meantime, the Minister has withdrawn his reference to school administrators cited as being in breach of the policy as evidence of “corruption and extortion”.

“I withdraw the reference. I am emphasising however that the schools must comply with the announced policy,” Senator Reid said.

 

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

OBSERVER: EDUCATION Minister Senator Ruel Reid yesterday warned that strong action will be taken against school administrators and boards that continue to breach the Government’s non-mandatory fee policy.

 

The minister issued the warning against the background of reports that several schools were imposing obligatory fees on students despite the Government providing adequate funding, and in good time, to “cover their operations”.

 

In a reminder to board chairmen and principals of all public and private schools, the ministry referred to earlier bulletins regarding the funding arrangements for infant, primary, all-age and junior high schools, and policy on registration packages for the academic year 2017-2018.

 

According to a release from the ministry, the advisory to schools is that students should not be denied entry because of inability to pay. The policy is that contribution cannot be mandatory and must not be a requirement for registration, school access/attendance or criteria for graduation, examination slips, and application to sixth form or access to any public service at a public educational institution, the release continued. In addition, parents must not be forced to pay any contribution.

 

Senator Reid said the ministry, together with the National Parent Teacher Association of Jamaica, will continue to engage and encourage all parents to make the contribution approved by the boards, PTAs, and the ministry.

 

The release said that the policy includes that: Registration packages for students should range from $1,000 to $5,000 for this school year; schools must ensure that discussions are held with their Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) as it relates to the contribution amount being requested from parents for the period 2017-2018; all boards are expected to sign off on all communication to parents so that there is conformity with the education ministry’s policy.

 

“Repeated breach in relation to the aforementioned will result in strong action against schools and relevant action against the boards of management,” Senator Reid said.

JIS: There has been a 4.2 per cent increase in the number of Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) students who were successful in Mathematics this year, when compared to last year.

 

Assessment Officer in Mathematics, Ministry of Education, Stacy Witter-Bailey, made the announcement during the TANG GSAT Scholarship Awards Luncheon, held  on July 31 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.

 

“Several initiatives have been implemented by the Ministry throughout our schools in an effort to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics,” she pointed out.

 

Now in its sixth year, the Ministry of Education-endorsed TANG GSAT scholarship programme awards the top performing student for Mathematics at the GSAT level from each of the island’s three counties.

 

The scholarships, valued at $50,000 each, are to go toward school-related expenses.

 

The three scholarship recipients achieved an impressive 100 per cent in Mathematics in the recent GSAT. They are: Tivonia Daley of St. Aloysius Primary, who passed for Immaculate Conception High, for the county of Surrey; Kayandra

 

Gooden-Smith of Catherine Hall Primary, for the county of Middlesex, who passed for Montego Bay High; and Arecia Burgess, representing the county of Cornwall, will be moving on from Marley Mount Primary to attend Glenmuir High.

 

Guest speaker at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of the Child Development Agency (CDA), Rosalee Gage-Grey, congratulated the young scholarship recipients for their achievement and encouraged them to continue to pursue academic excellence in the next stage of their education.

 

She also praised the teachers and parents for their exemplary work with the children, which has resulted in their outstanding performance in the recent exams.

 

“Teaching is one of the most important jobs in our society due to the impact that a good teacher can have on the future of a child. The quality of the scholars here today is a testament to the fact that you have done a great job caring for our children,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, Brand Manager for TANG, Shellian Thompson, told JIS News the scholarship programme has been yielding positive results.

 

“The programme was conceived out of a desire to salute and celebrate our children that are performing well in mathematics,” she said.

 

 

JIS: There has been a 4.2 per cent increase in the number of Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) students who were successful in Mathematics this year, when compared to last year.

 

Assessment Officer in Mathematics, Ministry of Education, Stacy Witter-Bailey, made the announcement during the TANG GSAT Scholarship Awards Luncheon, held  on July 31 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.

 

“Several initiatives have been implemented by the Ministry throughout our schools in an effort to improve the teaching and learning of mathematics,” she pointed out.

 

Now in its sixth year, the Ministry of Education-endorsed TANG GSAT scholarship programme awards the top performing student for Mathematics at the GSAT level from each of the island’s three counties.

 

The scholarships, valued at $50,000 each, are to go toward school-related expenses.

 

The three scholarship recipients achieved an impressive 100 per cent in Mathematics in the recent GSAT. They are: Tivonia Daley of St. Aloysius Primary, who passed for Immaculate Conception High, for the county of Surrey; Kayandra

 

Gooden-Smith of Catherine Hall Primary, for the county of Middlesex, who passed for Montego Bay High; and Arecia Burgess, representing the county of Cornwall, will be moving on from Marley Mount Primary to attend Glenmuir High.

 

Guest speaker at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer of the Child Development Agency (CDA), Rosalee Gage-Grey, congratulated the young scholarship recipients for their achievement and encouraged them to continue to pursue academic excellence in the next stage of their education.

 

She also praised the teachers and parents for their exemplary work with the children, which has resulted in their outstanding performance in the recent exams.

 

“Teaching is one of the most important jobs in our society due to the impact that a good teacher can have on the future of a child. The quality of the scholars here today is a testament to the fact that you have done a great job caring for our children,” she said.

 

Meanwhile, Brand Manager for TANG, Shellian Thompson, told JIS News the scholarship programme has been yielding positive results.

 

“The programme was conceived out of a desire to salute and celebrate our children that are performing well in mathematics,” she said.

 

 

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, is reminding Jamaicans that they have a responsibility under the Child Care and Protection Act to report known and suspected cases of child abuse.

 

He said a 2013 survey by the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR), which tested people’s knowledge, attitude, practices and behaviour towards child maltreatment in Jamaica, revealed that 90 per cent of known cases of child abuse remain unreported by the adults, who knew what was going on.

 

“It is alarming to think of the many children who continue to suffer in silence because they either don’t know to whom they should report these matters or are otherwise convinced not to make reports,” Senator Reid said.

 

“We all must see it as an imperative to do what is within our power to ensure that attention is given to children, who fall into these very difficult situations where they are exploited and abused,” he added.

 

He was speaking at the Protect the Children Symposium at The Mico University College in Kingston on July 27.

 

The event was organised by the United States-based Diaspora group, Female Development World Organization, as part of activities for Diaspora Day of Service.

 

The Education Minister further encouraged Jamaicans to make every effort to be informed about the issues and become familiar with the possible signs that a child has or is being abused.

 

He said children affected by abuse can become withdrawn or be extra sensitive to touch for example.

 

“We all have a collective responsibility to our children and we must come together to ensure their protection. Whether it is in our homes, our communities or at the national level, each of us must identify and carry out our roles,” Senator Reid said.

 

President of the Female Development World Organization, Lavern Deer, said the entity “cares about the protection of our children.”

 

She said the symposium was held to draw attention to the issue of child abuse, which affects countries across the globe.

 

She said the United Nations Children’s Fund reports that girls, ages 11 to 17, face the brunt of sexual abuse in Jamaica. In the United States, one in five girls is abused before the age of 18.

 

“What this shows us is that we have a global problem …when it comes to child sex abuse,” she pointed out.

 

Ms. Deer said the organisation was pleased to have partnered with Eve for Life and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in the staging of the symposium.

 

The OCR, which began operations in January 2007, is responsible for receiving, recording and assessing reports of child abuse and referring them to agencies for investigation and action.

 

Data from the OCR reveal that over 60,000 cases of child sexual abuse were reported up to 2015.

 

Persons wishing to make a report to the OCR can call 1-888-PROTECT

 

(1-888-776-8328) or 908-2132, 822-7031, 878-2882, 618-5888, 631-8933 and 631-8908.

 

Persons can also complete a reporting form and submit it to the OCR’s head office at 12 Carlton Crescent, Kingston 10, or fax to 908-2579 or email it to: [email protected].

 

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

 

JIS: Members of the Jamaica Diaspora made donations to the education sector at a session of the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, on July 26.

 

The session was addressed by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, who highlighted the needs in the education system, and gave an update on the Government’s investment in the sector.

 

Senator Reid also urged the members to partner with the Government to improve the education system.

 

He said a major focus of the Ministry is taking over a number of privately run early childhood institutions that need upgrading.

 

“We will need the Diaspora to continue to give support to improve the infrastructure as much as possible,” the Minister told them.

 

Retired educator, Dr. Hermine Speckles, donated US$2,500, noting that her contribution is a “giving back,” as the Education Ministry helped her with an overseas scholarship.

 

Representative from Caribbean Food Delights, Janice Julian, contacted her senior managers, and got the approval to donate US$2,000.

 

Public-Private Relationship Manager with the National Education Trust (NET), Latoya Harris, informed that other partners on the agency’s Pledge 2 Build initiative ran their own fundraising exercises during the Conference.

 

Some 14 schools at the primary and the secondary levels are slated for repairs by the end of the year through the donations.

 

“People like to see when others have confidence in something, and Pledge 2 Build is an initiative than can make a difference in the lives of thousands of children,” the NET official told JIS News.

 

Director at the Onecare Health Services Inc., Carlton Darby, made a pledge of $250,000 for the West Kingston-based Tivoli Gardens High School.

 

Mr. Darby informed that he, along with several past students, will, in a few weeks, start the implementation of a project to support the school, which includes the mentoring of students.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (left), is greeted by Chairman of the Jamaica Diaspora Education Task Force, Leo Gillings, on his arrival at yesterday’s (July 26) education forum at the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference, held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.