JIS: With a student population of between 10,000 and 12,000 in any given year, Jamaica’s community colleges have become a game changer in tertiary landscape.

 

In 1974, they were established to accommodate students pursuing sixth form studies.

 

Forty-three years later, the system has transformed into one of the most affordable, flexible and accessible means to tertiary education, offering to Jamaicans a variety of programmes ranging from continuing education, short courses, postgraduate diplomas, Associate and Bachelor’s degree.

 

Executive Director of the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ), Dr. Donna Powell Wilson, tells JIS News that the programmes offered by the community colleges are some of the most affordable in the country. “We are not cheap but very affordable.

 

The cost to pursue a two-year Associate Degree is close to what a student will pay for one year of studies at a local university,” she says. She points out that community colleges have forged partnerships with local, regional and international institutions, to offer programmes to meet the educational needs of Jamaicans.

 

Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) have been established with institutions such as Jamaica Theological Seminary, University of Technology, University of the West Indies and Monroe College in the United States.

 

Dr. Powell Wilson says that under the MOU with Monroe College, credits can be transferred to pursue a Bachelor’s degree, which means community colleges graduates will not have to redo the programmes, when they enrol in these institutions.

 

“We form associations with other institutions, so that our students are not at a disadvantage if they want to further their studies,” she says.

 

The local community colleges have also extended their offerings through franchising regionally to Anguilla, the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas Baptist Community College.

 

Dr. Powell Wilson points out that in response to the emerging needs of the local economy, the CCCJ has just completed the development of a logistics supply chain management programme in collaboration with the Niagara College and the Marine University of Newfoundland, Canada.

 

This, she says, is sponsored by the CARICOM Education for Employment Programme.

 

She adds that the CCCJ is working on developing a partnership with Hocking College in the United States so as to offer different types of programmes to students.

 

Meanwhile, Principal of Knox Community College and President of the Association of Principals and Vice Principals of Community Colleges, Dr. Gordon Cowans, says that one of the challenges is informing persons that tertiary education is accessible to every Jamaican.

 

“Tertiary education is in the reach of all Jamaicans irrespective of your age or academic performance. We have coverage for the island, we have programmes to meet each and every Jamaican who want to better their professional or academic experience. The CCCJ is responding to today’s challenges creating tomorrow’s opportunities,” he says.

 

Meanwhile, Principal of Excelsior Community College in Kingston and Chair of the Curriculum Development Committee in the CCCJ, Philmore McCarthy, tells JIS News that in an effort to strategically coordinate the work of the community colleges, the CCCJ was established in 2001 through an Act in Parliament.

 

Mr. McCarthy says that the main functions of the Council are to draft regulations to govern operations; standardise the offerings; and ensure that the community colleges maintain quality standards.

 

“They also work with the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) and use their standards to develop programme, hence majority of our programmes are accredited,” he points out.

 

The CCCJ members are made up of representatives from community colleges, other local tertiary institutions, the private sector and HEART Trust/NTA.

 

The community college system boasts a two plus two model and according to Mr. McCarthy, under this model, a student has the opportunity for the first two years to pursue an Associate Degree and the other two years to gain a Bachelor’s Degree.

 

“We are geared towards preparing our students for the workplace and for industries, as well as persons who want to go on to further studies. You find that a person will come in and do two years, go back to work and then they would come back to complete another two years for their Bachelor’s Degree,” he explains . Students have access to programmes in areas such as engineering, technology, business, hospitality and tourism management, agriculture, education (trainers of primary school teachers), humanities – criminal justice, social work, logistics, business process outsourcing and management.

 

To pursue an Associate Degree, individuals are required to have five Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects, inclusive of Mathematics and English or its equivalent. For a Bachelor’s Degree, an Associate Degree from an accredited programme is required.

 

There are eight community colleges in Jamaica in 25 different locations across the island. They are the Bethlehem Moravian College, Moneague College, the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), Excelsior Community College, Montego Bay Community College, Brown’s Town Community College, Portmore Community College and Knox Community College.

 

CAPTION: Executive Director of the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica, Dr. Donna Powell Wilson (centre), addresses Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ recently. Observing from left are: Principal of Excelsior Community College in Kingston and Chair of the Curriculum Development Committee in the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ), Philmore McCarthy, and Principal of Knox Community College and President of the Association of Principals and Vice Principals of Community Colleges, Dr. Gordon Cowans.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has disbursed subventions totalling over $1.4 billion to secondary schools for the 2017/ 2018 academic year.

 

This was announced by Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, at a post- Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on June 28.

 

The Minister pointed out that this is the first of four tranches to be paid for the period.

 

“All schools that are due for funding from the Government by virtue of schedule, all those payments have been made – from early childhood to high school. All Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) payments, feeding payments and other grants have been made,” he said.

 

The Minister further informed that the budget has been increased to $200 million, up from $75 million, to procure 35,000 pieces of furniture for teachers and students for the new school year.

 

“We are way advanced and we expect to commence distribution of those furniture before July 31,” he said. 

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator, the Hon. Ruel Reid (left), engages first-form students of Campion College . (File Photo)

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information recently signed an agreement with Microsoft to provide administrative staff, teachers and students free access to Microsoft Office 365 tools, such as OneNote, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, across PCs, tablets and smartphones.

 

Education Minister Senator Ruel Reid during the signing said that the agreement with Microsoft is “a step forward in realising our mission of having a nation empowered by a dynamic system of care, education and training.”

 

“Now, more than ever, there’s an immediate need to accelerate the transformation of our education system, so we have students equipped with the knowledge needed to be productive members of our country in the 21st century, and teachers and staff that feel empowered with appropriate tools to transform the teaching-learning process,” Reid stated.

 

 

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information (MOEYI), in partnership with the National Education Trust (NET) and the University of Technology (UTech), is presently conducting inspections of infant, primary and secondary schools.

 

Some 971 schools are scheduled to be inspected under the Jamaica Safe Schools Project (JSSP), which is being managed by the World Bank to support the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) in mainstreaming disaster risk management in the regulation, planning, designing, construction and management of school infrastructure.

 

In a bulletin issued by the ministry, it was noted that the data-collection process from the inspections will be led by staff and students from UTech, who will function as supervisors and collectors, respectively.

 

The pilot phase of the project will be executed over the period June 26-29, with 45 schools in Kingston and five in St Andrew to be inspected.

 

The project began today with a team of at least two students from UTech going on site at selected schools to conduct the inspections.

 

This survey will comprise a site inspection of the compound, drawings and measurement of all buildings and an interview with the principal, or a senior member of staff.

 

The inspectors will need to access the buildings and the general compound to complete the inspections.

JIS: Students from 19 non-traditional high schools across the island have been honoured by the National Child Month Committee (NCMC) for outstanding performance and community service,  through its Academic Awards Programme.

 

Now in its fourth year, the Programme recognizes the accomplishments of young persons from non-traditional high schools in each parish, who have achieved academic excellence at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level and who demonstrate a spirit of volunteerism.

 

The award ceremony was held on June 23 at the Knutsford Court Hotel, in New  Kingston.

 

Recipients received a cash prize of $10,000, gift baskets, book vouchers and a plaque.

 

Speaking on behalf of State Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, Chief Executive Officer for the Child Development Agency (CDA), Rosalee Gage-Grey, congratulated the recipients and encouraged them to continue to pursue excellence.

 

“I have met some of the brightest and most outstanding students in our country, who are also positive role models in their communities and show characteristics that indicate they will grow up to make a positive contribution to society,” she said.

 

Chairperson of the NCMC, Dr. Pauline Mullings, who has served in the education sector for over 38 years, said rewarding children for academic achievement is good motivation for them to continue their pursuit of excellence in all aspects of life.

 

“When children are rewarded for their effort in school, it is a great motivation to get more reward. We see the pleasure on the faces of the children, parents and teachers and we are happy to do that for them,” she said.

 

Noting that many of these children excel despite significant financial and personal challenges, Dr. Mullings said the Programme aims to reward their perseverance and encourage them to continue their pursuit of excellence.

 

“This is important because many of the children from the non-traditional high schools are not really recognized for their efforts and hard work. We felt that this is something we want to do to motivate these children. Our main objective is to make these persons feel special and good about themselves, and that someone has taken the time to recognize the effort that they have made,” she said.

 

Sixth form student of Denbigh High School, in Clarendon, Jodian Clarke, who copped the award for ‘Top Student’, expressed her appreciation for the initiative.

 

“This award means a lot as we are given recognition for all the hard work and sacrifices made to pass our exams, despite the challenges we face. These awards will be a constant reminder to us to remain focused, determined and goal oriented as we move on to future endeavours,” she said.

 

CAPTION: Members of the National Child Month Committee (in background), with 19 recipients of awards at the handing over ceremony on June 23 at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston. The students from non-traditional high schools across the island achieved academic excellence at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level and demonstrated a spirit of volunteerism. 

GLEANER: How prepared is a new principal for the job of school leadership? How effective can he or she be, moving from classroom teaching to supervising colleagues, to handling the demands of administrative duties? Effective leadership is among the most critical factors in the success of any school. However, perhaps more important is how school leaders are prepared before taking on the challenging demands of their roles.

 

Jamaica’s education system has been responding to these concerns through a strategic and transformative review of the education sector, culminating in the Task Force Report of 2004. One critical need identified was a demand on principals to increase the effectiveness of their schools through improved management, efficient use of resources, and better relationships with the community being served.

 

These competencies can hardly be achieved through graduate qualifying programmes but more so through targeted training and preparation.

 

The Aspiring Principals’ Programme (APP) was designed to prepare individuals for the task of the principalship before their being in the post. This initiative was developed from the background that despite studies on the critical role of school leadership and student success, Jamaica continues to promote to individuals to the post of principals who are good classroom teachers without first providing them with the requisite preparation. The APP now serves as an opportunity to attract talent, identify high-quality applicants, and ensure a ready supply of well-trained applicants.

 

 

 

MAJOR EXPENDITURES

 

 

According to Dr Taneisha Ingleton, acting principal director of the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL), effective leadership at any level requires major expenditures of effort and energy. “The competencies required are observable and demonstrable and can be taught, nurtured, or enhanced, and the Aspiring Principals’ Programme, jointly developed by the National College for Educational Leadership and the School of Education, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, is intended to do just that,” she says.

 

Training, she indicates, must be targeted deliberate and at specific contexts and situations. It must never be assumed that past experiences or qualification levels are equivalent to effective leadership behaviours.

 

Leadership development for our school and system leaders must be something that is guarded jealously and should happen before accessing the post. “Investment in training and development will create a competitive advantage for any education system,” she added.

 

For his part, Dr Disraeli Hutton, programme coordinator and lecturer in the School of Education, UWI, Mona, noted: “Improvement in the performance of schools will rest significantly on the quality of leadership provided by principals. It is based on this knowledge that the Aspiring Principals’ Programme was developed by NCEL in collaboration with the Mona School of Business and Management and the School of Education,” he said.

 

With the APP in place, it is envisioned that all new principals who assume the role of principalship in the Jamaican school system will be provided with the competencies to make a difference in school performance. The School of Education, Dr Hutton says, is committed to this goal and will continue to work with the critical stakeholders to provide the highest level of training for both incumbent and aspiring principals.

 

The National College for Educational Leadership has been consistent in its mandate to provide quality leadership development interventions for its stakeholders. The Aspiring Principals’ Programme was developed in 2013 and was informed by the major findings from the Ministry of Education reports, including priorities outlined in policy documents related to Education Transformation; the National Education Inspectorate reviews of eight key areas of school effectiveness; and the Jamaica Teaching Council Professional Standards for Educators. The programme addresses complex organisational theories and the practical nature of the principalship.

 

Ingleton outlined that the programme emphasises what constitutes school leadership capability for the Jamaican school context. She notes, “With every mistake made by leadership, a child is disadvantaged, and that is why rigorous preparation before assumption of duties must be better than any effort of remediation.”

 

The programme is accessed in face-to-face settings and engages participants around four critical modules, namely Transformational Leadership, Instructional Leadership, Community Leadership and Organisational Leadership. A Field Experience component is embedded in which participants solve organisational issues with the aim of heightening student learning. To date, NCEL has trained over 400 aspiring principals in its programme and will, this year, matriculate another 83 aspirants, who will be poised to lead schools more effectively in Jamaica.

 

– Article courtesy of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information

 

CAPTION: 

Dr Taneisha Ingleton

JIS: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has expressed gratitude to the nation’s teachers for their extraordinary commitment and dedication to shaping the lives and sharpening the minds of the country’s children.

 

He was speaking at a ceremony held on Wednesday (June 21) on the lawns of Jamaica House, where 40 educators were awarded the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for their service to education.

 

“There is one thing that all our teachers share – an extraordinary devotion to duty and to nurturing the next generation. You have been role models, showing our children the importance of discipline and hard work and the importance of characteristics such as honesty and teamwork,” the Prime Minister said. 

 

He pointed out that teachers have stirred the imagination of students, enabling them to embrace the idea that “no matter the circumstances, an education is a tangible asset that will lead to wider spheres of achievement, accomplishment and service”. 

 

“Your examples of hard work and commitment to lifelong learning will continue to be an inspiration for years to come. I recognise all our teachers with a deep sense of appreciation and gratitude for the dedication with which they continue to play their role in building a confident and vibrant Jamaica,” Prime Minister Holness said. 

 

For his part, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, said the annual awards ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to recognise excellence and to celebrate the accomplishments of persons who have spent decades in the classroom and education administration. 

 

“The fact is it takes a special calling to be a teacher. By choosing to enter and to stay in education, you have demonstrated your commitment to serve future generations of Jamaicans. As teachers, whether in the classroom on a daily basis or working in administration, you shape your students’ values and help them discover their aspirations in life,” Senator Reid noted.

 

He added that many of the nation’s teachers never get the public recognition they deserve, “and I am truly happy that at least some of you are being recognised for the first time today”.

 

The recipients, who have collectively contributed 1,428 years of service to education, were nominated by their peers, community members and elected representatives.

 

To be considered for the award, recipients must have shown evidence of community involvement, including participation in civic and club activities. Educators involved with uniformed groups and programmes that foster the development of the community and creativity in the service rendered, may also be considered.

 

Among the awardees is employee at the Education Ministry, Lena Buckle-Scott, who has contributed immensely to the sector in Jamaica and the wider region.

 

In an interview with JIS News, Mrs. Buckle-Scott said she was “thankful, blessed and extremely elated” to receive the award.

 

“I didn’t dream that I would be so awarded for my service, but God is good. He is a great God and I thank those who have recommended me. I accept this award on behalf of all my family members, who have served the education fraternity for so long and have not been awarded in this manner,” she noted.

 

University of Technology (UTech) Professor Colin Gyles, who has served the education sector with distinction for 29 years, was instrumental in establishing the Faculty of Science and Sports at the institution, as well as the schools of Natural and Applied Sciences, Maths and Statistics, and the Caribbean School of Sports Science.

 

He told JIS News that he feels humbled by the recognition.

 

“Sometimes we do what we have to do without thinking about any recognition or anything like that. But when it is recognised, it does make a difference and makes one feel good and motivated to serve even more,” Professor Gyles said.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (seated left) and Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (seated right), share a photo opportunity with the recipients of the Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for service to education at the award ceremony held on Wednesday (June 21) on the lawns of Jamaica House. The 40 recipients, who have collectively contributed 1,428 years of service to education, were nominated by their peers, community members and elected representatives.

JIS: Approximately fifteen hundred young persons yesterday (June 20) attended the orientation and registration for the first phase of the HOPE programme.

 

The HOPE programme is the Government’s flagship training and apprenticeship programme, which targets unattached youth, aged 18 -24, who are not in school or currently employed.

 

HOPE means Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment.

 

The orientation was held at the Jamaica College auditorium.

 

The HOPE programme is the Government’s flagship training and apprenticeship programme, which targets unattached youth, aged 18 -24, who are not in school or currently employed.

 

“We plan to continue this process of registering young persons so this is only the first step. We put out the advertisement aiming to get the first five hundred because we have spaces for five hundred to be placed,” explained Lieutenant Rickman.

 

He added that the programme provide opportunities for persons to be placed in positions where they can become good, responsible and productive members of society.

 

“The aim is for between 10,000 to 15,000 young persons for this financial year, to get involved and prepared through this programme for the workforce,” he added.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness introduced the programme during his contribution to the Budget Debate on March 21.

 

CAPTION: Hundreds of unattached youth attend the HOPE programme orientation and registration at Jamaica College yesterday (June 20). 

JIS: New categories and features have been added to the Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards for Excellence, which returns this November after a three-year hiatus.

For the first time, awards will be presented for excellence in Innovation, Science and Technology and Environmental Protection.

 

These are in addition to the traditional areas of Agriculture, Sports, Youth-In-Service, Arts and Culture, Journalism, Entrepreneurship, Academics and Leadership.

 

Making the announcement at a press conference at the Ministry’s National Heroes Circle offices in Kingston on June 19, State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, explained that the new categories were created to “send a clear signal to our young people that those are the areas to embark upon”.

 

“Those are areas that are very important to our growth agenda, and they are important to our country in general,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, the category of Journalism will now include e-Journalism in recognition of the increasing distribution of content via the Internet, while Social Entrepreneurship has been added to the Entrepreneurship award category.

 

A special Jamaica 55 award has been created for 55 young persons who have demonstrated outstanding and consistent voluntary service at the community level.

 

The awardees in the Jamaica 55 category will be eligible for project grants from the Ministry to further their community and youth development work.

 

Mr. Green noted that the decision to reintroduce the PM Awards was to fittingly recognise young people’s critical role in transforming Jamaica.

 

He is encouraging youths between the ages of 15 and 29, who excel in the various areas, to apply for the awards before the August 31 deadline.

 

Jerome Cowans, who received the Award for Excellence in Leadership in 2011, said the national recognition has empowered him to continue his work in helping young people in his community. Jerome started a homework programme to help at-risk youngsters.

 

His has gained recognition for his leadership skills from her Majesty the Queen, former United States President Barack Obama and the Nelson Mandela family.

 

Introduced in 1998, the Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards for Excellence was created to recognise young Jamaicans who have excelled and contributed to national development in various areas. Since its inception, 165 awards have been conferred.

 

Nomination forms can be accessed at the Ministry’s website at www.moey.gov.jm, www.youthjamaica.com and at Youth Information Centres islandwide. 

 

CAPTION: State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (left) is in discussion with former Prime Minister’s National Youth Awards recipient, Jerome Cowans, at a press conference to announce the return of the awards at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle office in Kingston on June 19