GLEANER:  As you get ready to send the children back to school, here are some tips from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information to help make the process easier:

 

As parents prepare to send their children into the halls of secondary schools, the concern of many is the performance of their child throughout the tenure of high school. That is our concern as well. With a new school, come new challenges and new expectations.

 

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is aware that all students are unique in their style of leaning. To ensure all students have an equal opportunity of learning, we have created the Alternative Pathways to Secondary Education (APSE).

 

The results from your child’s Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT), or the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination starting in 2019, will determine the pathway he or she is placed in during the monitored years of their secondary journey. This is not a final pathway; as your children progress, they are advanced to the suitable pathway based on their achievements. Students will also be supported during their years of secondary school with the aid of student support pathway coaches.

 

 Helping Students Achieve Their Potential

 

 The APSE is an initiative that is based on tailored curricula that enables learners to perform at his or her fullest potential based on aptitude, interest and ability. This initiative has three pathways: Pathway I (SPI), Pathway II (SPII) and Pathway III (SP III).

 

Students on Pathway will have access to the National Standards Curriculum (NSC) through grades seven to 13 as per the appropriate syllabi. This pathway allows students to access the necessary exit examination based on their abilities inclusive of the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC), City and Guilds, Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) and the National Vocational Qualification of Jamaica (NVQJ).

 

Support is integral for all students to excel and this is indicative of Secondary Pathway II. It isn’t permanent. Pathway II is a two-year transitional programme that aids students who might need additional instructional support. There will be an evaluation at grade eight which will determine the crossover into either SP I or SP II.

 

The Secondary Pathway III supports students who have not mastered the Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy examination. This pathway will be taught through a curriculum in the following subjects: mathematics, English kanguage, communication, social studies and science. Their academic journey will also be enhanced with personal empowerment, technical and vocational instruction, as well as the performing and creative arts. At grade nine, a career interest inventory will be administered to determine their path under the Career Advancement Programme (CAP).

 

 What Is The Career Advancement Programme?

  

The Career Advancement Programme (CAP) is an initiative under the ministry that seeks to create opportunities for students ages 16 to 18 who are currently in secondary schools or have graduated. It is offered at selected secondary schools, and other private and government centres across the island. Under CAP, students may seek to advance through three pathways: the technical, traditional and general pathways. Our traditional and technical components are offered at 110 centres across the island while the general Pathway is facilitated through the Jamaica for Life Long Leaning (JFLL).

 

The CAP will also provide two additional years to assist students who wish to pursue CSEC or technical and vocational courses as required for matriculation into the world of work. This means if students weren’t successful in their CSEC subjects, there is hope through the CAP! We have also allocated $40,000 each to assist 40 students who are enrolled in approved sixth-form programmes and are pursuing the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), or a National Council on Technical, Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) skill.

 

For further information, please visit our website at www.moey.gov.jm or call 967-9020 or 967-7802. To apply for CAP, click on the logo and complete form.

 

CAPTION: Students of Westwood High School in Trelawny.

GLEANER: As a new school year approaches, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information remains committed to its primary goal of providing formal education to all students. The ministry is also concerned, however, about the holistic development of all students through spiritual, physical, social and cultural activities. This is done through the curriculum and in the co-curricular activities in schools.

 

To ensure students performing in physical activities or contact are aware of best practices associated with each activity, the ministry has provided guidelines to ensure that physical education (PE) teachers, school activity directors, and other relevant staff are equipped with basic information for the development of programmes from early childhood to grade 12, and also at the tertiary level.

 

The aim is to ensure that students participate in physical activities complemented by a physical education curriculum without discrimination or prejudice. These activities are supported by qualified teachers of physical education and trained coaches.

 

Schools are also required to meet standards as prescribed by relevant governing bodies, the Primary Sports Association and the Jamaica Independent Schools Sports Association (JISSA), among others.

 

REQUISITE SKILLS

 

Staff must have requisite skills to ensure that students are safe during these activities. These skills range from, but not limited to: understanding cognitive, psychosocial and psychomotor development of young people, knowledgeable on matters of training principles, knowledgeable on rules of governing sport activities, and, most important, sports safety requirements and first aid.

 

Critical to the development of all sports-related activities is properly working facilities and equipment. The Ministry of Education has provided basic guidelines governing all areas where sports-related and physical activities are housed, whether indoors or outdoors. These guidelines include adequate facilities to meet the needs, interest, and number of students, relevant personnel to ensure equipment is inspected, the provision of needed gear and the removal of equipment where unfit to use.

 

The following guidelines have been shared with schools to promote participation:

 

– All stakeholders must be aware of established procedures for accident and injury prevention.

 

– Trained professionals must be on all locations to offer first aid, as well as licensed and insured vehicles.

 

– During recreational sports, the selected venues must be close to a hospital, and of course, all students must be supervised.

 

– The readiness of participants in activities is of high priority based on age, skill and their physical condition. All participants must be cleared by a medical doctor and deemed healthy on a periodic basis, especially during peak periods, inclusive of Boys and Girls’ Champs, and Manning and DaCosta Cup competitions.

 

The ministry is urging open dialogue between schools and parents or guardians to ensure there is consent before participation, and also in the event of any medical emergency.

 

– Another aspect requiring attention is that of diet and nutrition. Jamaica prides itself as a nation of great athletes and, as such, we have provided schools with guidelines on this important matter. All staff, students, and caregivers must be educated about the dangers of substance abuse, proper nutrition, and extreme weight-control practices.

 

Staff should inform students about the benefits of maintaining a healthy diet, including the promotion of healthy muscle and optimal performance. This is also important in a student’s diet plan. Substance abuse impairs the normal function of the human body, increases the chance of injury and decreases the reaction time of participants. Stimulants are readily available on the market and can lead to health hazards. These should be avoided at all times.

 

– Stakeholders should ensure students are performing academically and are uncompromised by involvement in sports or co-curricular activities. To achieve this feat, all schools must comply with the current ISSA requirement where a student is required to maintain an 80 per cent attendance record and grades not below 45 per cent in at least four subjects to be eligible for participation in ISSA-related events.

 

In order to deter the practice of ‘buying athletes’, we have partnered with ISSA to ensure athletes transferred are not for economic gain on the part of any stakeholders. All students seeking a transfer must follow the procedure as outlined by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information.

 

For further information please visit our website at www.moey.gov.jm.

 

– Article courtesy Ministry of Education, Youth and Information

 

CAPTION: St George’s College and Wolmer’s Boys in Manning Cup semi-finals at the National Stadium in 2013.

JIS: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dean-Roy Bernard, says the Government is placing greater focus on advancing early childhood education to ensure the system produces more well-rounded students who are high achievers.

 

Mr. Bernard said the level of education a child receives during the first three years of his/her life is pivotal in setting a solid foundation for future academic excellence.

 

This, he said, is evidenced by the accomplishments of outstanding individuals such as 2017 Rhodes Scholar, Shakeba Foster, who, he notes, has been excelling from her early years.

 

Ms. Foster, who is 23 years old, holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Economics with distinction; and a first-class honours Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Banking and Finance from the University of the West Indies (UWI). She edged out 10 other candidates to emerge the winner of the prestigious scholarship.

 

Mr. Bernard said it is this calibre of student that the Ministry of Education aspires to continue producing.

 

“We recognize that to get (more) ‘Shakebas’ in Jamaica, we have to be deliberate about (the) early stimulation of our children. And so we are partnering with the Ministry of Health as it relates to the first 1,000 days of a child’s life in Jamaica to be deliberate about interventions,” he said.

 

The Permanent Secretary was speaking at a function held in honour of Ms. Foster at the UWI Mona Visitors’ Lodge in St. Andrew on Saturday, August 26.

 

Mr. Bernard said one such intervention is streamlining early childhood education, “so that our children are assessed very early and we can design the educational pathway in partnership with parents.”

 

The Permanent Secretary also mentioned a raft of other strategies being undertaken by the Ministry to improve students’ educational outcomes.

 

These include: special intervention activities for maladjusted and slow learners; building out diagnostics centres in every county for students with learning challenges; and changing how students are assessed academically from grade two onwards.

 

The Permanent Secretary said through these and other initiatives, the aim is not only to produce students of high academic excellence, but individuals who are critical thinkers, emotionally intelligent, problem solvers and experts at conflict resolution.

 

In the meantime, Mr. Bernard described Ms. Foster as a brilliant, resilient, hardworking Jamaican who is “poised for greatness, poised to lift the (Jamaican) flag high (and) poised to cause our national anthem to be heard (internationally).”

 

He expressed confidence that the Rhodes Scholar will continue her track record of excellence as she pursues a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) at the illustrious Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

 

During the event, which was staged by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World of Jamaica, Inc. (PAWJa), Ms. Foster was presented with various gifts including a framed photograph capturing the occasion of her scholarship presentation by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, during a ceremony last year.

 

The presentation was made by Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Information Service, Donna-Marie Rowe. The photograph was produced by the agency, which was also a sponsor of Saturday’s function.

 

Ms. Foster also received gifts from several other sponsors. They included: a cellular phone from telecommunications firm, FLOW; and a day pass for three at Moon Palace, Jamaica Grande.

 

She was also presented with cash, a plaque and a framed copy of a citation among other tokens.

 

 In response, Ms. Foster pledged that she would continue to work hard and expressed gratitude to her family, close friends, colleagues and the church for their support and encouragement in her various endeavours.

 

Ms. Foster’s awards and accomplishments include top student, MSc Economics graduating class, UWI, Mona, 2016; valedictorian nominee, UWI, Mona graduating class 2014; best performance in the Faculty of Social Sciences (highest GPA), UWI, Mona graduating class, 2014; best performance, BSc Banking and Finance, UWI Mona graduating class, 2014; Pan Caribbean Scholarship Awardee, 2012; and first-year prize, first-year student with the highest GPA, Faculty of Social Sciences, UWI, Mona, 2012.

 

Her leadership and co-curricular activities include President, Faculty of Social Sciences Honours’ Society, UWI, Mona, 2013-2014; Administrative Assistant, National Children’s Auxiliary, PAWJa, April 2012-present; Regional President, National Youth Department, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Ja. Inc., April 2016-present; Youth President, Riversdale Pentecostal Church, January 2014-present; Member of Irvine Hall’s Female Football Team, UWI, Mona, 2012-2013; and Member of Irvine Hall’s Female Hockey Team, UWI, Mona, 2012-2013.

 

The Rhodes Scholarship is presented by the Rhodes Trust, which was established by British diamond magnate and imperial statesman, Cecil John Rhodes.

 

CAPTION: 2017 Rhodes Scholar, Shakeba Foster (right), is presented with a citation by General Secretary, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World of Jamaica, Inc. (PAWJa), Maureen Marshall (centre), while PAWJa Diocesan Bishop, John Thorpe, looks on. The occasion was an event hosted by the PAWJa in honour of Ms. Foster at the University of the West Indies Mona Visitors’ Lodge in St. Andrew on Saturday, August 26.The citation was a congratulatory statement written by the PAWJa, which praised Ms. Foster for her academic achievements as well as her service to young people in the community. The event was sponsored by the Jamaica Information Service; Telecommunications firm, FLOW; and Moon Palace, Jamaica Grande resort.

JIS: The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information has awarded 440 scholarships valued $330 million to tertiary students under the Maths, Science and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (MS-TVET) Teacher Initiative for the 2017/18 academic year.

 

The scholarships will provide students pursuing degrees in education, in preparation to teach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), with funding for tuition, miscellaneous fees, boarding and books.

 

Students requiring additional financial assistance will be provided with a grant of $20,000.

 

The provision of the scholarships, which are tenable at the University of the West Indies, University of Technology Jamaica, Mico University College, Shortwood Teachers College and Church Teachers College, is aimed at boosting the cadre of Mathematics and Science teachers in schools islandwide.

 

Awardees will be bonded for five years and are required to sign an agreement authorising their deployment by the Education Ministry on completing their studies.

 

The recipients will also be required to maintain a ‘B’ average in order to retain their scholarships, which were presented during a ceremony at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, on Friday, August 25.

 

Portfolio Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, who spoke at the ceremony, said the MS-TVET initiative was part of the Ministry’s strategic approach to increasing the number of qualified Maths and Science teachers within the education system.

 

He argued that the students’ decision to focus on STEM courses, particularly Mathematics, will have a far-reaching impact on Jamaica’s development.

 

As such, the Minister urged them to remain focused on their studies in order to maintain the requisite average which will ensure that their scholarships remain intact.

 

Senator Reid emphasized that the Ministry is committed to integrating STEM within the education system, noting that these subjects are being used as the fundamental base for implementing a new curriculum.

 

In this regard, he said the Ministry has allocated $150 million to embark on this process during 2017/18.

 

He advised that nine secondary schools initially shortlisted have received their allocations, with another 60 being provided with partial funding.

 

Additionally, Senator Reid said the TVET Integration Model is ongoing, pointing out that $153 million has been allocated this year to provide training and equipment for nearly 70 schools.

 

CAPTION: Education, Youth and Information Minister, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid (centre), makes a presentation to scholarship recipient, Cariann Stewart, during the Ministry’s Maths, Science and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (MS-TVET) Teacher Initiative ceremony at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on August 25. Ms. Stewart, who will be attending Church Teachers College in Manchester, is one of 440 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) student teachers awarded scholarships under the MS-TVET Initiative to pursue studies, beginning in the 2017/18 academic year. Looking on is National Mathematics Coordinator in the Ministry, Dr. Tamika Benjamin.

JIS: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, has called on parents with exceptional skills to become volunteers in their communities.

 

The State Minister said the skills are needed for better parenting, and the National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC) has embarked on an initiative to develop “model parents” through the various parent-teacher associations (PTAs) across the island.

 

Mr. Green, who was addressing the Jamaica Police Co-operative Credit Union (JPCCU) 2017 Scholarship Awards ceremony on August 24 at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown, Kingston, said there needs to be community involvement in the upbringing of children.

 

“We want to find model parents and help them to bring other parents along the journey. Some of the critical principles that you instilled, we want you to expand that to other people in your community,” the Minister told the gathering.

 

Approximately 29 students were awarded scholarships and bursaries worth more than $900,000.

 

Mr. Green urged the recipients to be “very careful that your friends align with your goals, your priority, your principles and your value system”.

 

Meanwhile, 2016 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scholarship recipient, Assana Thompson, told the gathering that for those going to high school, it is a new “journey of your life”, which carries with it a lot of responsibility as well as fun and excitement.

 

She implored parents to get to know the friends of their children. “Be their friends and be involved in their lives,” she said.

 

Assana added that the scholarship has helped her financially, and to be aware that at all times she must do her best, as failure has a huge price.

 

“It motivates me to work harder, and to maintain a high grade point average,” she told the audience.

 

CAPTION: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green (right), presents the Top Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) Scholarship awardee with her certificate from the Jamaica Police Co-operative Credit Union (JPCCU). Occasion was the 2017 JPCCU Scholarship Awards ceremony, held on August 24, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, in downtown Kingston.

 

JIS: As teachers and students prepare for the 2017-2018 academic year, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Government is committed to providing high-quality care and education within an inclusive and enabling environment.

 

This, he said, will ultimately help more of “our people” to be socially conscious and productive.

 

The Minister was addressing educators on the final day of the 52nd Annual Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Conference at the Hilton Resort and Spa in St. James on August 23.

 

“As we do this, we aim to reduce the number of children and youth at risk through public education and needs-based intervention programmes,” Senator Reid said.

 

“Our objectives are, therefore, to maximise the percentage of Jamaican children aged three to 18 who have access and/or attachment to good-quality education, as well as to increase the number of Jamaican youth who have access to opportunities for governance and advocacy, continuing education, training and work experience,” he added.

 

The Minister noted that significant strides have been made in the transformation of the education system, noting that the past 18 months have seen a number of major accomplishments under his watch through the Education System Transformation Programme (ESTP), which was established in 2004.

 

“Under the ESTP programme, the new Administration advanced the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) and Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (J-TEC) legislation, started the full implementation of the National Standards Curriculum and completed the new structure for a transformed Ministry,” he pointed out.

 

The Minister said the Administration also recognises the need to intervene in the lives of children, even before they enter the formal early-childhood education system.

 

“It is within this regard that the Ministry has budgeted $130 million to partner with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to reactivate the Early Stimulation Programme for mother and child from birth to age three,” he said.

 

The Programme, he said, has been revamped and is being implemented through the Early Childhood Commission (ECC). “We expect that by the end of this month (August 2017), just over 100 early-childhood institutions will have been certified,” Senator Reid explained.

 

“The ECC has been crafting a strategy for the full transformation of the early childhood sector, to be rolled out in the new 2017/2018 school year,” the Minister noted.

 

Senator Reid said it is also worth pointing out the significant improvement being shown by males in the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) when compared to their female counterparts.

 

“For the first time in five years, the male students had a higher mean percentage score (76.7%) in Language Arts for 2017 than that of the female students (68.5%),” the Minister added.

 

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

JIS: State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, says plans are in an advanced stage for the creation of an all-island national mentorship scheme.

 

He noted that the plan involves a partnership with the National Security and Economic Growth and Job Creation Ministries.

 

The State Minister was speaking to JIS News at the third staging of the Sagicor Foundation Scholarship Awards ceremony, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on August 24.

 

Mr. Green informed that work to achieve the all-island national mentorship scheme has already started under the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) Programme, launched in May this year by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness.

 

“We’re tapping into university students, recruiting them and getting them to sign up to start some training to become mentors,” he said.

 

The HOPE Programme is geared at improving the social prospects of Jamaicans, particularly the youth.

 

Mr. Green pointed out that an examination of the use of technology to make the mentorship scheme “more effective and wide-reaching” will also be done.

 

The State Minister indicated that, in short order, an outline for a holistic plan will be made available.

 

Meanwhile, in his remarks to recipients of the scholarships, Mr. Green urged tertiary students to mentor at least one child at the primary and secondary levels.

 

He also encouraged the secondary-level students to get involved in co-curricular activities.

 

To the parents and guardians, the State Minister urged continued support and guidance of all students.

 

“Parental support makes the difference. It is not just financial (support) but encouragement. That goes a far way. Continue to support the children and join the parent-teacher association (PTA),” he encouraged.

 

For his part, Managing Director of Crafton Holdings Limited and Lecturer at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, Damion Crawford, commended the Education Ministry for its role in increasing the allocation per student at the primary level from $850 to $2,500.

 

Meanwhile, recently appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Sagicor Group Jamaica, Christopher Zacca, encouraged the awardees to work hard “for better grades, to study longer and aim for excellence”.

 

“As a Sagicor scholar, you have a responsibility firstly to yourself to maintain being a top performer and to also ensure that you continue to serve as a shining example to future awardees,” he said.

 

Mr. Zacca asserted that the Sagicor Foundation will continue to play its part in supporting education, as it is the “passport to the future and to a better life”.

 

Sixty-eight scholarships were awarded by the Sagicor Foundation to 37 exceptional Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) recipients transitioning to secondary school and 31 students at the tertiary level.

 

Fourteen children of members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) benefited from educational grants valued at $40,000 each for one year, and the remaining 23 GSAT scholarships are valued at $50,000 each for five years, renewed annually.

 

The tertiary scholarships are valued at $250,000 annually and are renewed for each academic year. 

 

CAPTION: State Minister in the Education, Youth and Information Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green (centre), listens to scholarship awardee, Dexia Dixon (left), at the third staging of the Sagicor Foundation Scholarship Awards ceremony, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, on August 24. At right is Dexia’s mother, Sceanie Clayton.

 

JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Government is working on the revised policy for the establishment of a new overall teacher-pupil ratio of 1:25.

 

“For the technical areas, we will have a ratio of 1:20 (one teacher to 20 students). This will allow for closer attention to be given to each student,” he explained.

 

The Minister was speaking on the third and final day of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) conference at the Hilton Resort and Spa in St. James, on August 23.

 

Senator Reid pointed out that it has been reasonably demonstrated that students are more likely to learn when personalised attention is given, especially in the case of a slow learner or late bloomer.

 

“The one-on-one attention, which is very vital, is often not possible when you have a class size of one teacher to 60-plus students. This has not served us well and has resulted in many of our students being hard-pressed to keep up. What we are doing here now in reducing the class size as per teacher to students, and this should make learning both easier and less stressful inside our classrooms,” the Minister said.

 

Meanwhile, Senator Reid said that as part of the effort to ensure no one is left behind, as of September 2017, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), National Vocational Qualification of Jamaica (NVQJ) and Caribbean Vocational Qualifications Framework (CVQ) examination fees will be fully covered by the Ministry for students on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), wards of the State and others in dire need who may not be on the PATH Programme.

 

“In addition, as we customise education, it is expected that all our students leaving the secondary level are ready to enter the world of work or higher-level education,” the Minister said.

 

CAPTION: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, addresses educators at the 52nd Annual Conference of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) at the Hilton Resort and Spa on August 23

JIS: The Office of the Children’s Registry, through the Ananda Alert Unit, is advising parents and guardians that as they prepare their children for the new academic year, they should ensure that they are made aware of issues regarding their safety.

 

In an interview with JIS News, Head of the Ananda Alert Unit, Nathalee Ferguson, said that there are some key things that parents and guardians must consider when sending their children to school.

 

“Whether it is for the first time or it is back-to-school, it is very important that you don’t have these young children travelling alone,” she implored.

 

Miss Ferguson said even if older children are allowed to travel alone to and from school, it is important to warn them against taking vehicles that are not licensed to transport members of the public.

 

She also pointed out that it is imperative that parents/guardians have a recent photograph of their children.

 

“What we have experienced is that when a child goes missing, all that is available is a baby picture, so it is difficult to identify the child,” she added.

 

Miss Ferguson said parents should also take note of the clothes that the child is wearing when he or she leaves home, so they will be able to give a very descriptive account to the police if the child is missing. She is also encouraging them to get to know the parents of other children at their child’s school, and friends of their child.

 

They should know the full names and contact information.

 

Likewise, parents/guardians should also be in contact with their child’s school administration; attend parent-teacher association (PTA) meetings; and always keep abreast of school events, so they know where the child is at all times.

 

Miss Ferguson said parents ought to make an extra effort to get to know their neighbours and be familiar with other community members.

 

Meanwhile, she said children should know that they must not loiter or go to persons’ homes without the knowledge of their parents or guardians, because children may never know if these persons are trustworthy or have ulterior motives when they form relationships with them.

 

For the first quarter of this year, 449 children went missing, 382 returned, 65 are still missing and one is dead.

 

CAPTION: Head of the Ananda Alert Unit at the Office of the Children’s Registry (OCR), Nathalee Ferguson.

JIS: Prime Minister Andrew Holness has declared that no child should be discriminated against by virtue of their inability to afford education.

 

Speaking at a function at Jamaica House on Wednesday (August 23), to honour students who sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) this year,  the Prime Minister stressed that every child has a right to education.

 

He said the Government would explore ways to make it an offence to deny a child the right to education on the basis of affordability.

 

“Do not in any way shape or form deprive or discriminate against students who are not able to afford the fees that you are charging. The fees are not obligatory, and no child should be discriminated against by virtue of their economic circumstances. They did well and got the space in the schools and are entitled to it and no principal, no teacher should do anything at all that could be considered discriminatory to a student,” declared the Prime Minister.

 

Prime Minister Holness said the Government is spending significant resources on education.

 

“We have increased significantly the resources we give to schools. There are some schools which set higher standards than what is available for the average public school but the children who are placed in those schools by virtue of the GSAT public system should never be made to feel less than or to be discriminated against,” explained Prime Minister Holness.

 

He noted that education is the vaccine against poverty and crime and violence.

 

In the meantime, the Prime Minister said the education system should be broad enough that it gives functionality to all students so they can reach the pinnacle of their natural God given talent and skills.

 

He added that the Government will take the necessary steps to re-engineer the education system so that every single child gets access to the best educational opportunity.

 

“Public resources must be used to improve the life chances equally for every single Jamaican, and give every single Jamaican the type of education that allows them to fulfil their goals,” stated Prime Minister Holness.

 

CAPTION: Prime Minister Andrew Holness shares a photo opportunity with students of staff members at the Office of the Prime Minister. The students who sat the Grade Six Achievement Test this year were honoured by the Prime Minister during a special ceremony on Wednesday, August 23 at Jamaica House. Also sharing in the moment is Mrs Audrey Sewell, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister.