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Principals Receive Advanced Training

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JIS: Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says to maintain strong and effective leadership in schools, the Ministry has been spearheading capacity-building initiatives for Principals.

 

The Minister notes that, to date, more than 700 principals have received training, with another 200 to be added by year end. This is being done through the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL).

 

Mr. Reid was speaking at the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) 52nd Annual Conference at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel & Spa in St. James, on August 24.

 

“We are heartened by the scores of teachers who have been expressing an interest in the Aspiring Principals Programme,” he said.

 

The Minister explained that in keeping with various recommendations, the Ministry has been re-engineering its systems in a bid to improve accountability, levels of efficiency and the quality of service offered to stakeholders.

 

He pointed out that under the broad umbrella of Education Transformation, “we are in the final stages of restructuring into a policy, a ministry with new operational arms”.

 

“The proposed Central Ministry will set policy, standards and provide system oversight, quality assurance and monitoring to ensure effective implementation of policy,” Mr. Reid said.

 

He noted that, already, the Ministry is seeing the results of the restructuring that has taken place, and that through the National Education Inspectorate (NEI), “we have been able to examine the offerings of all Jamaican public primary and secondary schools and have made recommendations which many of you are currently implementing”.

 

The Minister said that since publishing its baseline report, the NEI has gone back into the field and will, in a matter of weeks, be releasing details of inspections of close to 100 schools.

 

“Colleagues, I want you to pay close attention to these reports,” Senator Reid urged.

 

He added that the Ministry remains committed to the development of teachers and will, during the upcoming academic year, continue the investments at both the in-service and pre-service levels.

 

Mr. Reid said the Ministry is providing 1,400 scholarships for both pre-service and in-service teachers in Math, Science, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) subjects, so as to ensure that adequate numbers with the right qualifications are available for the system.

 

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