Latest News

Smooth Start to New School Year

smooth-start-640x425

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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