Twenty-nine Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) beneficiaries have been commended for their outstanding academic performance.
The top-female and male students were selected from the seven education regions, based on the results of their 2023 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.
They were recognised by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security during Thursday’s (April 11) PATH Top Achiever’s Awards Ceremony.
The event was held at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston under the theme ‘Celebrating Empowerment through Education’.
Primary awardees received a plaque, a $25,000 book voucher and a cheque of similar value, while secondary students were presented with a plaque, and a cheque and book voucher valued $50,000 each.
A former beneficiary, Jordon Freeman, was recognised with the PATH Trailblazer Award for excelling in his academic and career pursuits.
In his keynote address, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr., said the Ministry plans to strengthen its partnership with the education sector as it undertakes an overhaul of PATH.
“We are doing this with a view to ensuring that we address the challenges that have been exposed, so that we can provide a system that gives maximum support to our children,” he stated.
The Minister noted that the PATH beneficiaries’ success stories fuel his commitment to lead the transformation that will continue to serve Jamaica’s most vulnerable.
“Our goal is to create a more responsive, more transparent and a more efficient and effective PATH. We want to ensure that the more than 300,000 beneficiaries are all excelling,” Mr. Charles said.
For his part, State Minister, Dr. the Hon. Norman Dunn, pointed out that since 2002, PATH has been a cornerstone of Jamaica’s social-assistance efforts.
“The achievements that we… witness today bear testament to the programme’s resilience and the collective will of our nation to ensure that no one is left behind,” he said.
Dr. Dunn charged the awardees to continue to emulate examples of resilience and sound character.
In her remarks, Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, said the Government remains committed to supporting vulnerable students.
She commended the awardees and urged them to explore their potential for greatness through technical and vocational skill areas, academia, sports, entertainment, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics or any discipline of their choice, “with the same tenacity and rigour you applied to the exams”.