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Diaspora Task Force Partners with JTA to Host Education Summit

By: , January 7, 2014

The Key Point:

The event will kick-off at the Hilton Hotel on February 18, with over 300 education stakeholders from western Jamaica, as well as representatives from overseas.
Diaspora Task Force Partners with JTA to Host Education Summit
Photo: Contributed
Diaspora Advisory Board member for Midwest United States, Leo Gilling.

The Facts

  • The main objectives of the summit are: to discuss ways to improve education in Jamaica and understand the goals of each organization that advocates for education.
  • The event will also seek to identify ways to immerse the Diaspora into the education system from childhood through to the tertiary level.

The Full Story

The Jamaican Diaspora Education Task Force has joined forces with the Jamaica Teacher’s Association (JTA) to stage the first education summit in the island next month.

The event, which will be in two phases, will kick-off at the Hilton Hotel on February 18, with over 300 education stakeholders from western Jamaica, as well as representatives from overseas.

On February 19, the conference will move to the Cedar Grove Academy in Portmore, St. Catherine, where approximately 500 education advocates are expected to attend.  It will conclude on February, February 20, with a special sitting at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston.

According to Diaspora board representative for the Midwest United States, Leo Gilling, the main objectives of the summit are: to discuss ways to improve education in Jamaica, understand the goals of each organization that advocates for education, identify their projects, determine any overlap or duplication, recognize gaps, and leverage past successes.

The event will also seek to identify ways to immerse the Diaspora into the education system from childhood through to the tertiary level in order to assist in the advancement of education; participate in the creation of policies and policy changes to the existing system, including curricula development, administration and implementation; be a resource that can be utilized for the solicitation and provision of funding for sustainable education projects in Jamaica and to contribute to nation building.

Educators and representatives from various alumni and Diaspora organisations from institutions across the US, Canada and England are expected to participate, in addition to  principals, teachers, administrators, counsellors, student council executives, members of parent-teachers associations, and representatives from the Ministry of Education.

Education Minister, the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, is expected to declare the summit open and deliver the keynote address.  Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade with responsibility for the Diaspora, the Hon. Arnaldo Brown and President of the JTA, Dr. Mark Nicely, will also address the summit.

Last Updated: January 7, 2014

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