Minister Thwaites Urges High Schools to Establish Sixth Forms

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, is encouraging administrators of new secondary schools, to include sixth forms as part of their expansion plans.

This, he said, will provide for the rounded development of the students where they can acquaint themselves with leadership roles, and other responsibilities, while enhancing their academic qualifications.

“I am encouraging the newer high schools, those that are strong enough, to start your own sixth form; move ahead to grades 12 and 13,” the Minister urged on Wednesday, February 12, while addressing the re-dedication ceremony of the Central High School in May Pen, Clarendon.

“When you have depth of teachers, when you have the students, who are matriculating with sufficient subjects…keep them longer and build a maturing element in your school, where they become the monitors and assistant teachers, at the same time they are developing themselves into the fine specimens of young Jamaican male and female persons,” he stated.

The school, formally May Pen Comprehensive, is now operating on a single shift following expansion and improvement works undertaken through technical assistance from the Ministry. These include the addition of 11 classrooms, upgrading of the library, along with other initiatives to boost the teaching and learning environments.

For the 2013/2014 academic year, 52 students from the institution matriculated to various tertiary institutions in Jamaica, and overseas.

Minister Thwaites commended the school management for the improvements to the school plant and the successes of the students.