Region Four Ready for New School Year

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says Region Four schools are in a state of readiness for the start of the 2016/17 academic year.

Region Four covers educational institutions in Westmoreland, Hanover, and St. James.

Addressing a back-to-school meeting of principals in the region at the Montego Bay Cultural Centre on Tuesday (August 30), Minister Reid said schools have already received funds to undertake repairs, expansion and other works and these should be done ahead of the start of classes on Monday, September 5.

Secondary schools received $1.4 billion in tuition fees in June, representing the first tranche of $3.9 billion in support for the academic year.

“At the infant, primary, all-age and junior high schools, we have already placed in your accounts your janitorial grants and your regular grants. There is a 90 per cent increase in the maintenance grant, which has been dispatched to all schools and a significant amount of repairs, expansions…are taking place across the system,” Senator Reid noted.

He reminded the principals that they are being asked to embrace new methods of teaching and learning under the national standards curriculum, which comes into effect in the new school year.

Under the new system, which will be implemented from grades one to nine, emphasis will be placed on project-based and problem-solving learning, with science, technology, engineering and mathematics/ science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEM/STEAM) integrated at all levels.

“The Ministry is confident that this national standard curriculum will be effective in preparing Jamaica’s children for life in the 21^st century and beyond…This inclusive curriculum will ensure that each student, regardless of their need, status, community…we will embrace them and work to transform them,” Senator Reid said.

The back-to- school conference was staged under the theme ‘Growing Better Schools for Better Communities’.