TEF to Allocate $20 Million for Curriculum Development

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) is to pump $20 million into a curriculum development initiative among several schools, as the Government works to ensure that suitably qualified workers are readily available for Jamaica’s expanding tourism industry.

Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, made the announcement during his contribution to the 2014/15 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on May 27.

He pointed out that a strong pool of skilled Jamaicans is vital to the development of the tourism industry, as the administration continues “to aggressively develop new markets, improve airlift and encourage hotel construction.”

The programme seeks to develop appropriate areas of the curriculum relating to the sector, and will target improvement in the subject areas of: food and nutrition, food preparation, creative arts, including music; languages and agriculture.

“The schools to be identified will be from the feeder institutions for the tourism areas.   Our Ministry and the TEF will be working very closely with the Ministry of Education, which will be the implementing Ministry for this initiative,” he said.

Dr. McNeill noted that this undertaking will complement a separate $16 million programme being implemented by the Tourism Ministry to upgrade performing arts venues in selected schools.