507 Learners Participated in First Phase of High School Equivalency Programme

A total of 507 learners from four parishes sat diagnostic tests in reading/comprehension and mathematics during the implementation phase of the High School Equivalency Programme in 2006/07.
This was announced by the Minister of Education and Youth, Maxine Henry Wilson, in her contribution to the 2007/08 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives yesterday (June 12).
“Of this number, 118 were successful and 183 of those who were unsuccessful participated in a six-week mathematics intervention programme. Following this, they repeated the test,” Mrs. Henry Wilson said.
The programme is being implemented through the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning.
In the meantime, 10,428 persons enrolled in the basic literacy and numeracy programme in 27 adult-learning centres island wide. “The projection is to increase this figure by 35 per cent in the 2007/08 fiscal year,” the Minister said.
In addition, the Minister informed that 1,100 learners enrolled in the Workplace Learning Programme, which organises and conducts literacy classes in sectors such as tourism, mining and agriculture. “This figure is expected to be increased by 25 per cent in 2007/2008,” she said.