Cabinet Secretary Highlights Importance of Education
By: , May 23, 2025
Photo: Cabinet Secretary, Audrey Sewell, delivers the keynote address at the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held Thursday May 22) on the church compound in Kingston.
Cabinet Secretary, Audrey Sewell, delivers the keynote address at the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held Thursday (May 22) on the church compound in Kingston.
Photo: Cabinet Secretary, Audrey Sewell left), listens keenly to the comments of Senior Valuation Surveyor at the National Land Agency NLA), Federick Gordon right), at the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held Thursday May 22) on the church compound in Kingston. Looking on is Administrator for Performance Management at the NLA, Alcian Crosdale.
Cabinet Secretary, Audrey Sewell (left), listens keenly to the comments of Senior Valuation Surveyor at the National Land Agency (NLA), Federick Gordon (right), at the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held Thursday (May 22) on the church compound in Kingston. Looking on is Administrator for Performance Management at the NLA, Alcian Crosdale.
Photo: Cabinet Secretary, Audrey Sewell right), shares information with attendees Karica Phillips left), Britney Malcolm centre), and baAiden Wint, during the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held Thursday May 22) on the church compound in Kingston
Cabinet Secretary, Audrey Sewell (right), shares information with attendees Karica Phillips (left), Britney Malcolm (centre), and baby Aiden Wint, during the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held Thursday (May 22) on the church compound in Kingston
Photo: Recruitment Officer at the HEART/NSTA Trust, Nerva Davis left), assists Nathan Sewell with completing application forms to enrol at the institution for skills training during the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held on Thursday May 22) at the church.
Recruitment Officer at the HEART/NSTA Trust, Nerva Davis (left), assists Nathan Sewell with completing application forms to enrol at the institution for skills training during the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held on Thursday (May 22) at the church.
Photo: Assistant Chief Education Officer, Guidance and Counselling in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Kennedy Davidson, addresses the audience at the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held on Thursday May 22) in Kingston.
Assistant Chief Education Officer, Guidance and Counselling in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Kennedy Davidson, addresses the audience at the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held on Thursday (May 22) in Kingston.The Full Story
Cabinet Secretary, Audrey Sewell, is encouraging Jamaicans to view education as a tool for personal development and economic independence.
“Education is the equaliser. We have to become independent adults who can make decisions on our own, provide clothing, shelter and transportation for ourselves,” Mrs. Sewell said.
She was delivering the keynote address at the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Education and Career Expo 2025, held on Thursday (May 22) under the theme ‘Education – The Gateway to Success’.
Mrs. Sewell noted that education equips individuals with the confidence and skills necessary to be productive members of society.
Referencing the global correlation between literacy and development, the Cabinet Secretary said countries with high literacy rates, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, consistently demonstrate stronger economic and social indicators.
“Highly literate societies are generally associated with economic and social development,” she said, while emphasising the importance of personal responsibility in the pursuit of knowledge.
Mrs. Sewell also urged young people to equip themselves with practical skills, while pointing to the value of certification for career advancement.
“Sometimes the overseas programmes, they’re asking for HEART certificates,” she noted.
The expo, hosted by the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Church, in partnership with several government ministries and agencies, featured booths and workshops on résumé writing, job readiness, and vocational training.
It catered to students, jobseekers, working adults, and members of the wider community.
Meanwhile, Education Department representative at the North Street Seventh-day Adventist Church, Nicola Hickman, said the initiative was designed to support lifelong learning.
“Education does not have an age. This Expo is all-inclusive and geared towards everyone at each level of the educational strata,” she stated.
Key partners at the expo included the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information; Ministry of National Security; the Planning Institute of Jamaica; Pan American Development Foundation; Project Star, and the Social Development Commission.