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Minister of Education, the Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites.

Education Ministry Prohibits Screening of Students Entering Primary Schools

The Ministry of Education has advised administrators of public primary schools that it is a violation of the Education Regulations 1980 to require students to sit a screening examination before they can be considered for admission to schools. In an...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (seated, second left); and Chairman of the Portmore Cluster of Schools and Principal of the Portmore HEART Academy, Karen Kennedy; affix their signature to a Memorandum of Understanding which solidifies the collaboration of a cluster of Portmore-based schools in advancing the Ministry’s ‘Respect Agenda’ campaign, while Executive Director, PetroCaribe Development Fund, Dr. Wesley Hughes (second right); and Campaign Programme Co-ordinator, Reginald Budhan (right); look on. Other signatories pictured (standing, from left), are Principals of Waterford High, Oliver Holness; Ascot High, Cedrick Murray; Bridgeport High, Aston Messam; and Cumberland High, Michael Brydson while Chief Education Officer, Grace McLean is at right. The signing took place at the Portmore HEART Academy in St. Catherine on February 14.

Portmore Schools Sign Pact to Improve Students’ Behaviour

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (3rd left), looks on as Spanish Ambassador to Jamaica and President of the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation (SJF), Her Excellency Celsa Nuño (centre), presents a cheque valued at $1 million to Vice Principal, Administrative Affairs, Shortwood Teachers’ College, Dossette Edwards-Watson (3rd right); Vice Principal, Academic Affairs, Church Teachers’ College, Monica Demster (2nd right); and Principal of Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, Ashburn Pinnock (right). Occasion was the SJF Student Teachers Spanish Scholarship awards ceremony held today (Feb. 14), at the Shortwood Teachers’ College auditorium in St. Andrew. Sharing the moment (from left) are: General Manager, SJF, Dr. Rebecca Tortella; and Chairperson, Modern Languages Board of Studies, Teachers Colleges Jamaica, Aracelis Anedu. A total of 20 student teachers from the three teacher training institutions were awarded scholarships valued at $50,000, each, under the annual scholarship programme.

Spanish Teacher Trainees Receive $1 Million in Scholarships

Director of the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), Professor Hopeton Dunn, addressing participants at the graduation ceremony for the first cohort in the 'Animate Jamaica' Certificate Programme, on February 11, at the Western Jamaica Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI).

CARIMAC to Introduce Degree in Animation

Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (right), is presented with Vision 2030 Jamaica educational material by Communications Specialist at the Vision 2030 Jamaica Secretariat in the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Carmen Miller (2nd right), following his meeting on Thursday (February 13) with PIOJ representatives, at the Ministry’s offices in Kingston. Looking on (from left), are: Programme Director, Vision 2030 Jamaica Secretariat, PIOJ, Richard Lumsden; and PIOJ Director General, Collin Bullock

Education Ministry Seeking to Incorporate Vision 2030 in School Curriculum

12 years ago Education

Stakeholder Meetings to Inform School-Based Crime Prevention Plan

Chairman of the Crime Prevention Programme in the Ministry of Education, Professor Frederick Hickling, says meetings will be held with the various stakeholders before an action plan is created to deal with behavioural problems in schools. “What we have to do is to get the people, who have knowledge, information and experience in this area to come together, sit down...

12 years ago Education

Ministry Embarks on Programme to Improve Science Education

The Ministry of Education will, over the next three months, commence work on a special initiative aimed at enhancing science education in primary and high schools islandwide. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, who made the announcement during a recent meeting at the Ministry, said Senior Advisor, Radley Reid, will lead the undertaking. The aim is to facilitate the establishment...

12 years ago Education

Jamaican Group Promoting Science in Local Schools

The Society for Scientific Advancement (SoSA), a volunteer group of scientists from the island’s three largest universities and in the Diaspora, has been working to advance scientific knowledge among primary and secondary students. They are on a mission to create an atmosphere within which science can flourish to drive development within Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Speaking with JIS News,...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (right), cuts the ribbon to officially open the new classroom block at the Central High School in May Pen, Clarendon on February 12. Also pictured (from left) are: Head Boy at the school, Dorland Temple; Chairman of the school board, Beresford Sherman; Regional Director in the Ministry, Dr. Claudette Clarke; and Principal, Vinroy Harrison.

12 years ago Education

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...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (centre); and Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (left), shares a moment with Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) Roll of Honour Awardee 2013, Patrick Smith (2nd right), at the award function held on February 12, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston. Others in attendance are Custos of Kingston, Hon. Steadman Fuller (2nd left); JTA President, Mark Nicely (right); 2012 Awardee Byron Farquharson (back row left); and JTA Secretary General, Dr. Adolph Cameron.

12 years ago EducationPrime Minister

PM Extends Hand of Partnership to JTA

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, has extended the hand of partnership to the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA), noting that the future of the country’s children’s is too important for the 50-year-old teacher’s union and government not to find a way to work together. She was addressing the JTA’s, ‘Roll of Honour Award Ceremony’, held on February 12,...

Students of the Holy Trinity High School, in Kingston, enter one of the newly constructed classrooms which were handed over on February 13. The new block, which has been named in honour of the late Archbishop Samuel Carter, will provide an additional 400 classroom spaces. The construction was done as part of the Ministry of Education’s thrust to remove schools from the shift system.

12 years ago Education

New Classrooms for Holy Trinity High

Four hundred new classroom spaces have been added to the Holy Trinity High School, in Kingston, at a cost of $35.5 million. The new classroom block, comprising eight classrooms and named in honour of the late Archbishop Samuel Carter, was handed over during a ceremony at the school, on George Headley Drive, Kingston 4, on Thursday, February 13. Construction was...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller (left), warmly embraces Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Roll of Honour Awardee 2013, Mr. Patrick Smith, during the presentation ceremony, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, on February 12. Sharing in the moment are (back row, from left); 2012 Awardee, Mr. Byron Farquharson, and JTA Secretary General, Dr. Adolph Cameron.

12 years ago EducationPrime Minister

Prime Minister Hails JTA Roll of Honour Awardee

The 2013 Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Roll of Honour awardee, Mr. Patrick Smith, has been hailed as a person who exemplifies many of the qualities of a great educator, by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller. A past President of the JTA, Mr. Smith has served in education for 46 years at various levels and joins a long...