Latest

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

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...

12 years ago EducationParliament

Senator Calls for Transformation of Teacher Colleges

Government Senator, Wensworth Skeffery, is calling for a transformation of the government teacher colleges into institutions which focus on providing the type of training that is needed in the country. The Senator was opening the debate on a motion calling for a comprehensive reorganisation of teacher training in Jamaica, in the Senate on February 7. “Change the mandate of all...

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for Eastern Westmoreland, Hon. Luther Buchanan (2nd right), reviews aspects of the blueprint for the construction of five new classrooms at the Belmont Academy in the parish with Project manager, Tropical Metal Products Ltd., Patrick McKenzie (left); Principal of the school, Rayon Simpson (2nd left); and Regional Director in the Ministry of Education region 4, Hillary Foster. The signing ceremony was held on Thursday, February 6, on the school compound.

12 years ago Education

$14.9 Million Contract Signed for Expansion of Belmont Academy

The Belmont Academy in Westmoreland is to benefit from expansion works, following the signing of a $14.9 million contract for the construction of five additional classrooms on February 6. The project, which should be completed by the end of March, will allow for an additional intake of grade seven students come September 2014. Minister of State in the Office of...

Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites (centre), is presented with a copy of the book, ‘H is for Happiness’, by co-authors and Co-Founders of Choose Life International (CLI), Faith Thomas (right), and Dr. Donovan Thomas. Rev. Thwaites was keynote speaker at a special breakfast meeting, organised by CLI, and held at the Knutsford Court hotel in New Kingston on February 7.

12 years ago Education

Education Minister Invites CLI to Help

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, has extended an invitation to Choose Life International (CLI) to partner with the Ministry, in providing counselling and behavioural assessment services to students with special education needs. Choose Life International, a faith-based, non-governmental organisation, founded by Dr. Donovan Thomas, and his wife, Faith, is geared at helping Jamaicans live their best lives by...