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Education Minister, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, has underscored the pivotal role, which preparatory schools play in advancing education in Jamaica. Speaking at Monday’s (January 21) commemorative ceremony at Holy Childhood Preparatory School, Half-Way-Tree, St. Andrew, to mark the institution’s 83rd anniversary, Rev. Thwaites noted that while Jamaica has some 800 primary schools, they were not sufficient to meet the...

Education Minister, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, says Jamaicans must establish a set of principles, which will unite the nation, as it is this type of foundation that will keep the society together. The Minister emphasized that moral values are important to the development of the country, and that ethics, underpinned by principles, are critical. Rev. Thwaites was addressing the...

Beginning this year, the Ministry of Education will train select primary school teachers across the island to be deployed as special educators. They will be used to detect underlying challenges students may be experiencing, which are impeding their ability to learn. This was revealed by portfolio Minister, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites who was addressing a Parent-Teachers’ Association (PTA) meeting...

The Government will be increasing provisions to the Student Loan Bureau (SLB) in the new financial year. Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, said that this will enable the organisation to provide more loan support to students, who wish to pursue tertiary education. “I believe that I can say that in the upcoming financial year, increased provision will be made...

Long-time educator and advisor to the Prime Minister, Ambassador Burchell Whiteman, has been honoured by the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) for his pioneering work in the development of institutions across the island. He was one of four educators recognised at a function held on Wednesday (January 9), at the Jamaica Grande Hotel in Ocho Rios, St. Ann....

Community Colleges in tomorrow's society will demand the new skill sets needed to facilitate better collaborative and consultative work which can bring college and community into a unified system. The view was expressed by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller in an address Wednesday (January 09) to the 17th Conference of the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCJ) Conference 2013...

Minister of Education, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, is calling on Community Colleges to be more assertive, and to rescue the high percentage of the Jamaican workforce that has no certification. He added that many of the difficulties and challenges faced by community colleges result from inadequate literacy and numeracy among the applicants for entry into those institutions, and as...

Work will get underway next month on the construction of a state-of-the-art library and computer centre in the community of Accompong in St. Elizabeth. The project is being funded by recording artiste and music producer, Mystic Bowie, a resident of the area, who is living overseas. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday (January 6), Minister of Education, Hon. Ronald...

The 2012 recipient of the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) Roll of Honour awardee, Byron Farquharson, has no regrets about the more than 40 years he has dedicated to the education system. While stating that his career was “one of challenges”, he said it was nonetheless, “very rewarding”. “I have gained tremendous riches by impacting the lives of others,” Mr. Farquharson...

Beginning in September 2013, approximately 230,000 students will receive a breakfast supplement under the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH). Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, made the announcement during a national broadcast on Sunday (January 6), in which she addressed several wide ranging topics following her first year in office. In other education related matters,...

The Centre of Excellence programme is achieving success in improving the performance of students in six upgraded high schools, many of whom were functioning below grade level. University of the West Indies (UWI) Lecturer and consultant to the programme, Dr. Joan Ernandez, says that while the targeted institutions are reporting different results, they are moving in the right direction.  “We...

Come next year, the Ministry of Education will begin the process of merging uneconomical and ineffective basic schools into some of the more than 200 primary institutions across the island. This was disclosed by Portfolio Minister, Rev. the Hon Ronald Thwaites recently during an interview on the Jamaica Information Service's (JIS) Issues and Answers Programme with Ian Boyne. Rev. Thwaites...