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Education Minister, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, says he is targeting a 10 per cent improvement in Mathematics passes in the major examinations at the primary and secondary levels. These are the Grade Four Numeracy Test, Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC). He said that as part of this initiative, the Ministry will be...

The Ministry of Education is moving to address the deficit in Mathematics at the primary and secondary levels. Portfolio Minister, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, says that the Ministry will be increasing the allocation “towards ensuring that sufficient Mathematics specialists are placed in schools where there are weaknesses”. He said that only nine per cent of secondary school teachers are...

At least 250 students of the Constant Spring Primary and Junior High School in St. Andrew benefitted from an outreach session staged by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ). The event, held on the school grounds on Thursday, February 28, was part of a series under the Commission’s media literacy project. Some of the topics discussed were: ‘The Digital Switchover’;...

A $32 million contract for construction of the Albert Town Infant School in Southern Trelawny and upgrading of the adjoining primary institution, was signed on Thursday, February 28. The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is implementing the project through its Community Investment Project (CIP), which is funded by the Caribbean Development Bank. Work is slated to begin immediately, and is...

The Ministry of Education is looking at extending the academic year beyond the existing 190 days, as part of efforts to prevent a regression of students during the summer break. Portfolio Minister, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, in responding to questions posed during the Rotary Club of New Kingston’s breakfast meeting held at Chaser’s Cafe on Friday, March 1, stated...

Improvement works, totaling $35.4 million, have been completed at the Newlands Basic School in Portmore, St. Catherine. The project was jointly funded by the Government and the European Union (EU) under its Poverty Reduction Programme II (PRP II) facility. Residents of Newlands and neighbouring communities also contributed the equivalent of approximately $11.9 million to the overall cost. The Jamaica Social...

The Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) is to receive loans totalling US$20 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), to finance tuition for tertiary level students. Cabinet, at its regular meeting on Monday, February 25, gave approval for Government to guarantee the loans. The Bank is also providing a grant of US$175,000. Making the announcement at Wednesday’s Jamaica House press briefing,...

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, has called on students to make the best use of what they are being taught, as when they excel, this with boost the development of the nation. The Minister, who was delivering the keynote address at a Jamaica Day 2013 function, held on Thursday, February 22, at the Trelawny multi-purpose Stadium, in the...

Several primary school mathematics teachers will, in April, participate in development workshops aimed at enhancing competence in the subject. The training sessions, organised by the Seprod Group of Companies, are being undertaken in conjunction with the Ministry of Education. They will be held in regions one, two, four and six on April 10, 11, 19 and 26, respectively. Chief Operating...

Minister of Education, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, is encouraging teachers to make use of online programmes in upgrading their skills. He said that while the Government is in full support of professional development, it could not afford the cost of having teachers on extended study leave. “We all have to consider economics and it is not going to be...

High school students have been urged to say no to voluntary and involuntary smoking,  in the drive to promote a smoke-free environment in Jamaica. This message was given through various presentations at the fourth staging of the Jamaica Cancer Society’s Anti-Tobacco Youth Forum, held on February 20 under the theme: ‘No joking, no smoking- serious ting’,  at the Girl Guides...

Minister of Education, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites, has hailed the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) electronic book (e-book) initiative, noting that it will save students significant sums in textbook costs. Under the project, being piloted in the medical faculty, students will be able to digitally access all their texts and journals at a fraction of the cost of...