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Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Audrey Sewell, has informed that Alternative Secondary Transitional Education Programme (ASTEP) centres have been established in some 192 selected Primary, All Age and Junior High Schools across the island. She said the centres were carefully selected based on geographical location, accessibility, space, availability and leadership, in order to ensure better utilisation of existing...

KINGSTON — The Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is reporting that this year, textbook prices have increased by an average of five per cent over July 2010, remaining below the inflation rate of 7.2 per cent. This represents a one per cent improvement over the similar period for 2009-2010, and four per cent over the previous period (2008-2009). Speaking at a...

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Audrey Sewell, says the Ministry is working assiduously to ensure that tuition and maintenance grants reach most educational institutions in time for the new school year, in September. Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry, National Heroes Circle, Kingston, on Friday August 19, Mrs. Sewell said that as of August...

KINGSTON — Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness has informed that approximately 3,000 students have been registered under the Alternative Secondary Transitional Education Programme (ASTEP) and are expected to commence classes in September.   Speaking to journalists during a press briefing at the Ministry's Heroes' Circle offices in Kingston on Friday August 19, the Minister raised concerns that there was...

KINGSTON — Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, is urging parents to follow the supplementary textbook list, which is endorsed by the Ministry, as they make purchases for the new academic year. “If parents follow that list, they will see the books that best, in the opinion of the Ministry, covers the curriculum. If you stick to that endorsed list,...

KINGSTON — Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, has announced that 17,400  students gained four subjects or more in the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) results this year, 2,800 more than the 14,600 students  who passed more than four last year. Mr. Holness said with the number improving by almost 3,000 the public school system has added another 3,000 students this...

KINGSTON — Forty-four students were awarded scholarships valued at over $4.5 million by Courts Jamaica Limited under its inaugural Customer Scholarship Programme, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston on Friday August 19. The scholarships will assist the students in meeting tuition costs at the secondary, vocational and tertiary levels beginning September. The winners were children of "valued and loyal"...

KINGSTON — Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, has warned schools collecting supplementary fees from students on PATH (Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education), that the action is a violation of Government policy. Mr. Holness said that policy is that children benefiting from PATH should not pay auxiliary fees at the high school level. He was speaking at a...

With the re-opening of the Bog Walk gorge road in St. Catherine, the train service between Linstead and Spanish Town will be scaled down to one trip daily from Wednesday, August 24, until the new school year gets fully under way on September 12. The service will involve a 6:30 a.m. departure from Linstead, arriving in Spanish Town at 7:15...

KINGSTON — Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, says the Government will be "looking very seriously" at developing an electronic waste (e-waste) policy and creating an industry dealing with the management and recycling of this refuse. He said given the practice of firms worldwide, particularly in the United States and in Europe, disposing of old computers in other countries, the...

KINGSTON — Jamaica's Educational institutions are to benefit from low-cost refurbished computers, distributed by a technology centre established by the Camara Jamaica Foundation Limited at the Penwood High School, Kingston. Officially opened Thursday August 18 at a ceremony on the school grounds, the centre will be a hub for the distribution, refurbishing and maintenance of recycled computers provided by the...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, has stated Government's commitment to continue to expand access to tertiary education in Jamaica. He said contrary to public opinion, there is no plan to divert funding from the tertiary level to early childhood and primary schools, noting that, in fact, support to the sector will be increased. “The Government is...