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KINGSTON — Getting the new school year off to a good start can influence children's attitude, confidence and performance, both socially and academically. The transition from summer holidays to September is often difficult for both children and parents, because holidays are carefree, while back-to-school means a more structured environment. Although children may be eager to return to school, they must...

KINGSTON — As parents and guardians make final arrangements for the new academic year, which begins on Monday, September 5, the Road Safety Unit (RSU) is appealing for road safety rules to be incorporated into the preparations. Speaking with JIS News, Acting Education and Information Officer at the RSU, Da’Reon Sevanell, says it is important to educate children how to...

MONTEGO BAY — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Audrey Sewell, has lauded the men and women, who volunteer their time and efforts to serve on school boards across the island. “You…have signaled to us in the Ministry of Education that the spirit of volunteerism and patriotism is still strong and alive in this country, because unlike your counterparts,...

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for East Central St. James, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has allocated some $11.25 million for scholarships to teachers in training, books and uniforms for students in the area, and to assist the Spot Valley High School's sixth form computer programme. According to Mr. Bartlett, all these projects have been made possible...

MONTEGO BAY — School supplies valued at $1.5 million have been presented to some 610 students from 28 inner-city communities in the parish of St. James. The items, which included bags and books, were handed over by the Peace Management Initiative (PMI) of St. James on August 30. “We are happy to know that as an organisation we are able...

MONTEGO BAY — Eighteen students from Hanover who have gained entry to high schools, colleges and universities in September, have been awarded scholarships by the Tryall Scholarship Fund valued at approximately $1.6 million. The scholarships were presented during a ceremony at the Tryall Hotel's Great House property on Wednesday August 24. The main presentation, the Louise Cullman Scholarship, was awarded...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Education, in partnership with Intcomex Jamaica Limited, donated 25 Lexmark printers and three fax machines to five primary and secondary schools to better equip the institutions in time for the upcoming 2011/2012 academic year. The office equipment has been given to Belmont Academy, in Westmoreland; and Allman Town Primary School, Balcombe Drive Primary and Junior...

KINGSTON — Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, has underscored the need for parents to ensure their children are registered and attending school, particularly at the primary level. Speaking at the inaugural Courts Customer Scholarship awards ceremony recently, at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston, Mr. Holness highlighted the Ministry's concern that, up to the end of the 2010/11 academic...

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Audrey Sewell has informed that since implementation of the National Student Registration (NSR) system, over 51,000 students have been registered at the grade six level. Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry’s Heroes’ Circle offices in Kingston on August 19, Mrs. Sewell also told journalists that approximately 40,000 students have...

KINGSTON — Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, says he will be examining the situation where developers of content for textbooks continue to influence the selection of booklists for primary and secondary schools each year. “This is something that I have to look at very carefully, because there could be a conflict of interest there, and that is not working...

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...