More

The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) has launched three handbooks to assist secondary school students pursuing studies in economics, geography and sociology, particularly in the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), and their teachers. The handbooks are the brainchild of Director General, Sonia Jackson, and are the institution's response to the students' need for statistical data in undertaking school-based assessments (SBA)...

Thirty two students who sat the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) have reaped the benefits of their remarkable scores, with the award of government scholarships for outstanding achievement. The programme aims to recognise and award exceptional work among GSAT students, who are selected by a committee and ranked based on performance. Chief Education Officer in the Assessment Unit at the...

Minister of Education, Honourable Andrew Holness, has said he is satisfied that there was no breakdown in security at the Duhaney Park Primary School in St. Andrew, where a student went missing on Tuesday (October 13). Yesterday (October 14), members of the community demonstrated at the school, padlocking the gates and forcing classes to be suspended for the day, following...

More than 150 staff members of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) will receive training in Customer Service over a five-week period, from September 30 to November 4. Staff members, drawn from a wide cross section of the Agency including drivers, accountants, photographers, reporters and production managers, have welcomed the exercise. Giving his impression of the training session, Radio Producer for...

The Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, invited about 50 students of Vaz Preparatory School who visited Kings House on Wednesday (October 14) to return for Monday's National Honours and Awards Ceremony. His Excellency extended the invitation following a brief viewing of a Heritage display mounted by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) at King's House. "I'm giving...

The Managing Director of the London-based Caribbean Council, David Jessop, has been awarded an honorary Order of Distinction (Commander Class) by the Government of Jamaica for service to Jamaica and the Jamaican Diaspora. Mr. Jessop told JIS News that he was flattered to be among those who will receive their honours and awards in Kingston on National Heroes Day (October...

The Vere Technical High School and the Lionel Town Hospital in Clarendon have benefitted from much needed upgrading and repairs, which were carried out by Jamalco as part of its 2009 Month of Service. On Friday (Oct. 9) employees renovated the gymnasium at Vere Technical, transforming it into a dormitory for male athletes, while the maternity ward and main link...

A contract valued at $27 million was signed on Thursday (October 8) between the Hounslow/Bigwoods Basic School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), in St. Elizabeth, and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), for the construction of a basic school in the community. At the ceremony at the Epiphany Anglican Church, Bigwoods, PTA Chairman, Donovan Williamson, told the gathering that, despite many setbacks...

Eleven-year-old Renae McLeod is the last of 10 children in her family but, with an unemployed, single parent mother challenged with schooling all of her children, she had to turn to selling guineps to give her mother support. During the summer holidays, while other children jetted off for their vacation or stayed home and participated in other fun activities, Renae...

John Austin All-Age School, North Central Clarendon, received a donation of posters, books, flags, DVDs and other educational materials from the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) on Monday (October 12). Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the JIS, Mrs. Donna-Marie Rowe, presented the items which are valued at just under $6,000 dollars, to the school's Principal, Mrs. Direna Lewis. "This is the...

Government Senator, Hyacinth Bennett, has called for the removal of "non-performing" teachers, who fail to effectively contribute to the academic development of Jamaica's youth. Making her contribution in the State of the Nation Debate in Gordon House on Friday (October 9), Senator Bennett noted that while the majority of the island's teachers and principals "do their utmost best" to educate...

The Ministry of Education is moving to improve sanitation in primary schools, after four cases of hand, foot and mouth disease was confirmed at a Corporate Area preparatory school. In an interview with JIS News, Director of Communications in the Ministry, Mr. Colin Blair, said all regional offices have been notified and steps have been taken to identify all schools...