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Education Minister, Andrew Holness, has said that schools, which are major agents of socialisation, could be used to break the cycle of violence and crime surrounding the country, by being transformed into violence-free zones. He was speaking at the opening of a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)-sponsored workshop yesterday (Feb. 16), at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios,...

Minister of State for Local Government, Robert Montague, has said that there is a need to eliminate illiteracy from the parish, if it is to realise its potential for economic and social development. Giving the main address at the Annual General Meeting of the St. Mary Parish Development Committee (PDC), at the Port Maria Civic Centre, Thursday (February 12), Mr....

Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Environment, Dr. Sheila Campbell-Forrester, has said that the Schools Blood Drive Competition will be a critical component in promoting the habit of voluntary blood donation among persons aged 17 years and older. "In targeting young people, we are trying to have a consistent source of blood donors," Dr. Campbell-Forrester said during...

Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Education (MOE), Dr. Rebecca Tortello, has encouraged students to develop critical life skills which can aid them in making positive decisions. Dr. Tortello was addressing the opening of the National Sexuality and Reproductive Health Expo, held under the theme, 'Nuh linga, nuh badda do it, sweep weh sex or make a proper flex', at...

Education Minister, Andrew Holness, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), for US$1.8 million, to assist the Tropical Storm Gustav rehabilitation effort. Speaking at the signing ceremony, which took place on February 12, at the United States Embassy in Kingston, the Minister expressed his appreciation to the USAID and pledged to...

The Alston High School in North West Clarendon, has officially launched its bio-digester system, which will convert waste from the school's pig farm into useful, environmentally-friendly energy. The bio-digester was constructed for the institution by the Scientific Research Council (SRC), through funding from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Minister of State for Industry, Investment and Commerce,...

A Confucius Institute, the first of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean, was officially launched at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, today (February 13). A plaque was also presented to Vice President of the People's Republic of China, His Excellency Xi Jinping, who is in the island on a four-day official visit. The Institute is a non-profit...

A Schools Blood Drive Competition was officially launched yesterday (Feb. 11) at the Ministry of Health and Environment, King Street, downtown Kingston. The competition is aimed at the development of a culture of voluntary blood donation, by promoting the practice among young people, and is open to all schools in Jamaica. The theme is, 'Students Save Lives Too...As Voluntary Blood...

Fifth form student of McGrath High School, in St. Catherine, Daren Miller, has emerged winner in the final of the St. Catherine Parish Council's Parliamentary Style Debate Competition. Mr. Miller has received the Mayor's Award and the status of Youth Ambassador of St. Catherine for 2009. He will attend all civic functions put on by the Council, as well as...

Educators are being warned to exercise greater caution in how they relate to, and engage students in their care, as they could face criminal charges once the Sexual Offences Act is enacted. Education Minister, Andrew Holness, in his contribution to the debate on the Act in the House of Representatives yesterday (Feb. 10), said that there have been many complaints...

Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports, Olivia Grange, has commended the University of the West Indies (UWI), for its foresight in developing programmes that can help to take Reggae music "to a higher level". In a speech read by Principal Director of Culture and Entertainment in the Ministry, Sydney Bartley, at the 12th annual Bob Marley Lecture yesterday (Feb....

Ten years after the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) replaced the Common Entrance Examination, the Ministry of Education is looking at changing the nature of the test. This follows a preliminary study by the Ministry which shows the test is not meeting adequately the demands of the nation's changing education sector. GSAT was created to determine achievement or mastery of...