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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...

Manchester Link, a chapter of the Mico University College Alumni Association, formerly the Mico Old Students Association (MOSA), celebrated their 40th anniversary at a church service on Sunday (Feb. 8) at the New Beulah Moravian Church, Mandeville. Speaking at the service, President of the alumni association, Hugh Morris, praised the institution for preparing graduates for service in the "noble profession...

Thousands of students from high schools across the island are expected to benefit from the second National Sexuality and Reproductive Health Expo, which will be held on Wednesday, February 11 at the National Arena in Kingston. The National Coordinator of the HIV/AIDS Education Programme in the Ministry of Education, Christopher Graham, told JIS News that 3,240 students from 107 schools...

McGrath High School, Treadways, St Catherine, will hold its first agricultural fair on Thursday, February 12, under the theme 'Eat What You Grow: Grow What You Eat'. Principal, Cynthia Anderson told JIS News that, as the school is in a farming community, the fair will demonstrate to the community, successful ventures which have been undertaken in modern agriculture and food...

Reading for children, up to the age of eight years, is expected to be a more enjoyable activity, with the publication of the latest in a series of engaging and informative children's books written by Jamaican author, Kellie Magnus. Miss Magnus presented a copy of the book, entitled 'Little Lion Goes for Gold', to the Minister of Education, Andrew Holness,...