The Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM) has partnered with Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) to facilitate a six-month apprenticeship programme aimed at providing training and work experience for young persons. In May, five young adults who have completed their secondary-level education began on-the-job training in the administration, human resources, information systems and preparedness and emergency operations...

State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Government is placing increased focus on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in order to better prepare young people for the job market. “We are reforming our education system to place more emphasis on the practical side of skills, and we want to ensure, from as early...

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, says the sixth-form option in high schools provides a unique opportunity for students to develop leadership qualities and should be encouraged. Addressing the 30th Anniversary Banquet of the St. Catherine High School Class of 1988, at the Jewel Runaway Bay Beach and Golf Resort, Runaway Bay, St. Ann, on July 14, Mr. Holness...

The Senate on Friday (July 13) passed the Child Diversion Bill with 13 amendments. The legislation seeks to enable the implementation of child-diversion measures in dealing with children who come into conflict with the law. The Bill was piloted by Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid. In his contribution to the debate, Government Senator Charles Sinclair...

Several major infrastructure development contracts valued at $1.69 billion have been approved by Cabinet, says Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid. Addressing a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House on July 11, the Minister said of the sum, $887.3 million was awarded to ASHTROM Building Systems Limited for infrastructure works, under phases three and four,...

Six hundred and fifty high-school students across the island are to benefit from a $100-million Hospitality and Tourism Management Programme (HTMP) this year, which will see them gaining internationally recognised certification in the industry. To be rolled out in 30 high schools in mid-September, the intense two-year programme will be offered to students in grades 11, 12 and 13, free...

The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), in partnership with the Institute for Workforce Education and Development (IWED), has trained 62 unemployed persons in landscaping and facility maintenance at a cost of $9 million. The young persons, who are from needy communities in the parishes of St. Andrew, Kingston and Clarendon, were each given certificates and starter kits on Tuesday (July...