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,...

More children with disabilities will benefit from early intervention services, with the opening of the expanded Stimulation Plus Early Childhood Development Centre (Stim-Plus). The facility, located in Rockfort, Kingston, was upgraded through $70 million in funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It comprises seven classrooms, bathrooms, administrative offices, sickbay, physiotherapy rooms, a caretaker’s cottage, and a specialised play area....

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency’s (CPFSA) Southern Region will stage its inaugural ‘Facility Day’ on Wednesday (July 11) at St. Monica’s Children’s Home in Chapelton, Clarendon. The day of activities, which gets under way starting at 9:00 a.m., is targeted at officers in Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, and Manchester. Speaking with JIS News, CPFSA Acting Regional Director, Francine Rhoomes,...

Members of the Ackee Tree Group have donated $1,045,000 in scholarships to 24 students from Porus and surrounding communities in Manchester. Students from Porus, St. Jago and Ramble Primary who were successful in their GSAT examinations and are headed to various high schools in September, as well as students from Porus High School, Porus and Wright’s Early Childhood Institutions, received...

Senators began debate on the Child Diversion Bill 2018 at a sitting today (July 6). The Bill seeks to enable the implementation of child-diversion measures in dealing with children who come into conflict with the law. Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, in opening the debate explained that child diversion is a process of implementing...

To reduce cognitive learning challenges among infants in the country, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, in partnership with the Early Childhood Commission (ECC), has launched the Jamaica Brain Builders Programme at a cost of approximately $540 million. The launch took place on the playground of the Cynthia Shako Early Childhood Education and Day Care Centre, at the University...

To protect and safeguard the lives of educators and students in schools from fire, the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has purchased 80 first-aid kits, 120 fire extinguishers, 120 smoke detectors, 40 wash hand signs and 40 emergency assembly signs, which will be distributed among 40 schools across the island. This donation, valued at approximately $3.3 million, forms part of...