Ed Bartlett Channels CDF Funds into Schools

Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for East Central St. James, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has donated $1 million for the development and empowerment of the Grade 4 literacy and numeracy levels in primary and all-age schools within the constituency, from his Community Development Fund (CDF) allocation.
A special grant of $250,000.00 was also made to the John Rollins Success Primary School, Rose Hall, to support their Grade 4 development activities, to be paid out within the month.
Mr. Bartlett was addressing the Math Olympic Marathon 2010, at the John Rollins Success Primary School on Thursday (April 22). Some 18 primary and all-age schools in western Jamaica participated in the math-related activities on the fun-filled programme.

Minister of Tourism and Member of Parliament for East Central St. James, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, addressing participants at the John Rollins Success Primary School in Rose Hall, St. James, during the opening ceremony for the Math Olympic 2010 held at the school Thursday (April 22).

The Math Olympic was the brainchild of the John Rollins Success Primary School, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Region 4.
Stating his disappointment with the recent performance of Grade 4 students in the area in literacy and numeracy examinations, Mr. Bartlett reiterated his commitment to the educational development of students, and announced that the emphasis in education this year would be on the Grade 4 levels in all schools.
“I was very disturbed and distressed with the results of the Grade 4 pupils’ performance. as only about three schools scored above 50 per cent in the mastery of the numeracy test,” Mr. Bartlett remarked.
He said that this was of concern because the numeracy base of students is critical to the development of their reasoning capacity in the future, and for their general scholastic development.

Students being closely observed by judges during the Math Olympic 2010 held at the John Rollins Success Primary School in Rose Hall, St. James, Thursday (April 22).

He said, however, that notwithstanding his displeasure with the results, he wanted to emphasise his commitment to education, and the development of all schools in East Central St. James.
He commended the organisers, teachers and the Ministry of Education for the staging of the Math Olympic, which ‘augments’ the overall efforts of leaders of the Region to shape a better future for the young people.
“This parish is one of the few that engages in these types of stimulation activities that enable our young people to not only advance in numeracy, but to do it in a nice competitive way,” he said.
Mr. Bartlett added that the competition was a good thing, because it not only matches wits and skills between the groups, but it also builds a relationship that is critical for character building among youths.

The Math Mascot parading for the participants of the Math Olympic 2010 at the John Rollins Success Primary School, Rose Hall, St. James, Thursday (April 22).

He stated that the country was suffering today, and young people were in the forefront of that pain now being experienced through crime and violence, basically, as a result of the breakdown of relationships between individuals, communities and groups. Instead of finding a way to solve problems and deal with differences in a peaceful and conciliatory manner, people were resorting to aggression, violence and criminal activities, he lamented.
“I, therefore, want to commend all the persons that have come together to make this activity possible, and trust that all students from the 18 schools participating will benefit immensely from the experience,” Mr. Bartlett stated.