Parents are being encouraged to keep learning alive during the summer holidays to ensure that children do not lose academic ground when they return to school in September.  Research shows that during the summer break, children can lose a significant amount of academic knowledge and skills, with up to two months of learning in mathematics and reading achievement.  Early Childhood Commission (ECC)...

For more than three decades, Elaine Carlene Elliott-Matthews nurtured the minds of pupils of Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School in St. Catherine. What gives her most satisfaction is to see children overcome ignorance and progress to learn to do tasks that once seemed too difficult. “It is truly fulfilling to watch a child evolve from basically knowing so little...

The National Population and Sustainable Development Policy (NPSDP) will be officially launched on World Population Day, Friday, July 11. Developed by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), with financial support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the European Commission, the policy marks a significant moment in Jamaica’s efforts to address population and development challenges, including declining fertility, migration...

n fiscal year 2024/25, thousands of Jamaicans benefited from the services of the Legal Aid Council (LAC). “Over 2,000 persons were assigned Duty Counsel. More than 3,000 were assigned lawyers to represent them in the criminal courts across the island and we conducted virtual and face-to-face consultations with several more persons,” Executive Director of the LAC, Dian Watson, told JIS...

Dr. Melissa Flinch’s work in community outreach and mental health advocacy, through the Free Your Mind Foundation, was celebrated recently when she was honoured with the Governor-General’s Achievement Award (GGAA) for 2025. She was among 37 individuals whose contribution to society were recognised in a ceremony held at King’s House on June 26. For Dr. Flinch, her dedication to her...

In the challenging landscape of Jamaican education, the name Kimberly Todd shines brightly as a beacon of passion, resilience and transformative teaching. A recipient of the 2025 Governor General's Achievement Award (GGAA) for St. Ann in the 25 to 35 age category, Miss Todd is a dedicated educator committed to changing the perception of the subject (Mathematics), often viewed with...

Vice Principal of Santa Cruz Primary and Infant School in St. Elizabeth, Rev. Dr. Sandra Lois Thompson, is a transformative educator. She has conducted groundbreaking work focused on struggling learners and readers, with particular attention to the challenges faced by boys in literacy development. The research, implemented in her grade four class in 2011, not only improved the academic outcome...

Despite facing great personal adversity early in his life, Garfield Angus has beat the odds and is now empowering others to do the same. A community champion from the rural district of Kitson Town in St. Catherine, Mr. Angus transformed his challenges into a powerful force for good, inspiring countless lives through his unwavering dedication to education and community upliftment....

Jamaica is gearing up to host a major regional event that promises to bring new opportunities for the country and the wider Caribbean. The 49th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference will be held from July 6 to 8 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre (MBCC), bringing together leaders from across the Caribbean to discuss common challenges and explore ways to...