Health Promotion and Education Officer for St. Ann and author, Kerry-Ann Patterson-Blake, is hoping to make a good impression with her recently released children’s book - ‘War Against the NCDs’ (Non-Communicable Diseases). NCDs are typically caused by unhealthy behaviours and are the leading cause of deaths globally. Examples of these are: Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, epilepsy, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and cerebrovascular disease...

With 96 per cent of its students placed on Pathway One and Pathway Two in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exam, the Portland-based Buff Bay Primary School sees 2024 as a year of academic success, after the COVID-19 pandemic caused children to perform below par. From the 99 students who sat the exam, 55 have been placed on Pathway One,...

As parents and guardians finalise back-to-school preparations for their children ahead of the 2024/25 academic year, commencing September 2, the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC) is providing tips to help them manage their budgets. Director of Communication, Latoya Halstead, tells JIS News that budget preparation should be a top priority in managing spending. Noting that textbooks account for a significant percentage...

Liberty Academy at the Priory has produced the 2024 Top Boy in the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination. He is 12-year-old Aiden Cummings, a student who was very intentional about his preparation for the exam that determined the institution at which he would receive a high-school education. Aiden told JIS News that he is prepared to take on secondary studies...

Twelve-year-old Adrianna Cover engaged in months of intense preparation for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination. She had one goal in mind and that was to earn a place at her school of choice – Campion College in Kingston. Not only did Adrianna achieve that goal but she also received the highest score among the 17,175 female students who sat...

The Mount Olivet Boys’ Home in Manchester has implemented some creative reward programmes to encourage high achievement at the institution. In an interview with JIS News, Operations Officer at the facility, Yashi Williams, spoke about the rewards programmes that he believes “garnered much results” and is partly responsible for the accomplishments. “If residents complete their homework, we make ‘Sky Juice’...

State petroleum refinery Petrojam Limited has awarded four scholarships to top performers in the 2024 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations at Greenwich Primary and St. Andrew Primary Schools in Kingston. The recipients are Kaylia Walters and Kevin Nelson from St. Andrew Primary, and Jhennalla Robinson and Johnty Smith from Greenwich Primary. They each received $60,000 towards their tuition annually, a...

The 100-year-old Half-Way Tree Primary School in St. Andrew is continuing its tradition of achieving excellent exam results, with 88 per cent of its students who sat the 2024 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams being placed on Pathway One. Of the 170 students who sat the exams, 150 have been placed at the high school of their choice and will...

The journey to success for Detective Corporal in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Damoy Douglas, is a testament to the reward that comes from hard work and dedication. One of 39 Jamaicans who recently received the 2024 Governor-General’s Achievement Award (GGAA) for noteworthy contribution to their communities, the young Detective Corporal has overcome financial hardship to achieve academic success and...