Gov’t Looking to Adequately Equip Education Officers for New School Year

The Ministry of Education and Youth is looking to adequately equip the nation’s education officers with the requisite resources to enable them to perform their duties efficiently during the 2022/23 academic year, which begins on Monday, September 5.

Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, made the disclosure while addressing the Jamaica Association of Education Officers’ (JAEO) annual general meeting (AGM) at Ocean Coral Spring in Trelawny on Friday (August 26).

“I know that there are thorny issues [regarding] laptops, transportation, and additional human resources, to name a few, among education officers. We [the Ministry] are committed to helping you in your quest for personal development and being equipped with adequate resources to do your job,” she stated.

Mrs. Williams advised that the Ministry will be looking to address the officers’ concerns, adding that “if we are not able to do [those] this year, because the budget is cast already, we [will] try to get them into the budget for next year.”

She underscored the role of education officers, whom she said are essential in facilitating the seamless operation of Jamaica’s education system.

Mrs. Williams noted that they are the “ground monitors” who are the immediate points of contact with schools.

As such, she emphasised that it is imperative that they receive the necessary resources to enable them to continue to effectively carry out their responsibilities.

“I want to commend you for your dedication, especially when I look at the number of schools that are assigned to each and every one of you; and I know that you have to travel to the far corners of Jamaica, up hills and down valleys. I know it is not an easy job to do [as] a lot is riding on your shoulders,” the Minister said.

Mrs. Williams pointed out that the National Education Inspectorate (NEI) report indicates the need for significant ongoing interventions to increase academic performance in schools.

She said it will require all hands on deck to make this happen, by working collectively to improve schools’ infrastructure and create better spaces for administrators and teachers.

The two-day JAEO AGM was held August 25 and 26 under the theme -‘Inspired and Positioned to Make a Difference’.

It was attended by education officers representing the Ministry’s seven regions, who participated in various sessions and presentations.