HEART/NTA to Invest Millions in Equipping Secondary Schools
By: , June 27, 2013
The Full Story
Education Minister, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, said that the HEART Trust/NTA will be investing millions of dollars in equipping secondary schools with laboratories, workshop equipment and required personnel.
He said that new high schools are being specifically targeted under the initiative, which is aimed at providing students with technical and vocational skills for the job market.
“This is so that the students will not get a smattering of technical education but rather, they have the opportunity of proceeding to level one or level two at HEART and then the workforce colleges for tertiary education, which will take them to the degree level,” Rev. Thwaites said.
He was speaking on Wednesday, June 26, at the official opening of a Career Resource Centre at the Kingston Technical High School on Hanover Street, downtown Kingston.
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Minister Thwaites said that the facility will equip the students to recognise the balance that has to exist between academic excellence and technical and vocational competence.
“A wholesome and rounded education is, in fact, the best investment that this country can make,” he said, while expressing the hope that the centre can be opened up to neighbouring schools and the wider community.
Vice Principal of Kingston Technical, Marvalin Ricketts, expressed appreciation to the various institutions that provided assistance in the development of the resource centre.
“The establishment of this centre here at Kingston Technical High School, makes it a model for schools in Jamaica. We now have all our career services centralised with significant increased efficiency and productivity,” she said.
She expressed confidence that the facility will greatly benefit students and will chart a new course with respect to the career development programme at the school.
The Career and Resource Centre was established at a cost of $1. 25 million through donations and in partnership with various private sector companies.
Contact: Latonya Linton