Help on the Way for Some Schools

Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, says that assistance is coming for the schools that received less than fovourable reviews in the recently released National Education Inspectorate (NEI) report.

The NEI report listed several schools across the island, at various levels of the educational ladder, as lacking in proper management and administrative capabilities.

In an interview with JIS News, following an Education Summit at the western Jamaica campus of the University of the West Indies, on June 7, the Minister pointed out that teams from the Ministry are being sent into all the schools listed as in need of special attention, to see what immediate help can be provided.

“Secondly, we are intensifying the training in leadership…more Principals and Vice Principals into the College of Education and Leadership. We hope that by the end of this year, with the passing of the Teaching Council Bill into law, it will be a requirement for appointment, that you have specific training as a Principal,” he stated.

He explained that the emphasis must continue in the area of Early Childhood education, as only with a solid foundation will it be easier for the students, as they move on to higher grades in the schools.

Rev. Thwaites noted that some of the deficiencies indentified within the NEI report were already recognized by the Ministry, with (Ministry) personnel doing what little they could to try and remedy some of the situations. However, he emphasized that the situation demands much more fundamental attention at this time.

“The attention is coming, so we need everybody’s co-operation,” Rev. Thwaites said.

Contact: Bryan Miller