Implementation of ECC Reclassification to Take Effect April 1

The proposed reclassification and restructuring of the Early Childhood Commission (ECC) has been approved by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service and should take effect on April 1.

The development follows an institutional review of the ECC, said Project Lead for the Transforming Education for National Development (TREND) in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Nicole Brown.

She disclosed that the Early Childhood Development Policy is 30 per cent complete.

Miss Brown was speaking on developments in early-childhood education, which is among seven thematic areas in the Reform of Education in Jamaica 2021 Report, for which she provided an update at a recent press conference hosted by the Education Transformation and Oversight Committee (ETOC).

The Report, produced by the Professor Orlando Patterson-led Jamaica Education Transformation Commission (JETC), also covers governance and accountability; teaching, curriculum and teacher training; the tertiary sector; infrastructure and technology; technical and vocational education and training (TVET); and finance.

Under governance and accountability, she reported that the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) Bill is 85 per cent complete.

She added that the Ministry of Education and Youth is implementing phase one of the Centralised Accounting System in 50 schools, noting that 200 institutions will commence implementation of the system in the upcoming school year.

As it relates to teaching, curriculum and teacher training, Miss Brown said the work continues to enhance the curriculum framework.

She said that the educational philosophy was completed and approved by Cabinet, and the National Standard Curriculum is being reviewed.

She informed that approximately 2,000 teachers have been trained by the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) and more than 700 school leaders have been certified by the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL) during the period April 2023 to February 2024.

She noted that school safety and security is being enhanced, with 154 schools having more than 1,000 operational security cameras.

An additional eight schools will be equipped this academic year.

Reporting on developments in the tertiary sector, Miss Brown informed that a tertiary human resource unit is being developed within the Ministry, and work is being done to upgrade laboratories and incorporate cutting-edge technologies under Technical Vocational Education & Training (TVET).

Meanwhile under infrastructure and technology, she said that more than 663 or 66 per cent of all public schools and places of safety have been connected to the National School Network, which ensures that these locations are currently receiving fast, reliable and secure broadband internet services.

In addition, following Cabinet’s approval, the Ministry is now moving into the implementation phase to complete the special education diagnostic centre to be built at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education in Portland by 2025.

For finance, she noted that the Ministry is currently developing a framework for the funding across all levels of the education system.

Implementation of the recommendations, which aim to improve the education sector, is being monitored by ETOC, which is chaired by Dr. Adrian Stokes.