Independent and Private Schools Encouraged to Register with JISA

Operators of independent and private schools are being encouraged to register with the Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA), as the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information seeks to improve communication with these institutions.

President of JISA, Karlene Bisnott, told JIS News that registration of these institutions is particularly important with the roll-out of the new National Standards Curriculum (NSC).

The new NSC is to be distributed to independent and private institutions through JISA.

“Membership with JISA will make it easier for them to access the curriculum and support material, as opposed to going directly to the Ministry to get it,” Ms. Bisnott said.

Under the new NSC, emphasis is being placed on project-based and problem-solving learning, with science, technology, engineering and mathematics/science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEM/STEAM) integrated at all levels.

She further noted that registration with JISA will enable these institutions to be updated on the activities of the Ministry, particularly as it relates to updates and preparations for the recently implemented Primary Exit Profile (PEP).

The PEP is the series of tests that has replaced the GSAT as the national secondary school entrance examination. It is intended to provide a better and more complete profile of students’ academic and critical-thinking capabilities at the end of primary-level education. It comprises a Performance Task Test, Ability Task Test and a Curriculum-Based Test.

“The Ministry is looking to get to the point where JISA is their point of contact for communication with independent schools. If the information comes to us through the JISA Secretariat, then we are in a position to disseminate the information on a regular basis to schools that are on our mailing list as JISA-registered schools,” Ms. Bisnott told JIS News.

To register with JISA, operators of individual and private institutions should present proof that they are duly registered with the Ministry of Education.

The JISA registration form should be completed and submitted to the Association’s Secretariat. Forms are available at JISA’s offices at 16 Cargill Avenue in Kingston. For more information, call (876) 564-5399.

The cost of the annual registration ranges from $8,000 to $17,000, depending on the size of the school. Registered institutions will receive a one-year JISA membership certificate.

Founded in 1969, JISA is a professional organisation of principals, vice principals and directors of registered private schools.JIS SOCIAL