JCDC Stages Training Workshop in Northern Region

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will be staging a three-day residential training workshop for teacher-trainers in its Northern Region, to enable them to sharpen their preparation of students participating in this year’s Festival of Arts competition.
The workshop, to be held at the Eltham Training Centre in St. Ann, will involve participants from Portland, St. Mary and St. Ann and will be conducted from February 20 to February 22.
Speaking to JIS News, Marlene Pusey-Reid, Regional Manager of the JCDC’s Northern Region said the training would be conducted by specialists in the various competitive events, including music, dance, drama, speech and traditional folk form, adding that each participant would be provided with a certificate of participation at the end of the workshop.
She said a total of 66 teacher-trainers are expected to participate in the workshop, which would be part of a three-year programme established by the JCDC to further enhance their ability to prepare students for the festival competition. The Regional Manager pointed out that the workshop would be the first of its kind to be held in the region since the start of the year, and that each participant would receive training in any two subject areas of his or her choice.
Noting that the region performed satisfactorily in last year’s festival competition, Mrs. Pusey-Reid said she was optimistic that the performance would improve appreciably this year, based on the high level of enthusiasm and the interest being displayed by the schools in the various parishes. She also pointed out that the JCDC was engaged in heavy promotion in the region, to ensure a high level of participation among the schools in the area.