JFLL gets six new classrooms

KINGSTON — The Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) adult education centre in Kingston, has been provided with additional classrooms to assist with delivering its mandate of helping to improve adult literacy and numeracy skills.

The six new classrooms can accommodate 25 persons each, increasing enrollment from 175 to 280 students per shift. 

Addressing the official handing over ceremony at the institution’s East Street location, on June 22, Executive Director of the JFLL, Dr. Allison Cross, said the opening of the new classrooms coincides with efforts to expand and upgrade the human and technological capacity of the institution.

“This expansion and improvement is well timed, because it coincides perfectly with new initiatives from the JFLL to serve students  through our new JFLL secondary programme, which will enable our learners to move through grade seven right up to CXC Math and English," she said.

Dr. Cross said the expanded facility represents an opportunity to secure skills and knowledge, particularly for those in Kingston and St. Andrew with literacy challenges. She pointed out that this acquired knowledge will allow them to leverage their natural talent to make a greater contribution to society and reap more benefits.

In his address, Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Desmond McKenzie, challenged the students to achieve and to learn all they can, adding that they are never too young or old to learn. “In order to achieve the things that you must achieve, the two basic things are reading and writing, because once you read and understand, nobody can fool you,” he said.

The Mayor said despite people’s perception of the institution, the students should never be ashamed of what they are doing, as long as it is something that is right and beneficial to themselves and society.

Member of Parliament for Central Kingston, Rev. Ronald Thwaites, reminded the students that in their quest to acquire knowledge, they will become one of the greatest assets in the nation. 

The JFLL, formerly JAMAL, began in 1973. It is the lead lifelong learning agency of the Government in co-ordinating with local and international partners, in the drive to accomplish education for all.

By CHRIS PATTERSON, JIS Reporter