Ministry Looking to Launch Educational Channel
March 13, 2012The Full Story
The Ministry of Education is looking to launch an educational channel, which will enable students to access teachers and resource material that will be beneficial to their studies.
“Later this year, it is our hope…to launch an educational channel as a free-to-air option in Jamaica, so that we can do many things,” Portfolio Minister, Rev. the Hon. Ronald Thwaites said, as he addressed Friday’s (March 9) launch of an e-library programme at the Jamaica College Old Hope Road campus in Kingston.
He said the idea is to get the best master teachers “and beam them with their subject proficiency to students… all over Jamaica, who perhaps will never have the opportunity of the good laboratories, or the excellent facilities, coaching and otherwise, but who will be able by virtual connection, to benefit from education in this regard."
Minister Thwaites said that the channel will also “purvey entertainment that will relieve us from some of the banality of our culture and lift us to the heights of opportunity, entertainment and education”.
The Minister used the opportunity to encourage the students to remain focused and resolute in the pursuit of their goals.
He also reiterated the importance of partnerships among all stakeholders for the continued development of the education sector.
“It isn’t just a question of any one party carrying the greatness and the progress of a school; it will require everyone and I am happy to insist that participation in the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) is not an optional extra, it is absolutely necessary for the good of your children,” he stated.
Turning to the e-library programme that was launched, Minister Thwaites told the students to “make full use” of the opportunity to propel themselves “to the highest heights”.
Jamaica College is the first and only public secondary school in the country to have implemented the EBSCO e-library platform.
The programme allows users to access hundreds of digital books, photographs, and recordings.
By Chris Patterson, JIS Reporter