New Education Minister Committed to Unlocking Every Child’s Potential

Newly appointed Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, has pledged to work to unlock the potential of every child impacted by the Ministry’s institutions.

Senator Morris Dixon’s appointment comes as her predecessor, Hon. Fayval Williams, assumes duties as Minister of Finance and the Public Service.

Speaking during a tour of the Education Ministry’s head office in Kingston on Wednesday (October 30), Senator Morris Dixon reiterated the importance of an effective education sector to national development.

“I am here to work with you. The success of the Ministry of Education means the success of our country, and so I am here to work as hard as I can as we improve our country,” she said.

“This Ministry is about our children, and there are so many beautiful, bright, young children out there who can do big things for Jamaica and for the world. They just need us to move some things out of the way,” Senator Morris Dixon added.

Among the key focus areas she highlighted was early-childhood education, citing this as one of critical importance, while adding that she intends to build on the work already being done by the Ministry.

“We’re going to have to magnify them, let the world know what we’re doing and really ensure that no child is left behind. For me, there are some things that are important, [and] early-childhood education, that is the critical thing. We are going to have to focus there because, throughout the entire system, we are remediating every step of the way. So, yes, we have to continue the remediation, but we have to ensure that we get early childhood right,” Minister Morris Dixon stated.

She added that children with special needs, as well as youngsters in State care, will also be of priority as she settles into her new position.

“This Ministry, especially over the last few years, has done tremendous work in improving the services for our children with special needs, and that is something that we’re going to continue,” Senator Morris Dixon pointed out.

Literacy and numeracy are also high on the list of priorities for the new Minister.

“We cannot have any child leave our schools not able to read. We should not have any child who is not proficient in mathematics leaving our schools, and that’s our great challenge. Our challenge is unleashing the potential of every child that comes into our educational institutions, and I am sure it can be done,” Senator Morris Dixon stated.