Work Progressing on Implementation Of 129 Education Sector Improvement Initiatives

The Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC) is reporting that all 129 initiatives now being undertaken to improve the sector are on track.

The measures are among 365 recommendations contained in the 2021 Report of the Professor Orlando Patterson-chaired Jamaica Education Transformation Commission (JETC) to address gaps and issues identified in the country’s education system.

These recommendations are being implemented over an eight-year period, spanning 2023-2031, with ETOC monitoring the process.

ETOC Chairman, Dr. Adrian Stokes, informed that the 129 initiatives comprise 94 that commenced last year and 35 which started in the current period.

He further advised that four initiatives which the Committee indicated were lagging, during its last briefing, are also now on track.

“The overall progress on the transformation plan is 15 per cent, a two percentage points increase over the prior reporting period,” Dr. Stokes said.

He described the outturn for the current reporting period as a “credible performance” and “strong showing” by the Ministry of Education and Youth.

The ETOC Chairman was providing a progress report for the April to June 2024 period during a press conference at the University of the West Indies regional headquarters in St. Andrew on Friday (June 28), which was attended by Education Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams.

Highlighting key outcomes, Dr. Stokes said the Ministry is working to finalise and implement the Early Childhood Development Policy.

“This is now 35 per cent complete. A thorough review of the Policy is being conducted, with full implementation slated for early 2026. Special education support at the early childhood level is now 50 per cent complete. Currently, shadow support is provided for over 80 children, with the Ministry looking to bolster that number over time,” he shared.

The ETOC Chairman also indicated that training of teachers is now 33 per cent complete.

“This is clearly a big priority for the transformation work being done. Progress is being made as it relates to STEM training and more resources and avenues are being created to bolster teacher training,” he said.

Dr. Stokes informed that good progress is being made to provide funding for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes.

“Approximately $400 million has been obtained from the HEART/NSTA Trust, of which $200 million has been provided to schools, so far,” he said.

Regarding infrastructure, Dr. Stokes informed that approximately $2 billion has been earmarked through the National Education Trust (NET) for several projects that will improve the physical state of schools and provide more comfortable environments for teaching and learning.

In relation to communication, he said significant work is being undertaken in this area at the Ministry to transform its strategy to stakeholders and increase awareness.

“The TREND campaign has done a lot to highlight the work that is being done to transform the education system. Several events have been hosted, many different media forms have been engaged and a number of fun and easy to follow communication initiatives have been executed by the Ministry,” the Chairman said.

Additionally, he said several strategies are being undertaken to strengthen literacy and numeracy at various levels of the sector and eliminate gaps.

“Literacy and numeracy are prerequisites for wider education success,” Dr. Stokes underscored, adding that “the implementation of the Education Management Information System (EMIS) is moving forward.”

He further stated that more resources are being channelled to the early childhood level, in line with the objective to fundamentally transform the sector.

Meanwhile Dr. Stokes advised that a project management framework is in place to monitor and track implementation of the initiatives. “

“Importantly, the project management system that is being used to manage the project, a software called ASANA, provides an audit trail that improves governance and integrity. This goes to the heart of the project management process, ensuring there is data integrity that serves as the foundation for accurate and timely reporting,” he said.

Dr. Stokes lauded the team at the Ministry for working with ETOC to achieve the various objectives to execute the governance mandate.

“So far, we are seeing a significant alignment, a significant buy-in from the senior leadership team at the Ministry,” he said, while encouraging all Jamaicans to embrace education transformation.

Dr. Stokes said ETOC’s members have been providing excellent oversight to the Ministry of Education, “as we carry out our mandate to improve governance around the execution of the recommendations made in the Reform of Education in Jamaica 2021 Report or the Patterson Report.”

The Report, produced by the JETC, covers thematic areas of early childhood education; governance and accountability; teaching, curriculum and teacher training; the tertiary sector; infrastructure and technology; TVET, and finance.

The National Education Inspectorate (NEI) reports are now publicly available and the Ministry is currently publishing financial information on schools funded from the public purse.