• Seventy primary schools benefited from the expertise of some 130 teachers, who have been trained to detect and successfully correct learning challenges in students.
• The National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL) launched ‘The Principal’s Voice’, a magazine that provides principals with practical, hands-on strategies to undertake improvements at their schools.
• Government awarded a 10-year contract, valued at £12.2 million, to City and Guilds International Limited for the testing and certification for grades 11, 12 and 13 students in Mathematics, English, Engineering and 16 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) occupational areas.
• Textbooks and appropriate electronic and other supplies were provided to support the National Standards Curriculum and other curricula for grades 1 to 13 at a cost of approximately $817 million.
Teaching Council Bill
• Cabinet signed off on the draft Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) Bill, which seeks to establish a governing body for the teaching profession and a licensing and registration regime for all Government-paid teachers.
Twinning of Schools
• Some 52 high schools are participating in the Twinning of Schools initiative, which aims to expose students to academic and extracurricular programmes that are not currently available at their own institutions.
Childcare and Protection
• $23.5 million was spent to renovate the Homestead Place of Safety in Stony Hill, St. Andrew, making life more comfortable for the 44 young girls who reside there.
• Just over $1.2 billion was allocated to the Special Education Unit.
• Two Diagnostic Centres were opened for the assessment of students with special needs as well as providing short-term intervention.
Early Childhood
• The Care Bear Early Childhood Development Centre on Waltham Park Road, St. Andrew, was expanded through $12 million in funding from the Government of Japan.
• The Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA) launched Child Justice Guidelines Posters to equip justice sector stakeholders to deal with children coming in contact with the justice system.
• The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) launched the First 1000 Days app and an Early Childhood Parent Partners Directory.
PATH
• More than $600 million was allocated to pay examination fees for high-school students who are on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH).
• Improved School Feeding from three to five days.
• 47 full-tuition scholarships valued at $177.66 million per annum were provided to needy students, who started their Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees at the University of the West
Indies (UWI), Mona.
Information Division
• Implementation of the Records and Information Management (RIM) Programme was advanced.
• The RIM Oversight Committee approved the RIM System Implementation Plan.
• Cabinet submission for the issuing of drafting instruction for new National Archives and Records Management Bill was drafted and is awaiting final comments from the Attorney General’s Chamber.
• Terms of reference developed and finalised for the procurement of consultancy services to conduct strategic review of the Jamaica Archives and Records Department.
• Public Sector Data Collection and Information Sharing (DCIS) Policy
finalised and is to be submitted to Cabinet.
• Draft terms of reference developed for the design and implementation of a DCIS Pilot between the Ministries of Education, Youth and Information, and Health and Wellness.
• Charter developed for DCIS Implementation Oversight Committee
• Introduction of an Electronic Content and Media Policy to provide an
enabling environment for the sector.
• Draft Cabinet submission for amendments to the Broadcast and Radio
Re-Diffusion Act developed.