Education in Jamaica

[Wahalla]

If the device is used a novelty item then it likely that it would be a distraction and end in lower test scores of of the subjects that is actually on the curriculum.
But if the device become ubiquitous, in homes, schools and other social circles (like the pen and paper) and if the use in the classroom is restricted to subjects being taught I imagine you will get a better result.

Today's dunces are not like the ones of yesteryear, they are more technologically sophisticated. In fact it almost impossible for any human in a civilized society to avoid contact with technology.
My thinking is that we should promote One Computer per household and restrict classroom subjects at the primary level to the basics + Logic.

The availability of information if u have a connectivity is amazing... However how many Jamaicans household has connectivity ???? i wonder

What the availability makes education a data management, understanding, basic interpreation and logic is what it stikes me is need will be in twenty years time... which is why efficient reading of information dense texts and the ability to pull out the salient points what is important as a basic tenant...

[Tuff Gong]

The availability of information if u have a connectivity is amazing... However how many Jamaicans household has connectivity ???? i wonder

Almost all if you factor in Smartphone use.....but you really need cheap broadband.
I have said many times that the Universal Access Fund should be used to make Broadband cheaper for all Jamaicans.

A great misnomer it that computers need to be connected to be useful. Obviously Networking and Connectivity scales the value and use to the computer to unquantifiable heights, but the benefits from computers and computing is great even without such connectivity.
This brings us forward to exactly why we need to teach Mathemateics, English and Logic (critical thinking, problem solving, reasoning), from a very young age. Jamaica could do with a Computer Programming revolution. One Programmer to every household. To achieve that, all you need is a computer and electricity. Programming Languages are integral to computers and most devices still contain the kernel of one or two Languages.

[Gen]

what's the solution. are you suggesting 2 diff models ?

by the way one elementary school here (A/B) in a wealthy hood didn't teach science eedah. most of them only focus on english/math, and try weave the english/math core into the social studies, and ignore science completely. when 4th grade state time come not one a the pickney dem know what clock a strike.

dat natt wat de studies show. iff yuh tekk out blakks ann latino yuths out, yuh will see dat merikkan oyinbo yuths test score rate among da wurld best. da qwestian iss y deer iss racial disparitee? imagine sum school inn blakk area doan teach blakk yuths science ann iff dem doitt like wance a weak. imagine sum blakk yuths woo doan gitt recess. itt natt dat de merikkan model doan wukk cah itt do fe oyinbo yuths. itt dat de merikkan model do wukk fe blakk yuths

imagine mixxed race man got elected ann blakk yuths score went upp. blakk peeps affii gitt madd ann force oyinbo fe tapp messinn widd blakk yuth edukaysham

[Gen]

i was thinking the same thing more gyal, more cyar more bling reading materials. dwl

Playboy/girl

[Wahalla]

Kenyan takes over as Senior Assistant Registrar at CXC

Friday, August 30, 2013 | 10:44 AM



KINGSTON, Jamaica - The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has announced the appointment of Dr Charles Mayenga of Kenya, as the Senior Assistant Registrar for the Examinations Development and Production Division (EDPD).
Dr Mayenga replaces Dr Gordon Harewood, a Guyanese, who retired at the end of April 2013 after “a long and distinguished career” with CXC.

1/1

Dr Mayenga is eminently qualified to take up his post at CXC and brings a wealth of professional experience to the job, the Council said.
“As a world-class organisation, CXC endeavours to attract the best possible talent to enable the organisation to maintain and surpass the high standards for which it is known regionally and internationally,” Dr Didacus Jules, Registrar of CXC stated.
“Dr Mayenga’s track record and extensive expertise in measurement and evaluation will bolster CXC’s resources in this area. The Council is therefore very happy to welcome him on board.”
He holds a PhD in Educational Measurement and Evaluation from the University of Toronto, Canada; a Masters in Educational Psychology (MEd) from the University of Manitoba and an honours Bachelor’s degree in Education (BEd) from Nairobi University, Kenya.
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Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates...#ixzz2dYYLgoCQ

[Wahalla]

30% Of Teens Having Sex Without Contraceptives, Health Minister Worried







Dr Fenton Ferguson - File




Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson has expressed concern about the rate of adolescent pregnancies in Jamaica.

Fergusons says the data is showing that the rate is 18 per cent, and he says that is too high.

Adding that the data collected also show that 30 per cent of Jamaican youths who have sex for the first time do not use contraceptives.

The health minister says the figures are of concern as work by the ministry is showing that girls aged 10-19 years are three times as likely as boys in the same cohort to become infected with HIV.

Ferguson says his ministry will be strengthening its efforts to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people.

He was speaking at inter-ministerial meeting on adolescent sexual reproductive health this week.

[Wahalla]

and education is free.....

[Tuff Gong]

and education is free.....

Education is not free in Jamaica.
There are arbitrary ancillary fees (not to mention so-called Private Lessons), attached.

[Tuff Gong]

As I have said before given the culture of the MOE and the JTA, expect no reversal in the declining standard of Education and all things related in Jamaica.
Case in point the story below. Rather than have a template to deal with pesky parents, strange requests and religious problems ......oh wait they do have a template, ignore, ignore, until it bruk out and get stink.

Muslim family, St Hug's fuss over girl's dress

BY KIMBERLEY HIBBERT Observer Writer [email protected]
Sunday, September 01, 2013

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz2deKvlkmd

[Wahalla]

I thought given that I have spent time in islamic countries where women don't nesseairly cover up the parents are different....However there is little that the covering up would do is pointless to stop the child from being educated... The poor girl will be uncomfortable...
Cant the system just aim to teach children ratehr than constantly aim to stymie education of those who are different....

[Tuff Gong]

I thought given that I have spent time in islamic countries where women don't nesseairly cover up the parents are different....However there is little that the covering up would do is pointless to stop the child from being educated... The poor girl will be uncomfortable...
Cant the system just aim to teach children ratehr than constantly aim to stymie education of those who are different....

They must be from a sect that has to cover up.
Well Uniform is Uniform. The lady wants the uniform altered, she is being unreasonable I think, but the school and the Education Ministry gave her the run-around instead of meeting with her in the early stages.
That is part that I am on about. It it reflected all though Jamaica's officialdom. The unwillingness to plan and when faced with stuff outside of the norm, ignore till it get rotten.

[Wahalla]

They must be from a sect that has to cover up.
Well Uniform is Uniform. The lady wants the uniform altered, she is being unreasonable I think, but the school and the Education Ministry gave her the run-around instead of meeting with her in the early stages.
That is part that I am on about. It it reflected all though Jamaica's officialdom. The unwillingness to plan and when faced with stuff outside of the norm, ignore till it get rotten.

u come from the era when they expelled rasta children and or cut their locks with the use of the need for uniforms...

[Wahalla]

Even the top line schools have issues.. if Students were not prepared for education....the idea that teachers are assessed seems logical...

Restoring Order Was Key To JC's Transformation, Says Principal

Published: Monday | September 2, 20130 Comments



Ruel Reid, principal of Jamaica College - FILE




Five years ago, Jamaica College (JC) was a hotbed for indiscipline and sporadic violent outbreaks, but things have currently mellowed on the school compound.
The school's principal, Ruel Reid, said through a holistic approach, including holding all stakeholders accountable, JC has managed to transform into a tranquil campus dedicated to academic excellence.
"We have done the hard work by transforming the environment to get discipline back in the school and we are now going to reap the fruits of that labour," Reid noted.
He said the foundation for good discipline came about with the involvement of the Jamaica College Old Boys' Association and the parent-teacher association.
"JC, when I got here in 2006, was almost in chaos. The kids were not going to classes and nobody thought education was important," Reid said. "We had to bring discipline and order back in the school to inspire the children on a path of vision and excellence."
CREATING RIGHT ENVIRONMENT
Reid said he had to enforce the school rules and drilled into the pupils the importance of getting a solid education every time he spoke with them and created the environment for the students to excel.
Reid noted that school discipline went beyond just students and involved the teachers.
"We have very good systems in place. For example, I don't think there's any other school in the island that tracks teachers' performance with individual teacher report cards," Reid added.
He said all these elements were necessary to bring order to the school's operations and now Jamaica College is one of the most disciplined schools.
Reid emphasised that the restoration of rule and order is the underpinning pillar for the school's renewed academic progress.

[Wahalla]

If JC struggles then there is serious issues..

My other concern is that football season starts. D Cup and Mannings Cup..... my thing is we need to down play football and atheletics...

Reid Vows To Put Jamaica College Among Island's Best

Published: Monday | September 2, 20130 Comments



Members of Jamaica College's Graduation Class of 2013. - FILE




Jermaine Francis, Staff Reporter
In the next three years, the over 200-year-old Jamaica College is set to regain its former title as the number one secondary school in the island.
At least, that is the plan the school's principal, Ruel Reid, said he has for the illustrious institution.
Reid said since he took over the mantle as headmaster at Jamaica College in 2006, he has been working assiduously to return the Old Hope Road, St Andrew, boys' school to its former glory as the island's premier academic centre.
"For me, Jamaica College had lost its position as a top-performing school. So now we have a transformation plan to get the school to really perform at its peak, and we are trying to get 100 per cent pass in every subject that we do," Reid noted.
He said contrary to recent reports, such as the educatejamaica.orgresearch which suggested that only a little over 29 per cent of Jamaica College pupils are graduating with five are more subjects, including English and math, the institution is already on track to achieving this ambitious target.
EXCEEDING TARGETS
Pointing to this year's results in the Caribbean Secondary EducationCertificate (CSEC) exams and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams, Reid said the students are already performing above his set targets in the two core subjects, mathematics and English language.
He said his mandate for these subjects this year was to get 70 per cent of the cohort passing math and 90 per cent attaining grades 1-3 in English. However, he noted that for the 2013 CSEC exams, 82 per cent of those sitting math were successful and 91 per cent of the cohort attained a passing grade in English.
In addition to these core subjects, Reid expressed that the school is also allotting a significant portion of its resources towards improving critical areas in science and technology.
"We have targeted the sciences and technology and we actually have six computer labs and six science labs. We've also been doing a lot in information ad communication technologies (ICT), robotics and aviation," Reid said.
He added: "For the last five years, the school has been getting a 100 per cent pass in information technology, and this year, 67 per cent of the cohort received a grade one in the subject."
However, he said, as it relates to science subjects, such as chemistry, physics and biology, a lot more needs to be done.
"I am not satisfied with where my sciences are, so I'm working on that. But part of the challenge is that we are getting kids who have a very weak science background, which reflects the weaknesses in sciences in Jamaica and the region. We can't get good science teachers at all," Reid said.
SCIENCE STRATEGY
He said what the school has now embarked on doing is to target students in first to third form and inculcate a love and appreciation for the sciences, before they get to upper school.
Reid said the strong focus on the sciences and technology is to equip the boys with the necessary skills to grasp the burgeoning opportunities in these areas.
"It's an all-male school, so we try to give them a broad curriculum. We also have programmes with the Caribbean Maritime Institute, where we are trying to get our youngsters prepared for the emerging occupations."
Reid said this is why the institution continues to do exceptionally well in areas such as aviation, robotics, and mechanics, and not just the traditional subject areas.

[Tuff Gong]

u come from the era when they expelled rasta children and or cut their locks with the use of the need for uniforms...

I was one of those. I was deported from STATHS for not wearing Leather Black Shoes. I chose to wear non-leather.
Then when I was sent to KTHS they tried to put all the dreads out (including myself), for locks.
We stood our ground and threaten to go to media about it. It did in fact reach the media.

After that I quit wearing locks, the others continued and we all were Rastas throughout our time at school.
But it also when I began to the question protest and discipline, the rule of law and what is permissible and what is not.
I think not wearing animal products was my right and it was a right that could be accommodated without any outwards appearance that departed from the intent of the Uniform.
Similarly Dreadlocks was a right and would not in no way debase the Uniform, nor the impair the ability to learn.
But it was not about dreadlocks or leather shoes. It was good Christians realizing their religion was under threat, decided to put an end to it. Therefore in my mind the fight was just.

Here is a slightly different case. The parents requests would physically alter the uniform in some respect, but they would have been accommodated with the student allowed to wear in effect an alternative to the standard uniform. So the parent is being unreasonable.
The School and the MOE have however lost the moral high ground because they gave the parents the runaround and refused in the early stages to meet with her on a level to resolve the issue.