Summer school participation will now be voluntary

The Ministry of Education is going ahead with plans for summer school but now says the classes will be voluntary.

Education minister Fayval Williams had initially announced mandatory summer classes to address the learning losses resulting from the covid-19 pandemic's disruption of the education system.

In light of significant resistance to that, particularly from the Jamaica Teacher's Association (JTA) however Mrs Williams has indicated that details of the programme, which will now involve voluntary participation, will be announced shortly.

The education ministry has disclosed that about 120,000 students have not participated in any form of  learning since March last year.

Chief Education Officer Dr. Kassan Troupe says these students will be targeted for the summer classes, which will start a week after the current school term ends.