Education Ministry pledges greater collaboration with private schools

By Kimone Witter    

 

Education Minister Fayval Williams says private schools are to be engaged in the implementation of initiatives to improve Mathematics and English Language passes in secondary external exams.

 

Last week, the ministry announced several strategies to be implemented this school year in response to the low pass rate in Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Math in the June 2024 sitting.

 

Addressing the Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA) Annual General Meeting on Friday, Mrs. Williams said private schools will also benefit from other resources available in public schools.

 

"Of course, the resources that we have in the public school system, such as eResources, access to professional development, and other things are available to our independent schools as well. We will share as much as we can with our independent schools, and we understand that all our children out there deserve the best, and to the extent that we can share, we will share," the minister declared. 

 

She some of the initiatives to help students and improve exam results will begin being implemented by next week. 

 

 

The Ministry of Education has said it will be strengthening collaboration with the Jamaica Independent Schools Association on matters relating to education transformation.

 

The pledge from Minister Fayval Williams comes as JISA President Tamar McKenzie called for private schools to be included in the development plans.

 

"We have not really engaged as deeply as we should with the independent schools about transformation," the minister conceded as she promised to "begin a deeper engagement" with independent schools.  

 

Mrs. Williams said JISA will now be invited to quarterly meetings held by the Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC).

 

ETOC has been charged with monitoring the implementation of 365 recommendations contained in the Professor Orlando Patterson-led Jamaica Education Transformation Commission report.

 

Meanwhile, Mrs. Williams said technical assistance will be provided to independent schools damaged during the passage of Hurricane Beryl in July.

 

"While we may not be able to provide dollars, what we could provide [are] the services of our building officers to do assessment and to help, so that that would help you as well, because you have had to pay for that expertise," she proposed.