Dear Editor,
The Daily Observer editorial of September 7, 2015 titled 'Why must September catch us less than ready?' contains inaccuracies (sic) about the state of readiness of the education system for the new school year. This comes unfortunately after the minister of education, last Thursday, hosted a press conference, attended by your representative, and provided an update on many of the issues your editorial raised.
Below is the ministry's response to the issues raised in your editorial.
1. Need for furniture: All schools have been supplied with most of their furniture needs and a schedule published for the completion of supplies by the end of September. The reality, though, is that each year the resources provided cannot cover total demand. Therefore, the shelf life of the furniture has to be extended.
2. Non-appointment of principals: Several schools are without principals, but the ministry has ensured that a suitable person is in place to act as principal in all public schools. The process of appointing a principal is continuous and is not necessarily linked to the start of a new school year.
3. Non-delivery of government-sponsored books: All primary schools have received the books they need for this term. Additional books will be delivered in time for next term. The delivery of books to secondary schools, as is normal, will be completed during the second week of the new school year by agreement with schools.
4. Incomplete construction projects: It was never intended for the additional facility at BB Coke and Roger Clarke high schools to be completed in September; they are programmed for usage later in this school term. This is a normal practice. The same applies in the case of construction of the new classroom block at Charlie Smith High, which is programmed for completion by the end of November and will have no adverse effect on the operation of the school. In addition, the opening of the Trench Town Polytechnic at the end of September as a tertiary institution is deliberate. However, the process of student admission and registration is already in progress.
5. Removal of schools from shift system: The removal of schools from the double shift system is being done on two bases. First, some schools will adopt the 'extended- day model' used by Campion College and other high schools in order to come off the shift system. These schools do not need any additional classrooms. Second, some schools will require additional classroom space, and these are being built so that the schools can come off shift next term.
6. Construction of classrooms at BB Coke and Roger Clarke high schools incomplete: These facilities were programmed for completion later in this term, not at the commencement.
7. Late opening of St George's Primary in downtown Kingston: This is regrettable, but occurred because there were variations to the original contract approved.
8. Denham Town High without electricity: This matter involved issues beyond the control of the ministry and the school; the JPS is in the process of addressing the matter of community use of the electricity. Power has been restored the school.
9. Water supply for schools: The Ministry of Education, along with the National Water Commission, identified and provided 200 schools with water tanks. In addition, other schools have been authorised to purchase tanks as the need arises. As the minister stated at the press conference, the location of some schools in the rural areas makes them inaccessible to water trucks and will require the transporting of water in smaller containers.
10. Jamaica Teaching Council Bill: The document has been submitted to the chief parliamentary counsel for drafting and is projected to begin the legislative process during this legislative year.
11. Use of closed school plants: As already announced, the ministry is in discussions with several agencies, NGOs, and civil society groups that have indicated their interests to utilise the plants. In addition, some plants are being returned to their original owners, for example, religious organisations.
In light of the above, the Ministry of Education believes the public education system, involving the opening of a little under 1,000 institutions, was largely ready for the start of the new school year in September.
Byron Buckley
Director - Corporate Communication
Ministry of Education
byron.buckley@moey.gov.jm
Schools 'largely' ready for term start
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The Daily Observer editorial of September 7, 2015 titled 'Why must September catch us less than ready?' contains inaccuracies (sic) about the state of readiness of the education system for the new school year. This comes unfortunately after the minister of education, last Thursday, hosted a press conference, attended by your representative, and provided an update on many of the issues your editorial raised.
Below is the ministry's response to the issues raised in your editorial.
1. Need for furniture: All schools have been supplied with most of their furniture needs and a schedule published for the completion of supplies by the end of September. The reality, though, is that each year the resources provided cannot cover total demand. Therefore, the shelf life of the furniture has to be extended.
2. Non-appointment of principals: Several schools are without principals, but the ministry has ensured that a suitable person is in place to act as principal in all public schools. The process of appointing a principal is continuous and is not necessarily linked to the start of a new school year.
3. Non-delivery of government-sponsored books: All primary schools have received the books they need for this term. Additional books will be delivered in time for next term. The delivery of books to secondary schools, as is normal, will be completed during the second week of the new school year by agreement with schools.
4. Incomplete construction projects: It was never intended for the additional facility at BB Coke and Roger Clarke high schools to be completed in September; they are programmed for usage later in this school term. This is a normal practice. The same applies in the case of construction of the new classroom block at Charlie Smith High, which is programmed for completion by the end of November and will have no adverse effect on the operation of the school. In addition, the opening of the Trench Town Polytechnic at the end of September as a tertiary institution is deliberate. However, the process of student admission and registration is already in progress.
5. Removal of schools from shift system: The removal of schools from the double shift system is being done on two bases. First, some schools will adopt the 'extended- day model' used by Campion College and other high schools in order to come off the shift system. These schools do not need any additional classrooms. Second, some schools will require additional classroom space, and these are being built so that the schools can come off shift next term.
6. Construction of classrooms at BB Coke and Roger Clarke high schools incomplete: These facilities were programmed for completion later in this term, not at the commencement.
7. Late opening of St George's Primary in downtown Kingston: This is regrettable, but occurred because there were variations to the original contract approved.
8. Denham Town High without electricity: This matter involved issues beyond the control of the ministry and the school; the JPS is in the process of addressing the matter of community use of the electricity. Power has been restored the school.
9. Water supply for schools: The Ministry of Education, along with the National Water Commission, identified and provided 200 schools with water tanks. In addition, other schools have been authorised to purchase tanks as the need arises. As the minister stated at the press conference, the location of some schools in the rural areas makes them inaccessible to water trucks and will require the transporting of water in smaller containers.
10. Jamaica Teaching Council Bill: The document has been submitted to the chief parliamentary counsel for drafting and is projected to begin the legislative process during this legislative year.
11. Use of closed school plants: As already announced, the ministry is in discussions with several agencies, NGOs, and civil society groups that have indicated their interests to utilise the plants. In addition, some plants are being returned to their original owners, for example, religious organisations.
In light of the above, the Ministry of Education believes the public education system, involving the opening of a little under 1,000 institutions, was largely ready for the start of the new school year in September.
Byron Buckley
Director - Corporate Communication
Ministry of Education
byron.buckley@moey.gov.jm
Schools 'largely' ready for term start
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