KINGSTON, Jamaica, November 9, 2016 – The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is exploring the implementation of a formal school-bus system for the Corporate Area. State Minister in the Ministry, Hon. Floyd Green, said the move comes following a recent meeting with the Jamaica College Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). He said the idea was previously on the table, but is being revisited in light of recent attacks on students as they make their way home from school.
Mr. Green, who was addressing the Caribbean Child Research Conference at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville recently, noted that a school-bus system is needed to deal with the high volume of students during morning and afternoon peak hours. “It is something we’re exploring. Minister (Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid) is speaking with the Minister of Transport (and Mining, Hon. Mike Henry), to look into the feasibility, to look into the need and to go forward, but it is one of the suggestions that have come forward from other groups,” he said.
The Education State Minister informed that Minister Henry is looking at expanding the rural bus system to provide special accommodation for students in those areas. Meanwhile, Mr. Green noted that the strategic review process for children living in the residential care sector is to be completed by December.
The review, when completed, is expected to provide an outline of the gaps and factors affecting the sector and the resources needed to ensure an effective, efficient and modernised residential care system in order to improve the outcomes for the children. “The review is a comprehensive one of the entire residential care sector from financing to operations. We’re using this as a guide to see how we move forward. There have been complaints, issues over the years,” Mr. Green said. He made a special appeal for persons to protect the nation’s children and not to harm them.
The annual Caribbean Child Research Conference, organised by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES), was held under the theme: ‘Promoting the Rights of Children in Extremely Difficult Circumstances’. Adult and child researchers examined the status of children in challenging situations and made recommendations on how to improve their quality of life.
These include children with disabilities, those living in violent circumstances, children in conflict with the law, missing children and those affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. An outstanding child researcher from among secondary-school students and an essay winner from the primary schools were selected.
