Caribbean News
Government Allocates $50 Million for Wheelchair Ramps in Schools Project
#Jamaica, May 21, 2018 – Kingston – The Government has allocated $50 million for the installation of wheelchair ramps at public educational institutions across the island, with the work to start on Labour Day, May 23 at the St. Ann’s Bay Infant School in St. Ann.
State Minister for Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, said that two schools in each of the island’s 63 constituencies will be retrofitted with ramps to facilitate improved access by children with disabilities. He said that, in total, 126 institutions will be equipped with the amenities for the 2018/19 financial year.
Minister Green was speaking to JIS News at the launch of the Nathan Ebanks Foundation’s second annual Family Expo and Special Needs Resource Fair on Tuesday (May 15) at the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation in Kingston.
The building of wheelchair ramps at public schools is one of the national areas of focus for Labour Day under the theme ‘Ramp it Up – Fix it Up’. The other is on the upgrading of health centres to improve the environment for staff and patients.
“We are taking a targeted approach with our Labour Day project, which is a collaboration of the Ministries of Education and Health,” Mr. Green said.
“We want to say to our communities that we need to make our educational facilities accessible to persons with disabilities. The drive is to look at our schools, especially those at the lower levels – early-childhood institutions and primary schools,” he added.
Data from the National Education Trust (NET), which is the implementing entity for the project to install ramps in schools, indicate that of Jamaica’s 971 public infant, primary and high schools, and over 2,000 early-childhood institutions, only 138 primary and high schools are fitted with ramps.
Meanwhile, Founder/President of the Nathan Ebanks Foundation, Christine Staple-Ebanks, is encouraging members of the public to support the fair. A National Child Month calendar activity, the event seeks to connect education, health and social services for children with special needs and their families.
“It is with great excitement that we stage this year’s Family Expo and Special Needs Resource Fair to bring together what is available and to connect families with these resources,” Mrs. Staple-Ebanks said.
Under the theme ‘Healthy Choices, Healthy Families, Healthy Children’, the fair will be held on May 26 at the Hope Botanical Gardens in Kingston. It will feature booths providing information about community resources to address disabilities and special needs, developmental red flags, child safety and protection, and health and wellness. Free services, including developmental and academic screening, dental care and health checks will be provided as well. Admission is free.
The Family Expo and Special Needs Resource Fair involves collaboration with the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism for the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience in Jamaica.
Release: JIS
Caribbean News
Paid internship opportunity in Energy Data Collection, Application DEADLINE is April 19
April 19, 2024 – The Caribbean Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) in cooperation with the Energy and Utilities Department (EUD), Ministry of Public Safety and Utilities (MPSU), is looking for a motivated intern to work in close collaboration with regional and national institutions to survey and collect energy-related data that will be used to create the Energy Report Cards (ERCs) for the Turks and Caicos Islands. A stipend for the intern will be provided by CCREEE.
The intern will be based at the EUD/MPSU. The internship program will provide students and/or young professionals with a unique opportunity to work with the energy sector institutions and stakeholders in TCI, gain practical experience in the energy sector, and contribute to the knowledge management functions of the Regional Energy Information System within the CARICOM Energy Knowledge Hub (CEKH).
SCOPE OF WORK
The CCREEE in collaboration with the EUD/MPSU will collect specified data and information that will be used to develop the TCI Energy Report Cards which will be made accessible through the CARICOM Energy Knowledge Hub (CEKH). The hub may be accessed by registering at https://cekh.ccreee.org. The Energy Report Cards will also offer important support to the CCREEE work program, including support for energy planning and the development of sustainable energy projects.
DESIRED PROFILE
- Bachelor’s degree or on course for completion of one by December 2024.
- Interest in the energy sector and willingness to learn about the socio-economic, technical and environmental aspects of the energy landscape; studies in sustainable energy, environmental sciences or related fields are an asset but not a National or resident of one of the relevant countries.
- Proficiency in English.
INTERNSHIP TIMEFRAME
The internship will run for a period of eight (8) weeks from May 27 to July 19, 2024.
APPLICATION
The intern applicant should send their application (motivation letter and CV) on or before April 19, 2024 to recruitment@ccreee.org and copy eud@gov.tc.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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