Kingston, September 14, 2024 – Officials of the Ministry of Education and Youth and school administrators are reporting a smooth start to the 2024/25 academic year, on Monday (September 2), at several institutions.

This, in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which threatened to derail reopening at some schools.

Ministry of Education Regional Director for St. James, Hanover and Westmoreland, Dr. Michelle Pinnock, provided updates on various schools in those parishes.

She told JIS News that Bethel Primary School in Hopewell, Hanover, was undergoing clean-up efforts following the completion of construction work.

The Regional Director said grade-five and six students were present on Monday, with plans in place for full resumption on Tuesday (September 3).

Meanwhile, she advised that students of Kendal Primary School, also in Hanover, will be temporarily housed in two community church halls while the administration awaits the completion of a new building being constructed by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

“Kendal Primary is getting a building from JSIF, which is basically a whole school; even before Hurricane Beryl, the arrangements were made,” Dr. Pinnock told JIS News.

Over at Barracks Road Primary School in Montego Bay, St. James, which sustained roof damage, among other challenges, arrangements were made to ensure the students’ safety and continuity of learning.

“The rains that came last week made us realise that we have some extensive damage to the membrane of the roof.  So, we are staggering the children and, on Wednesday, we will be using Faith Temple Church as an external site. The church has an area very near to the school, and we are going to be hosting students there,” Dr Pinnock informed.

The Regional Director expressed satisfaction with the overall start of the academic year for schools under her office’s purview, noting that some institutions may need to adjust timetables to accommodate teacher availability.

She also highlighted ongoing training initiatives to facilitate independent student learning through Google classrooms.

Meanwhile, Principal of Siloah Primary School in St. Elizabeth, O’Neil Larmond, shared that there was a positive start to the academic year for his institution, citing active parental involvement and a full staff complement for Monday’s opening.

“With a student population of over 500, Siloah Primary is off to a great start. We had a member of the Anglican Church doing devotion for us this (Monday) morning and we [had] close to 200 parents in attendance also. So, after devotion we had a brief meeting with our parents. We [had] our full staff complement and we have water and electricity,” the Principal told JIS News.

Ministry of Education Regional Director for St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary, Yashieka Grant, reported that the majority of public schools in the area successfully reopened, with only two exceptions.

Mrs. Grant, who acknowledged the impact of Hurricane Beryl, welcomed the successful resumption of classes at the institutions which reopened.

“We have 165 public schools in this Region, and all, except two of them, [were] open to students [on Monday]… so we are grateful for that,” she told JIS News.

Principal of Scotts Pass Primary and Infant School in Clarendon, Mark Powell, also reported a smooth start to operations at his institution, highlighting the importance of establishing classroom routines and building relationships with students from the onset of the academic year.

He told JIS News that, during Monday’s start, “teachers [were] laying down the ground rules, getting to know their students and familiarising them with procedures again”.

As schools navigate various challenges and adjustments in the early days of the new academic year, educators and administrators remain committed to providing a supportive and engaging learning environment for students.

CONTACT: ANDREW LAIDLEY

September 14, 2024 – Educators are invited to participate in a webinar series this September and October to explore the Max Computing curriculum. Developed in collaboration with Digital Schoolhouse, Max Computing introduces play-based learning to build computing skills in students from grades 1 to 9. The sessions aim to provide teachers with essential tools and strategies for incorporating digital literacy in the classroom.

Max Computing, a product of collaboration between Digital Schoolhouse and Macmillan Education Caribbean, is designed to equip students with the fundamental skills needed in the digital era. The curriculum focuses on preparing learners for formal qualifications and future workplaces by enhancing their understanding of essential topics such as hardware, software, algorithms, and digital skills. The upcoming webinars will focus on key elements of this curriculum, which has been lauded for its innovative, playful approach to education.

Facilitators Shahneila Saeed and Estelle Ashman, who are key figures in the development of the Digital Schoolhouse program, will lead the sessions. The webinars will begin with a comprehensive introduction, where participants will be taken through the Max Computing series, including an overview of the curriculum’s structure, its progression framework, and the assessments involved. Attendees will also gain a deeper understanding of the playful learning pedagogy that has been embedded into the teaching method.

The second webinar will provide a more detailed look at the curriculum itself. Teachers will explore how to integrate the Max Computing series into their classrooms, including a focus on the workbook, key academic strands, and how the curriculum supports students’ academic growth.

The first session, “A Comprehensive Introduction,” will take place on Tuesday, September 17, with an additional session available on October 1. The second session, “A Dive into the Curriculum,” will be held on Thursday, September 19, with a repeat on October 3. Each session will last one hour, and all participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

For those interested, spaces for the webinar are limited, and early registration is encouraged. Additional information on the Max Computing curriculum can be accessed via the Macmillan International Curriculum platform, and participants are encouraged to follow the Max Computing campaign on social media.

This webinar series marks a significant step in providing teachers with innovative resources for digital literacy, ensuring students are well-prepared for the demands of the future workplace.

Registration for the webinars is open and can be accessed through www.macmillan-education.com

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

Turks and Caicos, September 12, 2024 – Students and parents across the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), will be benefiting from several social programmes aimed at boosting education and supporting parents in need, with expanded provisions for special needs children.

Making the disclosure during her back-to-school message, Minister of Education, Youth, Culture, Social and Library Services, Hon. Rachel Taylor says the Government will onboard four special education teachers and implements solutions to identified challenges in the education system.

She said her team at the Ministry is working diligently to ensure that “we have a more streamlined system in place, and we will continue to support parents and students through the private school subsidy programme, and the school voucher programme,” the Minister said.

The goal of the initiatives, she said, is to reduce the financial burdens on parents and caregivers, so that all children are able to go to school, and stay in the education system, “despite the economic challenges,” as the mission of the education system is to ensure that no child is left behind.

“We continue to strengthen our special needs education system, and this year, we will be providing services from our SNAP (Special Needs Association of Providenciales, Centre),” she said, noting that a new Principal has been appointed for the institution.

Adding that in response to particular needs, the Ministry has also extended a special reading initiative for students, starting from the kindergarten to second from, designed to enhance decoding and comprehension skills, “while building confidence on the part” to students’ education journey.

“We will also onboard the remaining Mathematics and reading specialists to complete our teaching compliment. We believe that reading and numeracy are the foundations that children must master, to seamlessly progress in their educational journey,” the Minister outlined.

She said the Social and Enhancement Academic Afterschool Programme will continue this school year, with additional offerings, to support working parents and guardians, providing  a “safe and productive” environment for students, in  afterschool hours, getting supervised activities, and enrichment programmes.

It is open to all students and teachers in public schools and is part of the “Government’s commitment to supporting families, amidst the rising living costs,” the Minister said, while emphasising that teachers are “working tirelessly” to shape the future for students.

“As we embark on a new school year, our focus is on providing transformative high-quality education, and enriching the classroom environment, and ensuring our infrastructure supports this new approach to learning,” she stated.

According to Miss Taylor, the Ministry has been working carefully to ensure that there are school places available for all school-age children in the educational institutions, and challenges with the registration process are recognised, and work is being done to ensure that they are solved.

The SNAP Centre provides educational and life skills opportunities for children and young people with disabilities between the ages of four and 24 years. It provides intellectual and life skills opportunities for targeted children and young persons. The origins of the Centre, formally P.A.T.H. Centre were based on the community efforts as it was started by a group of parents of children with special needs and advocates of special needs.