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'Two more years in school'
Students who pass less than five CXCs to get additional training
Monday, January 28, 2008
STUDENTS who pass less than five CXC subjects could be kept in school for an additional two years if government goes ahead with a plan to help high school graduates acquire skills and attitudes to make them more unemployable.
"We are going to introduce compulsory two years of post-secondary education...The policy is that education is compulsory from zero to 18. The position of the government is that none of our human resources must be wasted. It is a position that we have considered and we are going to fund it," said Andrew Holness, the education minister.
However, the minister, who spoke at last Thursday's opening of Research Day at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, was unable to say when the programme would begin. It is likely that this information will be given during the budget debate in April.
The Cabinet minister, whose Jamaica Labour Party Government took power just over four months ago, described the education system as "operating as a conveyor belt of mediocrity", and said that strong measures must be be taken to change the situation.
Using statistics to support the planned programme, the minister said that of the grade 11 cohort of more than 53,000 students, only 10,347 passed four or more subjects in the Caribbean Examinations Council's (CXC) Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exam.
He said, too, that only 4,906 out of 12,500 students passed the grade nine level admissions test for the HEART National Training Agency.
According to Holness, the new post-secondary programme will be based on the KSA model - focusing on improving the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of the students. He said the Apprenticeship Act would be amended to allow students to access workplaces and to provide service as a part of their training.
In addition, the minister said the training would take place in schools which currently close at around 2:00 pm or on weekends, if necessary, and at HEART and other vocational facilities.
"These additional two years will ensure there is greater alignment between what the education sector is turning out, and what the business sector requires," Holness said.
Students who pass less than five CXCs to get additional training
Monday, January 28, 2008
STUDENTS who pass less than five CXC subjects could be kept in school for an additional two years if government goes ahead with a plan to help high school graduates acquire skills and attitudes to make them more unemployable.
"We are going to introduce compulsory two years of post-secondary education...The policy is that education is compulsory from zero to 18. The position of the government is that none of our human resources must be wasted. It is a position that we have considered and we are going to fund it," said Andrew Holness, the education minister.
However, the minister, who spoke at last Thursday's opening of Research Day at the Mona campus of the University of the West Indies, was unable to say when the programme would begin. It is likely that this information will be given during the budget debate in April.
The Cabinet minister, whose Jamaica Labour Party Government took power just over four months ago, described the education system as "operating as a conveyor belt of mediocrity", and said that strong measures must be be taken to change the situation.
Using statistics to support the planned programme, the minister said that of the grade 11 cohort of more than 53,000 students, only 10,347 passed four or more subjects in the Caribbean Examinations Council's (CXC) Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exam.
He said, too, that only 4,906 out of 12,500 students passed the grade nine level admissions test for the HEART National Training Agency.
According to Holness, the new post-secondary programme will be based on the KSA model - focusing on improving the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of the students. He said the Apprenticeship Act would be amended to allow students to access workplaces and to provide service as a part of their training.
In addition, the minister said the training would take place in schools which currently close at around 2:00 pm or on weekends, if necessary, and at HEART and other vocational facilities.
"These additional two years will ensure there is greater alignment between what the education sector is turning out, and what the business sector requires," Holness said.
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