The inspectorate has recommended the creation of an education system, in which stakeholders accept education as the "primary vehicle for sustainable development and, ultimately, the greatest contributor to the creation of a globally competitive workforce".
In a report tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday, the NEI said that the overall picture presented by its study -- based on the results from the 129 schools included in its latest assessment -- is similar to the results of the previous rounds of inspection.

This was evident in two significant ways, the NEI said, with only 39 per cent of the schools being rated at the level of satisfactory and above (including good and exceptionally high). The data indicate that in a large number of the schools, students have not attained the minimum academic standards; and more primary schools were assessed as unsatisfactory than their secondary counterparts. "With over 800 schools inspected, it is clear, based on the datam that these trends are not likely to change, when the entire baseline study of 954 schools is completed. And this means that we have sufficient evidence to show that the level of performance system-wide is, for the most part, mediocre -- with the primary schools lagging behind the secondary ones," the NEI said in its analysis.

Additionally, the NEI said that with approximately half of the lessons observed rated as unsatisfactory, there is an urgent need to ensure that there is the requisite link between pedagogical practices and the national curriculum.

Putting the situation in context, the NEI said in reviewing the education system, its task force posited that despite some positive gains in the education system, the performance gap was too wide to rely on incremental gains. "The performance gap between where we are now and where we must go, in the shortest possible time, is too wide to benefit from small incremental movements," the NEI stated.

In light of this situation, it recommended the creation of an excellent, self-sustaining, well-resourced education system.

The National Task Force on Educational Reform, which was commissioned in 2004 to prepare and present an action plan consistent with a vision to create a "world-class education system", placed before both Houses of Parliament a range of systemic recommendations to be undertaken within the shortest possible time frame.

One major recommendation was the establishment of a National Quality Assurance Authority to address the issues of performance and accountability in the education system. In line with this recommendation, the Ministry of Education formulated the policy and legislative framework for the establishment of an independent inspectorate to address the issues identified and effect changes complementary to the transformation of the education sector.
The NEI is currently a project of the Education System Transformation Programme and will, in time, become an executive agency reporting directly to the minister of education.
In this first cycle of inspections, the NEI has been inspecting all public schools at the primary and secondary levels, and these initial inspections will identify improvements that the schools must make to secure sustained levels of high-quality outcomes.

The scope of the NEI's mandate is framed within the context of the public formal education system, which currently provides education for approximately 500,000 students enrolled in primary and secondary schools island-wide.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Mediocre-_17559083