State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, says there will be increased emphasis on directly incorporating information and communication technology (ICT) into various areas of the school curriculum.
He believes that this move will serve to generate more interest in subject areas and is also most likely to capture the imagination of boys.
Mr. Green was addressing a National Boys’ Forum, held at the Douglas Orane Auditorium at Wolmer’s Boys’ School, yesterday (April 26). The forum was hosted by the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC), through an Advancing the Education of Boys programme.
The State Minister hailed the forum as an excellent initiative, noting the value of implementing targeted strategies to address the specific problems faced by boys in teaching and learning, as well as socially.
The forum engaged male students from 19 schools participating in Phase One of the programme, who were seated at tables in groups of 10, along with teachers, role models and stakeholders, and encouraged to facilitate discussion and give input on their specific needs.
“I know this initiative will bear fruit…(based on) the conversations expected around the table, that directly incorporate you – our boys – to share with us some of the ways that you believe we can make your experience better and help you achieve your utmost,” Mr. Green said.
He further encouraged youngsters to be confident and recognize that they possess the potential to be leaders.
“As much as your teachers will try to help you, you have to help yourself; you have to believe in yourself. You have to recognize that you have the power and potential to achieve anything that you set your mind to,” he added.
The Ministry, through the JTC, embarked on the first phase of the programme for implementation of strategies to improve educational outcomes of boys in 2014, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) also supported the programme over the period. The British Council also has an active interest in the initiative.
Through the programme, Grade 10 boy students are engaged in entrepreneurial and agricultural projects at their respective institutions. It has the aim to introduce sustainable strategies to address the educational underachievement of boys.
Planning the strategy for Phase Two of the programme is ongoing and includes discussion on establishing a partnership to facilitate mentoring of the participants.
Chief Executive Officer of the JTC, Dr. Winsome Gordon, indicated that from sessions and observations carried out in Phase One of the programme, lessons learned included a conclusion that school-based training is more effective for participation of teachers and students than external workshops; that participation of teachers is more effective when students are present at workshops; and that public advocacy is critical to the advancement of the education of boys.
Source: Jamaica Information Service