The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is reporting a smooth start to the 2016-17 academic year in Region Four, comprising schools in the parishes of Westmoreland, Hanover and St. James.
In an interview with JIS News, Regional Director, Dr. Michelle Pinnock, said all schools opened on time and without glitches on Monday, September 5.
She said the smooth start of the academic year was expected, based on the high level of preparation that was undertaken by principals and teachers.
“The new school year has started very well. We are up and running and our principals and teachers have worked very hard to ensure that we have that smooth start. As a region we have no complaints,” the Regional Director noted.
As it relates to the implementation of a new standards curriculum in the schools, Dr. Pinnock said there has been support as well as a very high level of excitement among the stakeholders in Region Four.
“Our teachers and principals were very involved over the summer and so we know that as we implement this curriculum we will have success, and our teachers are all excited about moving forward. We are ensuring that they have the resources to work with,” she said.
Meanwhile, checks by JIS News with a number of schools in Region Four revealed that the new academic year was off to a smooth start.
Principal of the Catherine Hall Primary School in Montego Bay, Dudley Jennings, said the necessary preparations that were done during the summer break resulted in a very smooth start to the school year.
“Due to our preparation and receipt of the Ministry’s (Education, Youth and Information) grants and books, we have started off on a good note. I do not foresee any glitches,” he said.
At the Herbert Morrison Technical High School, Principal, Paul Adams, told JIS News that it was ‘all systems go’ for the new academic year.
He said, with the exception of sixth-form students, who will report for classes next week, every student and teacher reported on time for classes and the preparatory work done during the summer paved the way for a good start.
Mr. Adams is also upbeat about the roll-out of the Ministry of Education’s new standards curriculum, which will have added significance at his school.
“It is more interactive, more student-centred, and we are attaching it deliberately to CSEC and CAPE, so we are on target philosophically and online. The students are energised and I am happy that the Ministry has a grade-7 to -9 curriculum,” Mr. Adams said.
Source: Jamaica Information Service