Building a Better Jamaica

Luke Douglas Jamaica Observer
Friday, February 26, 2010

DEVELOPING countries whose economies have made rapid improvement in recent years all have at least one thing in common, according to Minister of Education Andrew Holness -- they have focused on the teaching of mathematics in their schools.

With this in mind, the minister has called for greater public debate on how to improve math scores and a public education campaign stressing the importance of this much-feared but critical subject.

BY ERICA VIRTUE Observer writer virtuee@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, February 25, 2010

EDUCATION Minister Andrew Holness has hinted at a new deal for university students that would remove current disadvantages and end the "inefficient, inequitable and ineffective" way in which tertiary education is now provided.

Published: Thursday | February 25, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner

Education Minister Andrew Holness is suggesting that alter-native solutions for improving the teaching of mathematics may have to be considered if Jamaica intends to fulfil its 2030 goal of becoming a developed country.

Holness, who was speaking at yesterday's launch of the National Primary Schools' Mathematics Competition at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St Andrew, said while his ministry had taken measures that were acceptable to all stakeholders, much more still needed to be done.

KINGSTON (JIS):
Friday, February 05, 2010

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, says the Students' Loan Bureau (SLB), will be making an announcement soon regarding the lowering of its interest rates.

"In line with the general direction of lowered interest rates, we expect that interest rates at the Students' Loan Bureau will also be declining," Mr. Shaw told journalists at the post-Cabinet press briefing, held at Jamaica House on February 3.

KINGSTON (JIS):
Thursday, February 04, 2010

Courtesy of Jamaica Information Service

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, is encouraging students at the Vocational Training Development Institute (VTDI), to acquire skills that will enable them to contribute to the development of the country.

Published: Monday | February 1, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner

THE GOVERNMENT has agreed to consider, for the next financial year, a programme of support for tertiary students in dire financial distress and at risk of deregistration.

Students qualifying for this programme would be determined by means testing and on the recommendation of the institutions, the Ministry of Education has said.

Minister of Education Andrew Holness promised to consider the support plan after some tertiary students voiced concerns about possible increase in their tuition fees.

KINGSTON (JIS):
Thursday, January 28, 2010

Minister of Education, Hon. Andrew Holness, has said that the Government's subsidy for tertiary tuition will continue this year.

"In a time of recession, in a time of crisis, the Government could not in all good conscience pursue a policy of radically adjusting the subsidy to our tertiary institutions, this would cause a dislocation that we could not sustain or would not be in our interest and we made a commitment that as far as possible, we would keep our funding to the university stable," he stated.

KINGSTON (JIS):
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Education Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, concerned about low passes in Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Mathematics and English Language, said that the Ministry has to take a "second look" at the examination.

He informed that in 2009, only 42 per cent of Jamaican students, who took English Language, passed the exam, while the pass rate for Mathematics was 37 per cent.

Published: Wednesday | January 13, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner

Education Minister Andrew Holness says his ministry is to review the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination to assess its relevance to Jamaican students.

According the Holness, the existing exam system, which has been used for years to establish performance targets at the secondary school level, is in need of an overhaul.

Monday | January 4, 2010
Jamaica Gleaner

The Education Minister, Andrew Holness has indicated that several schools will not reopen for the start of the new academic term today.

He said a bulletin will be issued to parents regarding the re-opening schedule for the affected schools.

However, Mr. Holness has confirmed that the Lime Hall Primary School in St. Ann is among the schools that will not reopen today.

He said this is because necessary repairs at the school were not completed over the Christmas break.