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Jamaican
Gov't to Add Two Years of Compulsory Education |
January 26,
2008: The Jamaican Government will be adding two years
of compulsory education for students, who have not gained
the required academic qualifications after five years of
secondary schooling.
Education Minister, Andrew Holness, speaking at the opening
of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Research Day on
the Mona campus this morning (Jan. 24), said the move is to
reduce the number of young persons who leave school without
adequate qualifications.
The additional two years, he said, "wouldn't really be
secondary, it's more what you will call a post secondary
level".
He explained that the sixth form level will remain intact
and "those students, who matriculate, can go to sixth form
or the community colleges or if their matriculation is high
enough, they can go straight to university." |
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"But if you did
not matriculate, in other words, you have four or less
subjects, you must continue two additional years up to age
18. The policy, which we would be bringing forward shortly,
is that education is compulsory from zero to 18 years," he
stated.
According to Mr. Holness, the additional years of secondary
school will be based on the knowledge, skills and attitudes
(KSA) model. "For those two years, those kids will acquire
knowledge, they will be able to continue their academic
development, but they will also be given the opportunity at
technical and vocational skills," he outlined, noting that
the move will also ensure that there is a "greater alignment
between what the education sector is turning out and what
the business sector requires."
In the meantime, he said that amendments will be made to the
Apprenticeship Act, so as to ensure that students "can go
into work places on a voluntary basis or on a paid basis."
UWI Research Day 2008, from Jan. 24-25, is being held under
the theme: 'UWI's Caribbean Impact: Global Reach' and will
expose the public to the relevance of research work done by
the institution.
Professor Gordon Shirley, Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal
of the UWI, noted that this year's Research Day is very
special as it marks the 60th anniversary of the UWI.
He also noted that the event provides a forum to showcase
the evidence that the UWI is a "first rate university
producing research to advance and expand existing knowledge
in Jamaica, the region and the wider world."
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