KINGSTON Jamaica – In order to meet the September deadline for the implementation of the seven-year period of secondary education, announced recently by Minister of Education, Youth and Information Ruel Reid, education officials have begun a new round of consultation with critical stakeholders.

Consultations were previously conducted islandwide in 2010 and 2011 when the extension of the period of secondary schooling was first mooted.

The additional two years of schooling will be applicable only to those students who need this support to sufficiently develop their skills and acquire the qualification to leave the secondary system.

A news release from the ministry said Monday that currently, these students drop out of the system because of inadequate preparation to enter the world of work or to pursue higher education

Chief Education Officer Dr Grace McLean reportedly met last Friday in Kingston with education partners in the Career Advancement Programme (CAP), which is the overall programme that will allow for several opportunities for students to remain in school at grades 12 and 13.

These opportunities, according to the release, include structured programmes being offered during the day or afternoons in schools and other training institutions, the Registered Apprenticeship Programme and other work-study initiatives offered by the HEART Trust/NTA, the Jamaican Foundation for Life Long Learning,  as well as the National Youth Service (NYS).

The CAP is currently being offered in 53 institutions and will be rolled out in all secondary level institutions starting September 2016.

The programme will also be offered in HEART institutions, NYS Centres, through the Jamaican Foundation for Life Long Learning and other such entities, Dr McLean disclosed.

Opportunities will also be made available through these entities for the youth up to age 29, the release said.

The chief education officer underscored the importance of school leaders and teachers carefully monitoring the performance of each student using the Alternative Pathways to Secondary Education (APSE) system, coming in September, to determine the most suitable learning programme for each student.

She said the Alternative Pathways is designed to ensure that every child gets every opportunity to graduate and that when they do they are equipped with skills which will enable them to enter the workforce and make a meaningful contribution to national development.

The ministry said that on leaving grade 11, students will have the opportunity to pursue a career to meet their specified needs through CAP.

“All students will have an opportunity to sit exit certification including Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate, Caribbean Vocational Qualification, National Vocational Qualification of Jamaica, and City and Guilds,” it continued.

At the end of grade 13, students on Secondary Pathways two and three will also have an opportunity to pursue the new Occupational Supervisory Certification being developed that will allow them to acquire workplace competencies and skills or be ready for higher level certification.

Dr McLean said the ministry would carefully consider each developmental stage and put systems in place to ensure that there is a seamless transition.

She implored all stakeholders to implement capacity-building measures and operate as a conglomerate by moving in a united effort for the development of each student and, by extension, adequately preparing them for the world of work.

Another consultation is scheduled for Friday with high school principals and other selected stakeholders at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.