THIRTEEN principals from rural schools have been selected to attend an international education conference in Cuba from February 2 to 8.

Project manager for the Jamaica All-age Schools Project (JAASP), Patricia Johnson, said the main objective of the conference was to expose the principals to another education system within the Caribbean region, and to see what lessons could be integrated into the Jamaican system.

The teachers are expected to examine the theme, "Instructional Leadership and Supervision".

Johnson said the teachers would also pay special attention "to what is happening in the area of literacy development, share best practices with their Caribbean colleagues and benefit from the system there".

The 13 who will make the week-long trip to Cuba include:

* Rose Green of Crayton All-Age in St Andrew;

* Veronica Gilroy Watson, Pennlyne Castle All-Age in St Andrew;

* Evette Kirkland, Bloomfield All-Age in Portland;

* Sylvia Savizon, Comfort Castle Primary and Junior High in Portland;

* Verniece Downer, Rock Hall All-Age in Portland;

* Inez Hawthorne, Mount Waddy All-Age in St Ann;

* Cynthia Cunningham, Alderton All-Age in St Ann;

* Alton Bennett, Askenish All-Age in Hanover;

* David Robinson, Chambers Pen All-Age in Hanover;

* Imogene Robinson, Ginger Hill All-Age in St Elizabeth;

* Marva Edwards, Nightingale All-Age in St Elizabeth;

* Zebulah Aiken, Mount Prospect All-Age in Clarendon; and

* Joylet Montaque, Mount Liberty All-Age in Clarendon.

According to Johnson, since 2000 there have been links with the United Kingdom in different areas, including special education, literacy development, planning, school/community relation, and guidance counselling.

She added that conferences in the UK have been attended by officers from the Special Education Unit in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, lecturers from teachers' colleges, senior teachers from the School of Hope, regional directors, education officers, community relations officers and guidance counsellors.

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