LOITEN... programme will help parents bond with their children

A NEW website has been launched that will help parents of primary and secondary school students monitor their children's homework.

About 250 schools across the island have already been earmarked for involvement in

PAULWELL... commended EJN's initiative

Homeworkjamaica.com, which is already posting homework assignments for all grades and classes of participating schools.

The website allows students to access homework tips, reference material, and reference book lists. There are plans to eventually use feedback from the website to expand its offerings locally, and to the wider Caribbean.

The product of three years' work, the website's software was designed by CEO of EJN, Ingrid Loiten. Her company developed the extensive database and will also update and manage the site.

The cost of participation for the entire student body of each school is $25,000 per year. The programme will allow teachers, with the use of a password, to load homework assignments onto the website.

Parents and teachers will also be able to "see what other schools are doing," explained Doreen Billings, EJN's managing director.

The goal, she added, is to increase Jamaican students' grade point average.

Another useful feature is that parents will automatically receive text messages on their Digicel phones, outlining children's assignments.

Citing research that shows that "when parents become involved with their children's work they do better in the classroom," Loiten told the Observer that one major positive spin-off from the programme is that it will help parents bond with their children by allowing them to give guidance in non-academic affairs.

Information & Technology Minister Phillip Paulwell, who was at the recent launch of the website, commended EJN's initiative. He also announced the impending launch of a HEART/NTA virtual learning programme which he envisions being used in conjunction with Homeworkjamaica.com.

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