EDUCATION minister Maxine Henry-Wilson has expressed concern about the literacy level of Jamaican youth, and has accepted help from the Cuban Government through its ‘I Can Programme’.

The minister was speaking at the recent signing of an agreement to further renew cooperation between both Jamaica and Cuba in the field of education.

‘I Can’ or “Yo si juedo” is a literacy programme aimed at raising adult literacy levels to the Grade Six stage. The programme consists of two stages titled: ‘I know how’ and ‘I can follow learning’. ‘I Can’ is currently being utilised by Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua and New Zealand.

The minister said that Jamaica is always looking for further cooperation, and Cuba’s expertise and methodologies would be beneficial in the fight against illiteracy.

Zoila Franco, officer, Ministry of Education, Cuba, who is responsible for the Jamaica/Cuba Cooperation Programme, said the programme utilises the experience of the adult learner to improve his/her literacy level. She explained that many adults may not be literate, but know numbers orally and different values of money. She added that this practical experience was therefore used to slowly introduce the individual to words and numbers.

She pointed out that the ‘I Can’ Programme uses facilitators instead of teachers, and so one does not have to be a trained teacher to assist students.

The programme also utilises video cassettes for further instruction, so that the adult can continue his/her education independently.

In her comments about the Jamaica/Cuba Cooperation Programme, the minister said that the partnership is successful and beneficial, and participants should ensure that they do what is necessary to see to it that the programme succeeds.

The programme was first introduced in 1997. Since its inception approximately 200 Cuban teachers have worked in Jamaican schools, mainly in the subject areas of Spanish, Science and Mathematics. Thirty-nine teachers are currently teaching in schools islandwide this academic year, 2005-2006.

Jose Moraser, coordinator of the programme in Jamaica, said the renewal of the agreement is to bring better cooperation between both countries, and to share the experience of Cuba in the education field to its Caribbean neighbours.