Beneficiaries of the Expanding Educational Horizons Project (EEH), a joint partnership between the USAIDS and the Ministry of Education and Youth recently lauded the project for its efforts to improve literacy and numeracy skills among hundreds of students.

The EEH project has resulted in significant improvements in 71 targeted primary schools and 12 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) across Jamaica.

During a tour of three of the projects, including the St Anne’s Primary School on Bond Street in Kingston, the Green Park Primary and Junior High School in Sandy Bay Clarendon, and the Children’s First NGO in Spanish Town, St Catherine, Karen Turner, the mission director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Jamaica, was briefed on the success stories and the tremendous impact that the EEH was having on students. She also used the occasion to officially hand over computer equipment, software and reading materials donated by USAID to the institutions through the EEH project.

At St Anne’s Primary, the principal, Estella Forrester, spoke highly of the EEH intervention, particularly in the areas of information technology and school development plans. Forrester said assistance from the project on writing grant proposals and approaching private sector interests for help with infrastructure development had paid significant dividends.

“We have been able to get help for our reading centre and computer rooms from the private sector and already there has been a boost in the performance of the students, as well as improved attendance,” Forrester noted.

Principal of the Green Park Primary and Junior High, Oniel Ankle, also shared success stories of improvement in numeracy and literacy among his student population. The school is also excelling in the arts, music, drama and sports, winning several prizes and awards at the parish and national levels.

At the Children’s First NGO in Spanish Town, Turner and her team got a first-hand look at how the centre is changing the lives of its students. Children’s First serves in excess of 300 marginalised youth, ranging in age from three to 18 years. Claudette Pious, executive director of Children First, told many heart-warming stories of children in the programme who have gone on to lead fulfilling and successful lives.

Under the EEH project, Children’s First has received assistance to boost numeracy and literacy, enhance skills training and improve access to information technology.

EEH is a five-year (2005-2009) education project in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Youth to help improve primary education across Jamaica by promoting child-centred strategies, focusing on numeracy and literacy.

The project builds upon the previous USAID Project, New Horizons for Primary Schools (NHP), which helped to improve the quality of basic education in the same 71 schools.

During the past 12 months, the EEH project has developed clear linkages between the literacy-focused Caribbean Centres for Excellence in Teacher Training, and has included a more structured use of teacher training methodologies.

Under the new projects, there has also been an intensive focus on gender issues, specifically improving educational outcomes for boys who significantly underperform compared to girls. A new component of EEH is also to enhance broader participation from the community and the private sector as they play a pivotal role in improving the quality of education.