MINISTER of Education Maxine Henry-Wilson says she wants her job back after the elections, in order to continue the transformation of the education system.

But Henry-Wilson’s return as the minister of education would, however, depend on whether the ruling People’s National party wins the August 27 general elections.

A passionate Henry-Wilson said while it had been an honour to serve as minister during the critical transformation process, she wanted the opportunity to complete the job.

“I have been given the wonderful privilege of providing some of the leadership of what is the critical development task for our country – building a state-of-the-art, first-world education system,” the education minister said.

She was speaking at a luncheon in Kingston yesterday, in honour of 25 Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) awardees – all children of staff members of the Urban Development Corporation.

“The mission is not yet completed. We have to be there to advance that mission. We have to be there to ensure that we can go from where we are, to where we want to go, and I would deem it a great privilege to be asked to continue in that job,” said Henry Wilson.

She said the education transformation project was a gradual process, but that the government was doing all it could to modernise the system, and urged parents to play their part in supporting their children.

“It is not a nine-day wonder; it is a systematic process, and all of us have to be a part of it,” said the minister.

She outlined some of the ongoing improvements in the education system, including management training for principals, the provision of adequate furniture, and new programmes focusing on literacy.

Henry-Wilson, the incumbent candidate for South East St Andrew, is facing a huge challenge to retain her seat in Parliament from the Jamaica Labour Party’s veteran campaigner Joan Gordon-Webley.