THE Kemps Hill High School in Clarendon has responded favourably to the Government’s decision to name it among 11 schools that will be piloting the Career Advancement Programme (CAP) when the new school term begins in January.

Leebert Wright, principal of the school, said that the entire community has accepted the programme with open arms and has vowed to give it their absolute support.

“I have accepted it, and I believe the community and the school in particular are very enthusiastic about the programme,” said Wright.

“We know that the need for it is justified because there are a number of youths who have graduated from the school without fully completing the skills and also the academic programme. So, this is an opportunity for them to continue and it is something that we will be giving our full support,” added Wright.

Minister of education, Andrew Holness, announced last Tuesday in Parliament that the Government will be introducing two additional grades — 12 and 13 — at the secondary level so as to ensure that students leaving high schools are fully equipped to take on the job market.

More than 25,000 students are said to leave high schools annually without any form of qualification.

As a result, the CAP, which is a collaboration between the HEART Trust/NTA, the National Youth Service, the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning and the National Transformation Programme, will be introduced as an alternative to offer skill-based training to these “unattached youth”.

Herbert Morrison Technical High, Haile Selassie High, Morant Bay High, Penwood High, St Anne’s High, St Vincent Strambi High, Edith Dalton James, Charlemont High, Dinthill High and Bogwalk High are the other schools that will be facilitating the programme in January.

Wright said that currently the preparation process at Kemps Hill is in an advanced stage.

“We have considered ourselves somewhat better off in the sense that we had a similar programme (Community Broad-based Training Programme) starting some seven months ago for which we just had the graduation of some 50 students,” he said.

“It was in two areas: Cosmetology and Data Entry. And I must tell you it was interesting to see students who weren’t interested in education graduating with the full support of their peers and families.

“They treat their class work seriously; they participated in the various tests that were administered on a Saturday and a Sunday. And most importantly, they had a work experience component and it was overwhelming to see that a number of them got jobs as a result of the programme,” said a beaming Wright.

He also noted that the school has already started the enrollment process and has secured the commitment of the teachers who will be administering the programme.

“We have started the recruiting of students and the training of the teachers, both for the vocational skill areas and also the support subjects,” he said. “We have met with the teachers and they have consented and HEART Trust and the Ministry of Education came in and talked with them. “I believe the minister [of education] has said to me that, it is based on what he has heard about this programme why he believes we should be a part of it.”

As for the space to accommodate the extra students, Wright said that won’t be a problem, as classes will begin at 3:00 in the afternoon and end at 7: 00 pm.

Wright also gave the programme the thumps up, arguing that it will give students who the school could not afford to repeat at fifth form a second opportunity at life.

“This programme is of high importance, especially for graduates of schools like these,” he said. “We have, in the past, students passing two or three subjects, but we just could not accommodate them because our classes in the day will be too big. But now we can accommodate those students because classes will run from 3:00 to 7:00 pm.”

Charmaine Dixon, HEART’s regional manager for south western Clarendon, and Denworth Finnikin, CAP team member with responsibility for Kemps Hill — who were at the school last Wednesday morning administering an entry level test to ascertain the level at which the students are performing — gave a brief overview of the programme.

Dixon said there will be three grade 12 and 13 classes, namely six technical, six general, and the traditional sixth form. She said that the test is being used as a marker to decide which of the three classes is best suited for each student.

“It will determine which one of the groups they will go into. The test will separate you according to the level you are performing at, based on how many of the questions they get correct,” she said.

“It’s a 60-question Math and English multiple choice paper and our pass mark is 25. Coming out of this test, we will also find out if persons will be in need of remedial learning,” added Dixon.

She said that the programme has already attracted over 70 students from various communities and schools in the area and they are also anticipating more. As such, they are planning a second test for today, starting at 9:00 am.

Finnikin disclosed that at Kemps Hill they will be offering eight programmes daily. These include, General Cosmetology, General Construction, Business Administration, Data Entry, Electrical Operation, Musical Performance, Art and Craft Production and General Office Administration.

“We are hoping that we will be able to attract 20 students in each skill area,” Finnikin said, adding that the response has so far been overwhelming.