In a conference at the Jamaica Observer offices last week, minister of education, Andrew Holness detailed his revolutionary plan to advance the literacy landscape of Jamaican youth. The plan is twofold and incorporates the use of the National Education Passport and the phasing out of junior high and all-age schools.

The education passport is geared towards keeping record and tracking the progress of young children with the ultimate goal of targeting difficulties and providing solutions.

This step forward is commendable as the Jamaican educational system has been critiqued as leaving the slow behind and only working with those who are up to the pace of the curriculum.

In a conference, Holness highlighted that it costs the Jamaican government US$ 7 million to build one school and bemoaned that still, a number of our nations young people are not being admitted to some schools.

Holness reiterated that no child should be refused admission as tuition is already covered by the government.

This new passport, which will be issued this year at the grade one level ensures that every child once they have entered the primary level will be closely monitored by the education system. Therefore, all learning disabilities will be found at an early stage and teachers and will be better able and equipped to facilitate those children, who are not as academically fast as others as well as those students, who are more apt in other areas. The passport is projected to assist in the vision of 100 per cent literacy by 2015 as stated by Holness in his presentation.

With the phasing out of all junior high and all-agge schools, this plan should ensure that no child is left behind or lost in the illiteracy system, as it would be easier to monitor each child.

It is also very possible that the teacher to student ratio per class would decrease as each class will have less students and more time to spend on each student.

However it is also of importance that parents play a major role in monitoring their child’s academic development. In doing so, making sure that homework is done, keeping a close watch on all report cards and being a part of the school’s PTA.

We implore you to take your education in your own hands as teachers in most cases are only afforded a facilitating role. Ask the questions that might seem silly and garner laughter because it might be the silly question on everyone’s mind.

TEENage believes that Holness’ mission is noble and should be commended for its aggressive drive to brighten the minds and future of our country.