AS early as next month, the Ministry of Education is to begin its intervention into the four secondary institutions that were labelled as ‘failing schools’ in need of urgent attention by the last minister of education, Andrew Holness.

Marcus Garvey Technical in St Ann, Glengoffe High in St Catherine, Balaclava High in St Elizabeth, and Holy Trinity in Kingston were last September singled out for attention by Holness as a result of their consistently poor academic performance.

The island’s new minister of education, Ronald Thwaites, is now intent on action. Following a tour of Holy Trinity two weeks ago, he said he would be approaching top-performing schools in the Central Kingston area — where he is also the member of Parliament — to establish a collaborative relationship that will boost the institution’s performance.

Speaking with Career & Education last Monday, the minister said he is looking to have a meeting soon with the principals of the surrounding schools, including Kingston College, St George’s College and Alpha Academy.

“Can they collaborate? Can they share facilities — especially extra-curricular facilities, which I consider much more important?” he said.

Thwaites, who said he will be visiting the other three ‘failing schools’ in short order, noted that he intends to approach them with the same plan for collaboration. His rationale for visiting the schools, he said, is that he wants to personally encourage an improvement in their performance while at the same time discussing the inspection reports and working through a comprehensive strategy for their success.

He cautioned, however, that some of the things that need to be done to get the schools up to par would take time to implement.

“For example, what I found at Holy Trinity is that a large part of their problem has to do with the inadequate preparation of the students who are sent there; the majority of their grade seven students are coming in with very low GSAT (Grade Six Achievement Test) scores,” he noted.

Thwaites said this poses a challenge as the teachers are constrained to follow the high school curriculum for which these students are not yet ready.

“Additionally, many of the students have severe social and economic difficulties so we have to look at issues of nutrition, issues of improved counselling, which will enable them to better cope with education at a high school level. So we have to set in motion a programme of discernment in each school,” the minister said.

Thwaites noted that he is also trying to collaborate with private sector companies located near the schools for their skills and resources.

“Not just money, but money too, to assist with the educational uplift,” he said. “I think it’s an organic way to do it because after all, for those companies, their customers, their staff and community is related to what happens at that school.”

Thwaites noted that he has also had volunteer interest from retired teachers who he considers a good resource.

Meanwhile, he revealed that Holy Trinity has been promised an improved library, which should be available by the beginning of the next school year and he is seeking a place in the upcoming budget for infrastructure upgrading which they requested.