Education Minister Ronald Thwaites says in two years all students at the school-leaving level will be required to sit examinations in English and Mathematics and must obtain competence in a technical vocational discipline.

Thwaites made the announcement in his response to the evaluation of the Centres of Excellence programme implemented by the Mutual Building Societies Foundation (MBSF) established by Jamaica National Building Society and Victoria Mutual Building Society. The presentation to the education minister took place at Mona Visitors’ Lodge, University of the West Indies last Friday.

Highlighting gains made by the business element of the Centres of Excellence programme, which trained students in entrepreneurship and Information Communication Technology, Minister Thwaites said entrepreneurial training is an essential ingredient for the balance necessary in high school education.

“There must be a sound academic focus for all our students. No more will there be students who go to school for five years and end up leaving without taking any examination at all in the core competencies. And, it is our policy that, over the next two years, all students will be required to take an examination in English and Mathematics,” he announced.

Thwaites also said the ministry will also be insisting on the implementation of instruction and assessment in a technical vocational area.

“It is extremely important. We have second-guessed and have downgraded technical and vocational competencies throughout our history. It was the ‘what left’ of the student body who did those things and even our technical schools were thought of as being the repository for second-level students. This is so wrong,” Thwaites said, pointing out that it was not only morally wrong but also impractical in our current economic environment.

Noting the practicality of the partnership behind the Centres of Excellence, he said the ministry would continue its relationship with the MBSF and examine how the programme can be implemented in primary schools facing similar challenges, to broaden the sphere of influence of the Centres of Excellence programme.

The programme, which assisted six rural high schools across the country facing difficulties with optimising their performance over a five-year period, 2008-2013, was summed up as a success by the independent evaluators and the ministry.

The participating high schools were Godfrey Stewart in Westmoreland, Green Pond in St James, Seaforth in St Thomas, McGrath in St Catherine, and Mile Gully and Porus in Manchester.

The independent evaluators, Harmonious Solutions, said the programme resulted in academic improvements and created an environment for sustained growth.

“All project schools recorded a substantial increase in the overall Grade 11 cohort registered to sit the CSEC exams in English and Mathematics,” said Sasha Parke-Lynch, who presented the findings.

She said the number of students attaining grades one to three in passes in Mathematics and English improved during the course of the programme, which ended in 2013. All schools showed improvements in English and only one school showed a decline in Mathematics.

In addition, Parke-Lynch said more students were matriculating to higher education while, on the administrative side, there was improved instructional leadership in the schools, with more teachers and heads of departments taking data-driven approaches to formulating lesson plans and curricula.

She also noted that there was an improved perception about the schools in their respective communities, as discipline improved and infractions declined by 65 per cent across the board; while academic and non-academic outcomes increased, particularly in school culture, which improved by 80 per cent.

“The programme has really transformed our school,” said Theobold Fearon, principal of Godfrey Stewart High in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

“In 2012, we had 17 students passing CSEC Math and last year we had 41 with six distinctions. That is transformation,” he declared, noting that more students were now choosing to attend Godfrey Stewart because of the improved culture at the school.

“There were instances where teachers did not show up for classes and students were involved in fights and stabbings. Now, the judges and police are congratulating us,” he said, expressing thanks to the Centres of Excellence programme.

Dr Renee Rattray, programme manager at the MBSF, urged the audience to do away with the name “non-traditional” in labelling schools. She said if the term is to be used it must be used positively.

“Being non-traditional means you can be flexible; you don’t have to conform to the stereotypes that define others,” she said. “It means you have the space to be inventive and innovative in the ways you teach and the ways your students learn. It means you can create higher standards for learning and achievement; and it means you can define what your best path to excellence should be,” she said.