Dear Editor,

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information notes the

Jamaica Observer’s front page report of Thursday, May 4, 2017 and the comments attributed to the director of the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL), Rosemary Campbell-Stephens, in which she was quoted as calling for the restructuring of Jamaica’s “classist” education system.We wish to point out to your readers that the education system has been going through steady transformation over the past 12 years since the Task Force on Educational Reform was established in 2004. To date, six new agencies have been created, curriculum revised, new teaching and learning strategies developed, and the ministry’s modernisation agenda well advanced with a structure separating policy from operations. The Department of School Services now has sole responsibility for operations of schools, while central ministry focuses on policy. The new structure is now with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service for approval to allow for full implementation.The NCEL director was also quoted as saying the Government needs to explore a system driven by an assessment modality rather than streaming students, “which ultimately leaves some behind”. The fact is, the ministry moved away from streaming over 17 years ago and has developed a National Assessment Programme from grade one to six that has become a full fixture to guide assessment at the primary level. Students who move on to the secondary level are placed based on their grades and choices, but are not streamed when placed in classes.In addition, the Alternative Pathways to Secondary Education programme is organised around five subjects, namely maths, English, social studies, science, and personal empowerment. Students are able to do these courses based on the psycho-educational assessment done to determine the specific areas to be addressed.This allows for an inclusive approach in which instruction is based on tailored curricula, enabling each learner to perform to his/her fullest potential based on aptitude, interest and ability. This is a new approach to secondary education which is being reframed and repositioned as customised, diverse, relevant, equitable, outcomes-based, and inclusive.This approach signals the introduction of a seven- year (grades 7-13) period of instruction for students on all secondary pathways. Students are only timetabled based on identified needs in these areas and are provided with direct support to improve his/her abilities and competencies in the areas.According to your report, the NCEL director stated: “…If we continue to just kind of tweak it (education system), we’re not ever going to really transform it.” There is no “tweaking” going on. A full-scale reform process is underway and much progress has been made since the programme started.We trust this helps you and your readers to have a more complete picture of the changes being implemented in the education sector as Jamaica moves away from past systems. 

Colin Steer

Director, Corporate Communication

Ministry of Education, Youth and Information

colin.steer@moey.gov.jm