ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Ruel Reid, says the Government is working on the revised policy for the establishment of a new overall teacher/pupil ratio of 1:25.

“For the technical areas, we will have a ratio of 1:20 (one teacher to 20 students). This will allow for closer attention to be given to each student,” he explained.

The minister was speaking on the third and final day of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) conference at the Hilton Resort and Spa in St James yesterday.

Reid pointed out that it has been reasonably demonstrated that students are more likely to learn when personalised attention is given, especially in the case of a slow learner or late bloomer.

“The one-on-one attention, which is very vital, is often not possible when you have a class size of one teacher to 60-plus students. This has not served us well and has resulted in many of our students being hard-pressed to keep up. What we are doing here now in reducing the class size as per teacher to students, and this should make learning both easier and less stressful inside our classrooms,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, Reid said that as part of the effort to ensure no one is left behind, as of September 2017, the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), National Vocational Qualification of Jamaica (NVQJ) and Caribbean Vocational Qualifications Framework (CVQ) examination fees will be fully covered by the ministry for students on the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), wards of the State and others in dire need who may not be on the PATH Programme.

“In addition, as we customise education, it is expected that all our students leaving the secondary level are ready to enter the world of work or higher-level education,” the minister said.