ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Ruel Reid, says students in Jamaica’s public school system have been performing admirably and, as a consequence, will become one of Jamaica’s finest generations of adults.

Speaking with JIS News during a tour of four schools in Brown’s Town, St Ann, last Tuesday, Reid expressed confidence that “this generation is not lost”.

“The students who are currently in school are doing very well. They are getting even better prepared for school, so it is important that as Minister of Education I encourage the teachers and the leadership that for us to transform Jamaica, we have to get it right with this generation,” Reid said.

“There is no excuse anymore. While we have to deal with some of the other issues for the unattached youth, my job now is to make sure that from zero to 18, everybody remains in school, and by the time they leave at grade 13, they are certified to transition to the world of work or higher education,” he added.

The schools toured are in the ministry’s Region Three, and include Servite Primary School; and St Hilda’s, York Castle and Brown’s Town High Schools.

Reid explained that the visit forms part of his regular scheduled tours that see him “getting out of the office and going to different schools in the regions”.

The minister, along with officials from the ministry, including building inspectors, also did a first-hand assessment of the schools’ properties, including the canteen at the Servite Primary School, which was recently refurbished and equipped.

“I toured the canteen and I saw very significant improvements… including a new freezer, new fans and general improvement of the roof, and they are very happy with that,” he said.

Reid said he is pleased with the performance of the school. “When I look at their grade-four literacy and numeracy, it is very high. They are doing very well at GSAT, and I had an opportunity to interact with their students and they are doing really well,” he told JIS News.

The minister said additional work will be undertaken to improve a section of the school’s roof.

“I did promise also, that we will give them some more information technology (IT) support, because IT is part of the means by which we deliver our curriculum. It is far more student-friendly and teachers will certainly see that using technology enhances teaching and learning and the overall outcome for our students,” he said.