ST ANN, Jamaica— Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams, says Jamaica will take one step closer to removing every single remaining school from the shift system during this school year.

The minister, who was speaking to students, teachers, administrators and other stakeholders on opening day at the Ocho Rios Primary School in St Ann, on September 2, said that while the shift system served a necessary purpose in the past,  the time has come to bring all schools back to their traditional all-day operation.

“This year, Ocho Rios Primary School will be joined by Naggo Head Primary, Bridgeport High, and Papine High in the transition from the shift system. Achieving these four schools will mean that by the end of this year, we will have only 27 schools left to de-shift. We are coming from 38 when I sat in the chair at the Ministry of Education and Youth in September 2020,” Williams pointed out.

“All I can say is, we need to listen to our stakeholders all the time, not just assume that we know what’s good for them. Look at the pain that our students suffered under the shift system. This we wouldn’t know until we listen to them articulate it. I am, indeed, happy that I am part of this process of transforming the education system in Jamaica,” she added.

The minister said that the transition to a single shift system should be seen as “more than just a change in the schedule,” but also as a promise fulfilled by the Government… “a promise to create a better, more balanced learning environment for our children for years”.

She said that while very few people would argue that the shift system has been a necessary part of the educational landscape, it also brought its own set of challenges, such as limiting the time students could spend learning, exploring and growing.

“Today, we are breaking free from those limits by moving to a single all-day shift system. We are giving our students more time, more opportunities and a school day that supports both their academic success and their overall health,” the Minister added.

“Today is a day of celebration. We are gathered here to mark an important milestone for Ocho Rios Primary School, which has been on the shift system since 1998, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share it with all of you as we stand at the beginning of a new school year,” the minister said.

In the meantime, Williams said the Government is also focused on improving the infrastructure of schools, making sure every student learns in a safe, modern and inspiring environment.

She reminded that the school system took a big hit from Hurricane Beryl on July 3, when more than 300 schools suffered different degrees of damage, noting that “we looked at that number and of the over 300, some 107 of them were so damaged that if we did not fix them, school would not begin today”.

-JIS