Dear Editor,

In an article of the Wednesday, January 29 edition of the Jamaica Observer entitled ‘Church-led schools outperforming others, says education minister’, the Minister of Education Dr Dana Morris Dixon, who herself benefited from a church-based education, stated, “I learned from early that it’s important to be academically excellent, but it is also really really important to be a good child of God and to do every single thing that you can to further God’s mission on Earth. That was instilled in me in the schools that I went to.”

The various churches and trusts that comprise the Ecumenical Education Committee (EEC) wish to applaud the minister for such a witness that is a result of the Christian ethos which church and trust institutions try to cultivate. Dr Morris Dixon also highlighted the innovative approach of the “Seventh Grade Academy” at Holy Trinity High School “to improve the ability of students who recently entered grade seven”.

The EEC would like to extend praise and support to St Michael’s Theological College and the leadership of Holy Trinity High School for pioneering such a much-needed project and hope that other similar wonderful possibilities can result through wholesome collaboration and consultation between the Ministry of Education and churches and trusts.

Most Rev Donald J Reece

Archbishop emeritus of Kingston

Chairman, EEC

don.j.reece@gmail.com