KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Government will be developing intervention systems to support at-risk students at the secondary level and improve student retention in its continued thrust to improve educational outcomes.

An early warning system will also be developed to identify at-risk students.

These initiatives will be pursued under the Jamaica Education Project (JEP), which has been allocated $752 million in the 2025/26 Estimates of Expenditure.

The document was tabled by Finance Minister, Fayval Williams, in the House of Representatives on February 13.

During the upcoming financial year, training plans will be developed for teachers from grades seven to 13, principals and master trainers.

An assessment of laboratories will be undertaken, and the Government will commence procurement of science and audiovisual equipment for secondary schools.

Additionally, equipment and human resource support services will be procured for the Education Management Information System (EMIS).

The EMIS will, among other things, record student data, performance and attendance.

In January, it was reported that 15 schools were recording students’ attendance digitally, while another 10 were 95 per cent ready to begin using the platform.

JEP’s objective is to improve teaching practices and learning conditions in secondary education and promote greater use of information for decision-making in the education system.

Among the achievements up to December 2024 are the development of output specifications for construction of a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) school and the acquisition of land in Minard, St Ann, for a similar institution.

The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information and funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

It commenced in November 2023 and has a November 2029 completion date.

–       JIS