Jamaica’s Ministry of Education (MOEY) is seeking to strengthen its parent-teacher collaboration to enhance school performance across the island and help improve student behavior.
Fayval Williams, Minister of Education and Youth, explained on Sunday in her address to start the Easter school term that this cooperation should result in the students’ character development.
“Our emphasis, this term as well and going forward, will also be on parent-teacher cooperation as we seek the complete and harmonious development of our students’ character so that we begin to see more of the desirable behavior, less fighting among our students, healthy habits and positive attitudes in personal and social life,” Williams said.
Williams said the education ministry will continue to strive to ensure that all schools focus on educational equity. She also said the ministry will continue to find ways to partner, support, and create opportunities that will transform educational institutions into places where all children will enjoy learning, playing, and developing strong relationships while continuing to grow.
Starting this school term, Williams said civics will be taught in all institutions as there are various social issues and the need for an intentional and intensive focus on students’ development of civic virtues.
Civics promotes good citizenship, encourages respect for cultural integrity and nation-building, and was recently reintroduced to the National Standards Curriculum at all levels.
“Civics in schools will serve as a foundational pillar for students to develop those critical soft skills and become the Jamaicans we want them to be,” said Williams.
Williams announced that her ministry has been moving forward with implementing the education transformation initiatives.
She added that the ministry is committed to continuing to engage in dialogue with school communities, key stakeholders, and the public through a variety of communication channels to get support for the continuing transformation of the education sector.
