JAMAICA

Country education profile SCHOOL ORGANISATION The Jamaican educational system runs from 'basic' school (ages four-six) through primary and secondary schools to tertiary education. The Ministry of Education and Culture is committed to the administration financial management and coordination of public school institutions and the regulation of pri!ate schools. Education is free and compulsory bet"een the ages of six and t"el!e.

Primary sc ools # ages six to t"el!e (grade $ to %). !irst"Cycle Secondary sc ools # ages t"el!e to sixteen (grade & to $$). Second"Cycle Secondary sc ools # ages sixteen to eighteen (grades $' and $().

)chool generally starts bet"een &*(+ and ,*++am and runs until about 'pm "ith a morning breaand a lunch brea-. )ome schools operate on a shift system "ith an extra set of students arri!ing in the afternoon. )econdary education is a!ailable through a system of public and pri!ate schools. .o!ernmentsponsored scholarships for public secondary schools are a"arded based on students' success in the /ational 0ssessment 1rogramme exams ta-en at the age of ele!en or t"el!e. This exam is similar to the 2nited )tates ).0.T test. Children not admitted into go!ernment aided secondary schools can obtain a secondary education at one of se!eral pri!ate schools. 3o"e!er around one third of children in Jamaica do not progress to secondary education. )econdary schools lead to the Caribbean Examinations Council )econdary Education Certificate after fi!e years (grade $$) and .eneral Certificate of Education 0d!anced 405 le!els after a further t"o years (grade $(). The )tate also ta-es responsibility for Early Childhood Education of children bet"een the ages of four and six years by pro!iding curriculum direction teacher training standards setting and monitoring and financial support to facilitate appropriate learning. SCHOOL CAL#N$AR There are three school terms for the year.

)eptember to 6ecember. January to 0pril. May to July.

Mid-term brea-s are of $ to ' "ee-s around /ational 3eroes 6ay ((rd Monday in 7ctober) 0sh 8ednesday and at Easter (.ood 9riday:Easter Monday). 0ctual term dates are set by the schools and differ marginally. C%RRIC%L%M The curriculum is de!eloped in response to national goals and student needs by teams of teachers education officers and Jamaican and international consultants.

The primary school curriculum co!ers*

language mathematics science social studies drama music !isual arts physical education religious education.

0t secondary le!el public schools the curriculum is centred around fi!e core sub;ects*

language arts mathematics resources and technology science social studies other sub;ects (e.g. Career education guidance )panish 6rama 0rt Music and <eligious education) are taught.

Most children entering school are partially bilingual. )tudents are usually fluent Creole spea-ers mo!ing to"ards standard English as the target language. =n the primary curriculum teachers are encouraged to accept the child5s home language but "ill help them de!elop their English. #$%CATION PRIORITI#S AN$ R#!ORMS 9ollo"ing =ndependence in $>%' considerable effort "as put into the expansion of co!erage and the impro!ement of education. 0ccess to 1rimary Education is no" uni!ersal but despite this achie!ement the main challenge today is impro!ement of ?uality in order to ade?uately prepare students for the secondary system "hich is currently being reformed. 1riority at primary le!el is being gi!en to*

functional literacy and numeracy competence in basic -no"ledge and s-ills re?uired for access to secondary education possession of a caring attitude to"ards self others and all nature.

The Ministry of Education operates a subsidised school feeding programme and pro!ides free textboo-s to all students. )econdary Education is also being reformed in order to ensure e?uity and high ?uality across the board for all students. 7ne of the main strategies "as the introduction of*

a common curriculum in grades &-> in all schools through the <eform of )econdary Education pro;ect upgrading of teaching staff and general facilities.

http://www2.britishcouncil.org/home/learning/globalschools/globalschoolspartnership/globalschools-resources-countries/globalschools-resources-countriesjamaica.htm