Black Immigrant Daily News

Despite lack of classroom space and teacher shortage concerns expressed by some school principals, Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Sixth Form Pathways Programme will be moving forward this academic year.

Holness, who was speaking at an Education and Youth Ministry Town Hall meeting at Jamaica College in St Andrew at Friday, acknowledged that there have been concerns and complaints about the programme.

However, he urged school administrators and the ministry to cooperate to make the programme successful.

“There are some genuine concerns about it, because there has always been a traditional sixth form, and how does this traditional sixth form which is well-established compare to the additional two years,” Holness shared.

“Is it the same thing? Should it get the same resources? These are all issues that I think are well within our scope to resolve, but we cannot deny the fundamental intelligence behind extending the school years from five to seven,” he declared.

According to him, it is important to get more children enrolled in school and “keep them there as long as you can”.

The intention of the new sixth form programme is to offer students who complete grade 11 an opportunity to enrol and engage in skills-based or other academic-related courses alongside the traditional sixth form curriculum where the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) is offered.

Students have the option of leaving the programme with an occupational associate degree, certificate or diploma, or an accredited associate degree through the Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica (CCCJ) or University Council of Jamaica (UCJ).

Several educators and school administrators have, however, expressed concerns about the lack of classroom spaces to accommodate the students.

The latest school administer to express concern about the programme is Errol Bascoe, Principal of Tacky High School in Gayle, St Mary.

Bascoe, who spoke to the media last week, made it clear that his school will not be participating in the Sixth Form Pathways Programme because of a lack of space.

He explained, among other things, that he has to operate another campus of the school to accommodate grade seven students because more classrooms are needed at the main campus.

Linton Weir, the Principal of the St Catherine-based Old Harbour High School, in a radio interview three weeks ago, said he is faced with a similar challenge of finding more space to accommodate the students applying for the pathways programme.

Additionally, he stated that additional teachers are required for the programme.

“We will not be able to absorb them (the students) because we don’t have the space to absorb them and, two, we don’t have the teacher personnel to absorb them,” Weir said then.

But at Friday’s town hall meeting, Acting Chief Education Officer, Dr Kasan Troupe, said if schools do not have the spaces available, then sixth form coordinators should direct the students and their parents to other schools or tertiary institutions that are part of the Sixth Form Pathways Programme.

Troupe was responding to a parent who said her child’s school has no space to facilitate him in sixth form.

“To my surprise, I go to the school today (Friday) for him to get in to the sixth form now, and was told that he has to have three subjects to continue. So I want to know, who was it for?” questioned the parent.

In response, Troupe said: “We are cognisant that not every child will move at the same pace, and so, pathways learning programmes must be created for them.

“So pathways one is the traditional sixth form – five or more subjects… Pathway two will be for those students who have four (subjects) or less, with or without CSEC maths or English,” she said.

“… And if you didn’t get any (CSEC subject) at all, there is the pathway three for you, and we will get you into that language and literacy programme.

“We will get you your CSEC subjects done, and you will get two additional years of study to improve your output and outcome in society,” Troupe said.

In promising the parent to assist her after the town hall meeting, Troupe also reminded sixth form pathway coordinators that there are spaces for students in tertiary institutions.

“Not all high schools will be able to retain all our students, and we have been saying that from the beginning.

“This is why we partnered with the tertiary sector. Our tertiary sector is underutilised. When we did the space audit, we can accommodate over 25,000 students in the tertiary sector,” Troupe indicated.

“So there is no need to build. What we need to do is partner, to maximise on the resources, and that’s what we have done.”

Troupe said sixth form pathway coordinators have mapped out tertiary institutions located in close proximity to high schools.

For his part, Holness said more communication is needed among the stakeholders to get the relevant information on the programme to parents and the wider public.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

~ Two new MP’s support the coalition~

PHILIPSBURG — In a joint statement issued by the leadership of the National Alliance (NA) and United People’s (UP) Party it has been confirmed, that it was a success; a proactive measure to ensure stability within the governing coalition. This was mentioned many weeks ago when they began exploring options to broaden the coalition.

“After many discussions regarding support for the sitting government, we hereby inform the public that the government, coalition, and by extension its governing accord in its present form, despite the announcements of independence by sitting coalition members, has the support of two extra members of Parliament, namely MPs A. Arrindell and C. Brownbill.” said Member of Parliament and Leader of the UP Party, Mr. Rolando Brison.

The decision has been confirmed to His Excellency, Governor Eugene Holiday, who is aware of the government’s majority support in Parliament which allows it to continue to govern.

“The public can rest assured that we will continue to work in the best interest of St. Maarten and her people. We ask that you not be deterred by those who seek to create further confusion in the minds of the population for political gain.” Said Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Silveria Jacobs, in her capacity as the leader of the NA Party.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The 2022 Population and Housing Census that was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is to officially get under way on Monday, September 12, which has been designated Census Day.

The exercise, which is being conducted by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), is expected to conclude on December 31.

The Government is encouraging Jamaicans to wear the national colours on Monday, and to participate in the exercise which is being conducted under the theme, ‘Yuh Count, Mi Count, All a Wi Count’.

STATIN explained that the census is one of the most important sources of statistics for a country.

“Census data are used by policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, civil society groups, faith-based organisations, the private sector community and the general public to make informed decisions,” STATIN said.

It is counting down the hours until Monday when the census gets under way, at which time over 7,500 trained workers will begin to collect data in all 14 parishes and from 6,611 enumeration districts.

While addressing the House of Representatives in July, Finance Minister, Dr Nigel Clarke, noted that the upcoming census is the 15th such exercise to be undertaken in Jamaica since 1844.

“The census is one of the most important tasks that we will be undertaking in this our Jubilee year. The results will help us to assess our progress as a nation, and guide us in setting our priorities and direction for the next 60 years and beyond,” Clarke said during a ministerial statement in the House.

He said the census “is more than a tool for policymakers in Government, it is a critical source of information for businesses and the people of Jamaica.”

He said that critical decisions are informed by the data coming out of the census.

“The census also captures information on the housing stock in the country, and key social and demographic information that informs policy. It helps us to determine where to put schools, clinics, and other Government services,” he added.

Clarke stated that, in keeping with international standards and best practices, censuses are conducted every 10 years. The last census in Jamaica was conducted in 2011 and should have taken place last year, but was delayed by the pandemic.

The finance minister said the 2022 Census will capitalise on new technology to improve the efficiency and safety in data collection and processing.

For the first time, census data will be collected using tablet computers. At the end of the census, the tablets are to be transferred to the Tablets in Schools Programme.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Casper Ruud in four sets to win his first major at the US Open and make history in moving to the top of the ATP rankings.

Either Alcaraz or Ruud would have taken the world number one spot had they won at Flushing Meadows, and it was the 19-year-old who prevailed 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3 on Sunday.

The teenager – the second-youngest New York champion of the Open Era after Pete Sampras – therefore became the youngest ever men’s number one.

Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, waves to the crowd after defeating Casper Ruud, of Norway.(AP Photo/John Minchillo).

Alcaraz had come through five-set matches in each of the prior three rounds, and he was again worked hard by Ruud – the new number two.

Ultimately, though, the highly talented Spaniard had the staying power to win his first grand slam title, becoming the first teenager to do so since Rafael Nadal at the 2005 French Open.

Despite the draining efforts of previous nights, Alcaraz made a rapid start, quickly forging three break points in the third game of the match and taking the second of them.

Ruud did little else wrong in the first set but had to bide his time to respond, losing the opener and fending off an opportunity for a break in the second before immediately applying pressure going the other way.

The Norwegian reached an Alcaraz drop shot and lobbed his opponent before watching the backhand reply land long to lead, although three unforced errors in the next game almost let Alcaraz back in.

Casper Ruud, of Norway, reaches for a shot from Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa).

Instead, Ruud dug in and then profited when a sloppy Alcaraz service game allowed him to clinch the second set.

Alcaraz responded in sublime fashion, immediately piling on the pressure in the third frame and breaking down Ruud’s defence with a pinpoint drop shot, yet the set was level again when he crashed into the net, with a sensational rally required to reach a tie-break.

A couple of wild Ruud strokes decided the 73-minute set in Alcaraz’s favour, though, and the fifth seed went long in the fourth to set his opponent on course, with an emotional victory secured in ruthless style.

Data Slam: Marathon man Carlos crowned in New York

Only the third player to reach the US Open final after winning in five sets in each of the prior three rounds, Alcaraz avoided seeing another match going all the way – even if past results suggest that would have worked in his favour.

Regardless, Alcaraz set a new record for the most time spent on court at a major tournament. Since 1999, when this data was first available, Kevin Anderson’s 2018 Wimbledon run had previously represented the benchmark.

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS

Alcaraz – 14/3Ruud – 4/2

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Alcaraz – 55/41Ruud – 37/29

BREAK POINTS WON

Alcaraz – 3/11Ruud – 3/10

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