THE ALTERNATIVE Student Support programme, (PASS) aimed at assisting students who displayed serious disruptive behaviour, is to be launched in January 2001.
Minister of Education, Senator Burchell Whiteman says his Ministry would work in partnership with schools, agencies and professionals who were able to provide specialised care to reform indisciplined students in order to help them to complete their education.
The main features of the PASS were agreed on by principals of high schools who met with the Minister recently.
PASS is being introduced in three of the Ministry's six regions including Region One, comprising Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Thomas; Region Three, comprising St. Mary, St. Ann and Trelawny and Region Four which covers St. James, Westmoreland and Hanover.
The other three regions will introduce PASS in the next academic year, but in the interim special cases may be recommended for assistance. It is also proposed that all high schools should implement some of the basic features of PASS.
Minister Whiteman said the involvement of parents and guardians was critical to the success of the new intervention.
