BELOW ARE highlights of some of the programmes set out in the 2001/02 Estimates of Expenditure tabled on Thursday in Parliament.
EDUCATION
$70 million for ROSE project
The Reform of Secondary Education (ROSE) project in the Ministry of Education and Culture has been allocated $70 million to improve the quality of education across the island.
The funds will be used to distribute educational support material and furniture to 48 primary and junior high schools, complete the extension and refurbishing of four primary and junior high schools, complete the construction of one new junior high school and conduct preparatory activities for ROSE II.
Funds will come from the Government of Jamaica and the Inter-American Development Bank.
As of September 2000 common curricula were introduced and assessed in 131 primary, junior high and comprehensive high schools, in art, drama, Spanish, religious education, music and physical education/dance.
$250 million for
Students Loan Bureau
The Student's Loan Bureau has received $250 million for the upcoming fiscal year, $50 million more than the amount allocated during 2000/01.
Among the targets the Bureau has set for the new fiscal year are a reduction in delinquency, increase in collections, and repayments and increase in applications due to more aggressive public education.
Funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Jamaica Government, the new Student Loan Scheme administered by the Bureau has met several targets since its implementation in 1996.
The Bureau has installed loan servicing software, completed its web site, redesigned application forms, strengthened its application processing department and implemented procedures to stem delinquency.
All-age school project
The Ministry of Education and Culture's All-Age School Project (Phase 1) has been allocated $5 million in the 2001/02 Estimates of Expenditure.
Anticipated physical targets for the financial year include the development of programmes for adult education and conflict resolution, the establishment of guidance and counselling support for six school clusters and the development of a management course and manual for the training of principals.
Forty-eight schools will be given literacy and curriculum support materials for students and an effort will be made to increase community/school involvement.
As of last December, a literacy programme was piloted in eight schools and a database designed and developed. Training programmes were conducted for 20 community persons, 35 central staff, 1,440 principals, teachers and community members in advanced school development planning.
The programme which started in April 2000 should be completed by March 2004.
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
Road rehabilitation
project
THE ROAD Rehabilitation and Institutional Strengthening project in the Ministry of Transport and Works received $187.7 million to continue its programme of upgrading and restoring the country's road network and to assist in the training of managerial and technical personnel.
As of last month, 106 kilometres of road in St. Andrew, Portland and St. Mary was completed with drainage, pavement, gabion walls and rubble masonry walls done.
Anticipated targets for the financial year include the completion of all defects during the maintenance period, which ends in August.
The project is funded by the Government of Jamaica and the European Union. It started in December 1997 and should have been completed in March 1999, but has been extended to next March.
Arterial roads programme
Just over $190 million has been set aside for the Ministry of Transport and Works' arterial roads programme.
Of this amount, $50 million will go to road maintenance, $30 million for the maintenance of bridges, culverts and walls, $2 million for road development in Ocho Rios and $109 million for bridge development and construction.
The programme, to be implemented by the National Works Agency, aims to improve the network of the main roads and highways linking the island's parish capitals. It comprises about 809 kilometres of roads including 245 bridges, 1,450 culverts as well as walls and associated structures.
A total of $118 million has also been allocated to the Ministry's tertiary road programme. These roads serve the populous residential, agricultural and farming communities linking them to the secondary and arterial road system.
In addition, $46 million has been allocated to the secondary roads programme -- roads linking secondary towns and other commercial centres to the main arterial road system.
New water scheme for four parishes
New water supply schemes are to be constructed at a cost of $15 million in Milk River, Clarendon; Christiana and Spalding, Manchester; Copse and Lethe, St. James; and Hope Bay and St. Margaret's Bay, Portland.
The National Water Commission (NWC) will implement the project, which is intended to improve water supply to rural communities. It's scheduled for completion in November 2002, after about three extensions.
Funding is to come from the European Union and the Government of Jamaica.
