JAMAICAN STUDENTS are set to benefit from the islandwide implementation of an expanded secondary education programme by 2006, including the distribution of high school diplomas.
According to Maxine Henry-Wilson, Minister of Education, Youth & Culture, the diploma will reflect standardised certification and transcripts on successful completion of five years of secondary schooling and will assist employers seeking to bring on new staff. It will not be linked to performance in the CXC examinations.
"The high school diploma will provide employers with some kind of transcript of what the student did throughout his school life," the Education Minister said during a post-Sectoral Debate press conference at Jamaica House yesterday.
Mrs. Henry-Wilson had earlier announced the programme during her contribution to the debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The Minister had indicated that, prior to full implementation in 2006, the programme will come into effect in nine schools at the September start of the upcoming school year.
Mrs. Henry-Wilson noted that the programme was designed to address a need to provide a broad-based education for all secondary school students with established minimum standards and levels of attainment.
The Education Minister said: "This programme will ensure a general education for all students, by including preparation in subject disciplines based on a common curriculum and other experiences."
She added: "All students will be required to pursue a compulsory core of six subjects, including Information Technology, Math, English Language and Literature, a natural science and a set of activities constituting an expanded school experience."
The core subjects for special education schools will be determined by those schools while technical/vocational schools will be advised of theirs.
While outlining the programme during the Sectoral Debate, Minister Henry-Wilson added that students at the special education and vocational/technical schools will be allowed to choose subjects from one of four areas including the Sciences, the Humanities, a Technical or Vocational subject, or the Visual and Performing Arts.
"The expanded school experience will allow for the inclusion of personal development, guidance and counselling, physical education, and clubs and societies," the Education Minister said.
She added: "Additionally, there will be new courses to satisfy the need for the expanded school experience such as Civic responsibility, Work ethic, Values and attitudes and Community service."
