By Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
Dr. Omar Davies (seated right) in conversation with participants and a teacher in the Adult Education (ACE) Programme in his South St. Andrew constituency. From left are Delpha Williamson (seated); Michelle Chapan, supervisor of the programme; Maxine Lewis, Gennet Buckley and Bridgette Wright. The occasion was the handover, on Friday, of a duplicator machine, donated to the programme by the Jamaica National Building Society and Illuminat (Jamaica) Ltd., at the JNBS's head office on Half-Way Tree Road, St. Andrew. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
NOT MANY of us get a second chance in life, but for Delpha Williamson of Arnett Gardens in South St. Andrew, the Adult Continuing Education (ACE) Programme is more than a second chance.
The 34-year-old mother dropped out of school after getting pregnant and never got the chance to complete her high school education. However, the ACE Programme, which is designed to improve the level of education and adult skill training in the South St. Andrew constituency, has given her that opportunity.
REALLY GOOD
"At first, it was out of curiosity when I went there to visit, and then when I saw it, I said okay, it is something good so I will give it a chance. I have been there over a month and it is really good," she told The Gleaner.
For Maxine Lewis, also from Arnett Gardens, the programme is a chance for her to improve her economic status in life.
"I think I need something out of life. I need to have a skill that I can get a work to maintain my kids and myself," she said.
Launched in March of this year, the programme to date has attracted some 300 persons, 15 years and olders, many more than Member of Parliament Dr. Omar Davies had originally projected.
"We had anticipated 60 persons initially, but the interest has been significant and so we have structured the programme at three levels. We have been surprised at the response and it has totally changed how we are going to structure dealing with it because we have decided not to refuse anybody," he said.
EXTENDED VERSION
The ACE programme is an extended version of the MP's primary school education programme that commenced five years ago with five primary schools in the constituency that were diagnosed as "being at risk".
"It then came around that children who have been excited about the possibilities (of the programme) then had their parents coming to us, saying, 'What about us'?" Dr. Davies said.
The programme operates at three levels, with level one catering to those who are illiterate; level two to those who are literate but have not reached the grade nine level of literacy; and level three attending to those falling between grade nine and tertiary levels. It will be offering level three students the chance to sit five Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) subjects. The subjects are English language, mathematics, principles of business, information technology and history.
Dr. Davies, however, pointed out that the programme was faced with two major challenges.
"The violence (in the community) affected the programme and we have recovered somewhat. Secondly, we will have to make a special effort (to get the males involved). Only about one-sixth of the participants are males, so we have to go back - we are going to work with some of the young leaders to try to get them involved," he said.
The programme is workable, Dr. Davies said, adding, "I want to eliminate illiteracy from the constituency."
About 30 students from the University of the West Indies and the University of Technology have volunteered to help teach the programme participants.
