A group of sixth formers at Frome Technical High School in this November 2005 file photo. - Claudine Housen/Staff Photographer

Maxine Henry-Wilson, the Minister of Education and Youth, yesterday said her ministry will be constructing more sixth form centres. She was addressing the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) Job Creation Awards function at the Terra Nova Hotel, St. Andrew.

Why is this necessary?

Mrs. Henry-Wilson said there is an increasing demand for post-secondary education. According to her, some schools with sixth-form centres are not able to accept many of their students who performed well in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations because of a lack of space.

How many sixth-form centres are there?

Currently, there are 42 established sixth-form centres across the island.

What's the next step in the Government's plan?

"We are trying to settle off this year and look at the longer-term solution because every school cannot have a centre of excellence in terms of sixth form," said the Education Minister. Mrs. Henry-Wilson said her ministry was being careful not to "water down" sixth-form education, so they are ensuring that the necessary resources are in place for students.

How many more centres will be built?

Mrs. Henry-Wilson is uncertain at this time, but noted that some of the centres would be specialising in particular subject areas. "We may have to do it in a collaborative way where some schools are offering languages while others are offering the sciences," she said.

Which areas are students most likely to choose?

The Education Minister said: "A lot of students are now opting for vocational subjects at sixth form; they are also opting for science subjects and you have to have a particular kind of laboratory for them to be able to do CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations) at that level."