News from the OPM

Government Committed to Universal Access to Secondary Education


Government Committed to Universal Access to Secondary Education
Prime Minister Andrew Holness

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government is committed to ensuring that there is universal access to secondary education. He said although government has limited resources and there are challenges, education should be a right for all children. He also stated that children should be entitled to a place in primary school a good quality high school regardless of their background or ability to afford it and the country should provide that for every child.

Speaking at a GSAT awards function at the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday, August 24, Prime Minister Holness said the Government is trying to put this in place by initiating a no tuition fee policy at the secondary level. He added that, “We understand the cost of education, but we also understand the cost of ignorance. If we are going to see the fulfillment of all our children, we need to have an education system that caters to their various skills and abilities.”

According to Mr Holness, what we believe as the foundation of the Jamaican State, society and culture is continuously being challenged by information all over the world. To address this, there has to be constant reinforcement of the values of the Jamaican society, and these must be taught in schools by bringing back Civics into the education system. “We have to strengthen our value system so that our students can place the bombardment of information they receive in context so they can become better individuals with strong character to withstand the turbulence of the world in which we live in.”

 

Contact:    Communications Unit-OPM

Tel:   926-0244, 927-4101        Email:  [email protected]/[email protected]

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