National summer school starts Monday
Published:Wednesday | June 30, 2021 | 12:13 AMErica Virtue/Senior Gleaner Writer
Education Minister Fayval Williams unveiled the Government’s national summer school and homework programme, which will seek to rein in learning loss from the pandemic which has shuttered schools worldwide with severe connectivity and equipment challenges for thousands of students locally learning online.
Summer school will begin on Monday, July 5.
Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Williams said the Recover Smarter National School Learning and Intervention Plan has three components: summer school, extra lessons, and a homework programme.
Williams reiterated that notwithstanding the ministry’s efforts, approximately 120,000 students were not consistently engaged in schoolwork, but other stakeholders have put the figure above 150,000.
“The programme will take place using a bottom-up approach, beginning with the development of school level plans which are to be reviewed and approved at the regional level and supported through the provision of technical and financial assistance nationally,” the minister said.
Students in grades one to nine will be required to sit a standardised diagnostic assessment, while those in grades one to three will sit diagnostic tests in mathematics, language arts, and integrated studies. Students in grades four to nine will sit diagnostic tests in mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies, Williams said.
Tests will identify students’ ability to perform at their grade levels.
Recruited tutors and current teachers who volunteer will be part of the programme chosen by service providers who will deploy trained and retired teachers willing to participate.
A major component of the Recover Smarter national extra-lesson homework programme is the provision of financial support. The lessons will be delivered primarily online.
A virtual town hall meeting will be held Wednesday evening to explain the programme to parents.
Opposition Spokesperson Angela Brown Burke welcomed the initiative, but cautioned that many teachers felt they had no say in the programme.
It is unclear whether the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, which represents the majority of the island’s teachers, will come on board with the programme.
The association has previously said it would not support mandatory summer school.