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Rainforest Seafoods deepens ties with EduFocal

Published:Tuesday | July 31, 2018 | 12:00 AM
Contributed
From left: Bethany Young, marketing manager at Rainforest Seafoods, alongside Gordon Swaby, CEO of EduFocal Limited; and Fae Ellington, TV host and senior lecturer at CARIMAC, pose with top students Jordano Page and Shanoya Bisson at the sixth staging of the EduFocal Excellence Awards recently.

Rainforest Seafoods, the Caribbean's largest seafood supplier, is building on its partnership with the Iris Gelly Primary School with part proceeds of its sponsorship to the EduFocal online social learning service supporting the school's Grade 4 Literacy Test and Grade 6 Primary Exit Profile (PEP), formerly Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) cohorts.

The announcement was made at the sixth staging of the EduFocal Excellence Awards held recently at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. Launched in 2012, EduFocal has served as a catalyst for the transformation of education in Jamaica, focusing on using technology to enrich the learning experience inside and outside the classroom.

"As [the country] transitions from GSAT to PEP, EduFocal will be ready," said Gordon Swaby, chief executive officer of EduFocal Limited. Swaby praised Rainforest for its support over the years. "It speaks to their commitment to the educational initiative, and we couldn't be more delighted," he said.

 

COMPLIMENTARY ACCESS

 

Thirty-seven students at the Kinloss Primary School in Clark's Town, Trelawny, received complimentary access to the EduFocal online platform this past school year. Principal, Jacqueline Shirley, said that students did well in the recent GSAT, averaging in the high 80s and 90s and getting into their schools of choice.

Rainforest's sponsorship of yearlong access for the 37 students is in line with the company's commitment to contribute to Jamaica's education system and national development. "EduFocal is an inspiring Jamaican company that is aligned with Rainforest's mandate to be technologically efficient and advanced. They are paving the way forward through innovation - making education both affordable and accessible to young Jamaicans," said Marketing Manager Bethany Young.

Twenty students (10 GSAT and 10 CSEC) were awarded at the ceremony for being the top users of the website that allows students to access content from the GSAT and CSEC curricula and enhances the learning experience through games, quizzes, and other engaging activities.