GC Foster boasts high enrollment for 2017-18 year

With more than 250 new students enrolled, the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport is celebrating its highest intake of students in over three years, for the 2017-18 academic year.

"For the first time in the last three years, the college has registered more than 250 students to pursue further studies in five of its flagship programmes," Acting Vice-principal of Academic Affairs Sophia Watson-White said.

Programmes these students have registered for include the Bachelor's Degree in education with a specialisation in physical education, the diploma in coaching, and the diploma in sports massage therapy and fitness instruction. Students have also enrolled in the School of Recreation and Sport, which offers short courses leading to different levels of certification in a variety of sporting areas; and the Continuing Education Programme, which facilitates individuals wishing to attain additional passes in CSEC subjects.

"The figure presented is an almost 75 per cent increase over the enrolment numbers of the 2016-17 academic year, and if this is to be used as an indicator for the level of success to be experienced by the college in the upcoming months, then the year will definitely prove to be a phenomenal one for the institution," Watson-White continued.

THREE MAJOR FACTORS

The acting vice-principal said that there are three major factors for the increase in figure for registrations.

"A chief factor for this is the widespread exposure of the college in the print and electronic media as a result of the outstanding performance of ten of its student athletes and sports personnel associated with the college at the recently held World Championships in London, as well as the supplement in a recent publication of The Sunday Gleaner, showcasing not only the athletes, but also the many opportunities at the institution," she said.

At the recent Championships, athletes from the G.C. Foster College and the Sprintec Track Club, where acting principal Maurice Wilson, who is the Head coach, had the best overall performances. This was because of the likes of Sashalee Forbes, Jura Levy, and Natasha Morrison in the women's 4x100m relay, as well as Ristananna Tracey in the 400m hurdles event significantly contributed to Jamaica's four medal count, with two bronze medals.

"A reduction in tuition for the different programmes offered at the institution, and the effectiveness of the college's community-inclusion programmes have also played positive roles in the increase in the enrolment figure," Watson-White said.

She had high praises for the newly appointed board of management at the institution. "They did a comprehensive analysis of the fee structure of the different programmes and made what many would believe to be an unorthodox decision, they reduced the fees for all programmes, and this has definitely paid off," she concluded.