WEP-Jamaica


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Education Profiles		JAMAICA
Country Facts Education Overview Elementary Education Secondary Education Higher Education Grade-by-Grade Comparisons Other Resources Printer Friendly Version		EDUCATIONAL OVERVIEW Administration and Finance Size Structure Private and Public Education Academic Year Teacher Training ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE Education in Jamaica is administered by the administrative head office and six regional offices of the Ministry of Education and Culture (MOEC). A core of education officers has special responsibilities for monitoring, supervising, and assessing the educational programmes. Each educational institution is administered by a Board of Management. Members of the Board are appointed by the Minister of Education. In addition, every public educational institution has a student council which consists of elected student representatives. Through the student council at the secondary and tertiary levels the students have the right to elect their representatives, have representation on the Board of Management, and meet with the principal of the institution to discuss matters concerning the students’ interests. Several other governmental agencies function under the control of the Ministry of Education. The National Council on Education (NCE) is a multi-disciplinary, non-partisan council established by Parliament to ensure broad-based involvement in the development of national policies on education. The National Training Agency (NTA) coordinates vocational and technical training. The National Council for Technical/Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) is the legal entity responsible for establishing standards and granting accreditation and certification as well as approving standards of competence for technical occupations and certifying persons who meet these standards. At the higher education level, the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) is the statutory body with a mission to increase the availability of university-level training through accreditation and programmes for recognition and acceptability. The UCJ facilitated the formation of the Joint Committee for Tertiary Education (JCTE), which was established as an umbrella organization for all public and registered private institutions. Its main functions are professional development and advising the Minister of Education on relevant matters. The budget of the Ministry of Education and Culture is the principal source of education financing. Elementary and secondary education are allocated the largest proportion of the education al budget. All employees pay an education tax, which is equivalent to 2% of salary. SIZE 727,400 students are enrolled at educational institutions at all levels. STRUCTURE Most students enter the educational system in Jamaica at the pre-elementary level. Approximately 84% of all children in the age cohort attend pre-elementary institutions. Elementary education is offered in public and private elementary schools, elementary departments of all-age schools and elementary and junior secondary schools. There are also private preparatory schools, which offer elementary education. Upon completion of elementary education, students sit for the Common Entrance Examination (CEE) before beginning secondary education. At the secondary level students attend a variety of institutions offering secondary instruction of differing lengths. Secondary schools are the most selective providing a programme of a maximum of seven years leading to the Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) after five years (grade XI) and General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level examinations after a further two years of study (grade XIII). New secondary schools provide a five-year course. Pupils usually transfer from their local elementary institution. After four years, the Jamaica School Certificate (grade X) is awarded and the course usually culminates in the Secondary School Certificate (grade XI). Comprehensive schools are a mixture of the two types of institutions mentioned above. Community colleges also offer programmes leading to the GCE A Level examinations. Technical Secondary education is offered in four year programmes for grades VIII to XI. Admission to these programmes is normally on the basis of the Common Entrance Examination but students often transfer from other secondary schools. Upon completion of secondary school students may either attend further or higher education depending on the success of their examination results. Further education is provided primarily at community colleges and leads to Diplomas and Associate degrees. These programmes maybe two- to three-years in duration. Jamaica is affiliated to the University of the West Indies, a regional institution with campuses in Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad. In addition, there are several private institutions offering degree programmes which are recognized and accredited the University Council of Jamaica. PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION Private schools are registered with the Ministry of Education and Culture and allowed to operate if they meet certain minimum requirements set by the Ministry. Approximately 6% of students are enrolled in private institutions at the pre-elementary, elementary, and secondary levels. As of 1995, nine private institutions offered programmes at the tertiary level. ACADEMIC YEAR The academic years extends from the beginning of September to the end of August the following year. It is divided into three terms and every public educational institution meets for classes not less than 190 days of each school year. TEACHER EDUCATION Teachers working at the elementary level and at the lower level of secondary schools attend teacher-training programmes of three years in duration. These programmes are offered at teacher training colleges and admission in normally based on the CSEC. Most teachers employed to teach in secondary schools complete bachelor’s degree programmes in the School of Education at the University of the West Indies. Revised: May 06, 2004 . Copyright © 2003 World Education Services. All rights reserved.

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Education Profiles

JAMAICA


Country Facts

Education Overview

Elementary Education

Secondary Education

Higher Education

Grade-by-Grade Comparisons

Other Resources

Printer Friendly Version

EDUCATIONAL OVERVIEW

Administration and Finance
Size
Structure
Private and Public Education
Academic Year
Teacher Training


ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Education in Jamaica is administered by the administrative head office and six regional offices of the Ministry of Education and Culture (MOEC). A core of education officers has special responsibilities for monitoring, supervising, and assessing the educational programmes.

Each educational institution is administered by a Board of Management. Members of the Board are appointed by the Minister of Education. In addition, every public educational institution has a student council which consists of elected student representatives. Through the student council at the secondary and tertiary levels the students have the right to elect their representatives, have representation on the Board of Management, and meet with the principal of the institution to discuss matters concerning the students’ interests.

Several other governmental agencies function under the control of the Ministry of Education. The National Council on Education (NCE) is a multi-disciplinary, non-partisan council established by Parliament to ensure broad-based involvement in the development of national policies on education. The National Training Agency (NTA) coordinates vocational and technical training. The National Council for Technical/Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) is the legal entity responsible for establishing standards and granting accreditation and certification as well as approving standards of competence for technical occupations and certifying persons who meet these standards.

At the higher education level, the University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) is the statutory body with a mission to increase the availability of university-level training through accreditation and programmes for recognition and acceptability. The UCJ facilitated the formation of the Joint Committee for Tertiary Education (JCTE), which was established as an umbrella organization for all public and registered private institutions. Its main functions are professional development and advising the Minister of Education on relevant matters.

The budget of the Ministry of Education and Culture is the principal source of education financing. Elementary and secondary education are allocated the largest proportion of the education al budget. All employees pay an education tax, which is equivalent to 2% of salary.

SIZE
727,400 students are enrolled at educational institutions at all levels.

STRUCTURE
Most students enter the educational system in Jamaica at the pre-elementary level. Approximately 84% of all children in the age cohort attend pre-elementary institutions. Elementary education is offered in public and private elementary schools, elementary departments of all-age schools and elementary and junior secondary schools. There are also private preparatory schools, which offer elementary education. Upon completion of elementary education, students sit for the Common Entrance Examination (CEE) before beginning secondary education.

At the secondary level students attend a variety of institutions offering secondary instruction of differing lengths. Secondary schools are the most selective providing a programme of a maximum of seven years leading to the Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) after five years (grade XI) and General Certificate of Education, Advanced Level examinations after a further two years of study (grade XIII). New secondary schools provide a five-year course. Pupils usually transfer from their local elementary institution. After four years, the Jamaica School Certificate (grade X) is awarded and the course usually culminates in the Secondary School Certificate (grade XI). Comprehensive schools are a mixture of the two types of institutions mentioned above. Community colleges also offer programmes leading to the GCE A Level examinations.

Technical Secondary education is offered in four year programmes for grades VIII to XI. Admission to these programmes is normally on the basis of the Common Entrance Examination but students often transfer from other secondary schools.

Upon completion of secondary school students may either attend further or higher education depending on the success of their examination results. Further education is provided primarily at community colleges and leads to Diplomas and Associate degrees. These programmes maybe two- to three-years in duration.

Jamaica is affiliated to the University of the West Indies, a regional institution with campuses in Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad. In addition, there are several private institutions offering degree programmes which are recognized and accredited the University Council of Jamaica.

PRIVATE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION
Private schools are registered with the Ministry of Education and Culture and allowed to operate if they meet certain minimum requirements set by the Ministry. Approximately 6% of students are enrolled in private institutions at the pre-elementary, elementary, and secondary levels. As of 1995, nine private institutions offered programmes at the tertiary level.

ACADEMIC YEAR
The academic years extends from the beginning of September to the end of August the following year. It is divided into three terms and every public educational institution meets for classes not less than 190 days of each school year.

TEACHER EDUCATION
Teachers working at the elementary level and at the lower level of secondary schools attend teacher-training programmes of three years in duration. These programmes are offered at teacher training colleges and admission in normally based on the CSEC. Most teachers employed to teach in secondary schools complete bachelor’s degree programmes in the School of Education at the University of the West Indies.