- Rudolph Brown/Staff Photographer
Education, Youth and Culture Minister, Maxine Henry-Wilson (left), answers questions from chatters at the Go-Jamaica.com chat session at The Gleaner's offices on Wednesday night. Looking on is the project manager of the go-local Jamaica community web site, Hope McMillan.
CAN WE stop our teachers from leaving? What's happening to the education sector in Jamaica? Where are we going?
The questions never stopped popping in, but Education, Youth and Culture Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson gave a rather comprehensive overview of the happenings in the local education sector, as she was bombarded with questions from scores of chatters who logged on with her to the Go-Jamaica chat session at The Gleaner's offices on Wednesday night.
From the role of technology in the classrooms to the competence of the teachers, Education Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson gave a lesson on the state of the local education system.
No one, she says, can stop teachers from taking up teaching positions in New York or elsewhere however, "in relation to the recruiters, there are certain labour laws governing them." She explained that these laws will have to be imposed by the Ministry of Labour.
"I was told by the Minister (of Labour) that he would be very aggressive in the issue (of imposing labour laws)," added Mrs. Henry-Wilson.
The Education Minister also cited the various reforms that are being implemented at all levels of the public education system, including the constant training of teachers in the use of computer technology to assist them in teaching classes.
She also told chatters that the scope of JAMAL-type and other programmes will also be widened to help eradicate illiteracy.
The major challenges she had to face following her appointment as Education Minister, soon after the October 16 elections last year she said was, "just the breadth of the Ministry and the attempt to really grasp what were the priorities."
"I really had to read everything, speak with the principal players and I believe I am now at the stage where I can make important strategic decisions to do what is need," she said.
