The Editor, Sir:

The Jamaica Association of Education Officers (JAEO) finds statements about the education officers made by Dr. Dennis Minott on the 'Independent Talk' Radio Programme aired on Power 106 FM on September 12, 2006, to be baseless. He said that there was "deliberate obfuscation by education officers and those aligned to them to frustrate the intentions of the transformation process ..." The association would like to set the record straight.

The JAEO expresses its unequivocal support for the transformation of the Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY) and we are intimately involved in the transformation process. All the work streams that have been established by the MOEY to guide the transformation process have the technical input of oducation officers at the highest level.

Evidence of our support includes:

1. All information including datasets that were gleaned and analysed have been made available to transformation teams and the Task Force report teams.

2. Critical analyses were done on the Task Force Report and presented to the highest policy-making body in the ministry in at least three instances. We continue to offer our expertise to ensure that the transformation is efficient and sustainable.

We are therefore asking Dr. Minott to withdraw the statement and publicly apologise to the JAEO on behalf of its membership. The association is available to discuss the matter further. In addition he can get the facts from the Ministry of Education and Youth regarding the contribution of the education officers in supporting the transformation of the sector.

We invite the media to extend opportunities for education officers to sensitise the public on our various roles as well as highlight our efforts in advancing the work of the Transformation Team.

I am, etc.,

MAUREEN DWYER

President

Jamaica Association of Education Officer (JAEO)