THE St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation has called for the parish to be used as a pilot for compulsory education.

At the annual general meeting held recently, the foundation's delegates said they would be requesting urgent round-table talks on education with Minister Andrew Holness and key stakeholders in recognition of the critical role of the school system in the development of the parish and Jamaica.

In 2006, then Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller announced at the 68th annual conference of the People's National Party that her government was moving towards compulsory school attendance.

Holness has also said the Government would be heading in that direction. He said the move is to reduce the number of young persons who leave school without adequate qualifications.

"If you did not matriculate (for sixth form or community college), in other words, you have four or less subjects, you must continue two additional years up to age 18. The policy, which we would be bringing forward shortly, is that education is compulsory from zero to 18 years," he stated.

The additional two years, he said, "wouldn't really be secondary, it's more what you will call a post-secondary level".

New board elected

Meanwhile, Donna Parchment Brown was re-elected chairman to lead the St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation.

Errol Brennan and Fitz Rowe were elected vice-chair; Leroy Green, treasurer; Ouida Nesbeth-Dunn, assistant treasurer; Deputy Commissioner of Police Jevene Bent, secretary, and Joan Lobban, assistant secretary.

In her report to the AGM, Parchment Brown highlighted the staging of the 2009 Homecoming Festival as one of the many successes of the foundation last year.

She also pointed to a land-titling forum in St Elizabeth, which was staged in partnership with the Land Administration and Management Project, as another successful event staged by the foundation.

The annual report recognised the key role of Jamaica National as a sustaining partner, and of Sunshine Auto Parts, Medallion Hall Hotel, Barbican Gardens, Boone Hall Oasis and the St Elizabeth Co-operative Credit Union Limited, in enabling the foundation to do its work in 2009-2010 promoting the parish and highlighting programmes and opportunities for St Elizabethans.

The local committee based in St Elizabeth and international directors, such as Dr Una Clarke, New York; lifetime directors such as Canon Weeville Gordon, Bishop Ivan Evans, and Dr Peter John Gordon, were acknowledged for their service.

Meanwhile, the St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation is to facilitate University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in holding its annual conference in Jamaica next year.

The 300-plus participants are expected to spend some four days in Jamaica and to visit attractions in St Elizabeth during their stay.

The UMES is a land-grant, public university in Baltimore.