ASTEP being overrun by boys - report

WHILE THE Alternative Secondary Education Transition Programme (ASTEP) was implemented to accommodate students from both sexes, statistics show that the programme is on a path to be completely overrun by males who continue to seep through the cracks in the nation's education system.

Education Minister Andrew Holness, while pointing to the trend, used his World Teachers' Day message on Sunday to call on educators to pay special attention to boys in the education system.

"We did not plan ASTEP as a programme for boys, but it has so turned out to be a programme for boys. We have 4,000 students registered now of which 72 per cent are boys," Holness disclosed.

The ASTEP programme was established to assist primary school students who are performing below grade level, and continue to fail the Grade Four Literacy Test, to allow them to earn a place in the country's high-school system.

Under the programme, students are placed in centres established in selected primary, all-age and primary and junior high schools, and over a two-year period receive the necessary intervention and intensive support to successfully transition to secondary school.

Illiteracy a grave problem

Holness, who was addressing a handful of teachers and other congregants present at the Jamaica Teaching Council's church service held at Stella Maris Church in St Andrew, also used the occasion to once again lament the risk the high illiteracy rate among boys pose for the country.

He said equalising the sexes in the area of literacy and numeracy could help stem many of the ills the country is currently faced with.

Holness said he was confident that the current methodologies being implemented by teachers would bear fruit.

"I am confident that this programme will work. I want to thank those teachers who have embraced the programme, who have used different methodologies to engage students."

This year, World Teachers' Day, which was observed last week Wednesday, was held under the theme, 'Teachers for Gender Equality'.

More than 200 teachers islandwide were recognised for exceptional performance in the education sector.

Tanisha Ellis of Constant Spring Primary and Junior High; Roselyn Francis and Christopher Dubidad, both of Red Hills Primary; and Fabian Stewart, of Calabar High School, were among the list of teachers who received awards at the function.