Education initiatives by members of parliament have been hailed by portfolio minister Ronald Thwaites.

Speaking in the House of Representatives last week, Thwaites said education represents the primarily opportunity for social mobility in the country.

"I would like to commend the work of several members of parliament who devote their attention to education in their constituencies," Thwaites said.

He singled out initiatives in South St Andrew, represented by Dr Omar Davies; East Central St James, which is represented by Ed Bartlett; and East Rural St Andrew, which Damion Crawford represents.

Improve literacy levels

He said that in South St Andrew, there has been a "consistent and successful effort to improve the literacy levels in primary schools, where before they were very low, and where now you are seeing the results in those students who have reached the CSEC and CAPE levels," Thwaites said.

He added: "Before this, (they) would never have been expected to move on to the tertiary levels and are now doing well in their studies at tertiary institutions.

"The problem now is to find the resources to support them; so well have they done," the minister said.

Thwaites said Bartlett "devotes considerable levels of his Constituency Development Fund to ensure there is a good prospect for the bright students in his constituency."

He also said it was a pleasure to have attended a summer camp put on by Crawford at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus.

"He took students who are weak in literacy and numeracy and engage them, not only in a positive programme of educational upliftment but in the inculcation of social values of spiritual consciousness, which are not only going to make them do better in schools, but will make them better citizens."

The minister declared that "these are the things that members of parliament are doing and should be doing."