News in brief

Social Protection Strategy document under way

The Government is currently drafting a Social Protection Strategy document which, when completed, will guide the ongoing focus on reform of the social safety net process.

This was disclosed by Minister of Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier when he addressed a Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities national stakeholder consultation, held at the Mona Visitors' Lodge on July 30.

Kellier noted that the Social Safety Net Reform Programme, which was initiated in 2000, saw concerted efforts being made by the Government to effect a stronger and more coordinated package of services for the most vulnerable households.

"This sought to create new efficiencies in the use of resources, promote objectivity and equity in the distribution of benefits, create more meaningful benefit regimes, and improve institutional arrangements," he stated.

Minister urges organisations to implement gender equality policies

Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator Sandrea Falconer, is encouraging more of Jamaica's private sector and civil entities to implement gender equality policies, which will facilitate greater oppor-tunities, particularly for women.

Her call comes against the background of a Bureau of Women's Affairs (BWA) study, which shows that only 15 of the country's 200 private sector and civil society organisations currently have gender-based policies or initiatives in place.

Speaking at the opening of the inaugural two-day private sector and civil society gender summit, organised by the BWA and Dispute Resolution Foundation, at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston, on July 30, Senator Falconer noted that while the society has made "great strides" in business and academia, in several instances, women, though qualified, have been excluded from these developments, particularly at the leadership level.

National Education Strategic Plan approved

The country now has an official blueprint for the transformation of the education system by the year 2020, with Cabinet's approval yesterday of the National Education Strategic Plan (NESP).

It is linked to the Vision 2030 national development plan and is consistent with the recommendations of the 2004 Task Force on Education Reform in Jamaica.

Among the major objectives of the NESP are:

Providing equitable access and/or attachment to a high quality education system for all Jamaican children ages three to 18.

Improving the standards and quality of Jamaica's education system by establishing a robust accountability framework for all stakeholders by 2015.

In his presentation to Cabinet, Education Minister Ronald Thwaites, said the Ministry of Education, in recognition of the critical challenges confronting education, has placed a 'renewed emphasis' on accountability, security and safety in schools, early childhood development, Information and Communication Technology, Technical and Vocational Education and Training media in education and literacy and numeracy.'