Marcus Garvey Tech abolishes shift system
Published:Thursday | July 12, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer
Ocho Rios, St Ann:
Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St Ann's Bay, branded last year as a 'failing school' by former Education Minister Andrew Holness, has abolished the shift system.
Principal of the school, Leslie Riley, told The Gleaner yesterday that the move was one of several changes the school will be making in the coming academic year as it seeks to shrug off the 'failing school' label.
"There is a big change that's coming for September because we're coming off the shift. We've been given a new building in Mansfield Heights. That plant is going to be our second campus. It will be known as Marcus Garvey Technical High School, Mansfield Heights Campus," Riley stated. "It is a welcome opportunity for us to come off the shift system, which has really, really been compromising our education programme for a sustained period."
In welcoming the development, Riley explained that the shift system was a hindrance to proper education.
"For example, you want students to have a good education, good exposure to all the clubs and societies and extra-curricular activities. Based on the shift system, you're really not in a position to offer those extra-curricular activities as you would have liked," he said.
Up to the end of the academic year, Marcus Garvey Tech had around 2,480 students on roll, attending classes on three shifts - morning from 7-12:10 p.m.; afternoon from 12:10-5:10 and a 5:00-8:30 for students in the Career Advancement Programme.
More contact time
The abolition of the shift system at the school named in honour of Jamaica's first national hero means more teacher-student contact time, which should impact learning at the institution.
The building in Mansfield now houses the Steer Town Academy, which will be relocated to its rightful home in Steer Town in September, upon completion of a building currently under construction.
The total allocation of 452 Grade Six Achievement Test students, who will form grade seven, along with students who will be going into grade eight in September - totalling approximately 860 - will be stationed in Mansfield. The other grades will remain at the current location in St Ann's Bay. A vice-principal, 25 teachers and a senior teacher will be in charge at the campus.
But while welcoming the additional space, Riley explained that because the facility was built for use as a primary school, the classroom sizes are smaller than what is required for high school students and some amount of adjustment might have to be made.
Marcus Garvey Tech will not be allocated students from the Grade Nine Achievement Test this year, according to Riley, as the authorities seek to reduce the number of students on roll at the institution.
Last year, Holness had labelled Marcus Garvey, Holy Trinity, Glengoffe and Balaclava high schools as failing schools and said the Ministry of Education would be intervening in those institutions. He did not, however, specifically state what would be done.
Since taking over the portfolio, Education Minister Ronald Thwaites, although pledging to continue some of the policies started by Holness, has stated that no school should be labelled as failing.
Thwaites has pledged to work with those schools that were described as failing and has visited them since becoming minister in January. He is scheduled for at least two more visits to Marcus Garvey Tech in the coming months.