IRIE FM

The Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF) has welcomed the announcement by Minister of Education and Youth, Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, that the revised national student dress and grooming policy will be rolled out shortly.

The announcement was made at the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s 62nd annual conference at Ocean Coral Spring in Trelawny.

The Foundation said while it welcomes the anticipated policy it remains concerned that the urgency of the issue must not be minimized.

The FWCF said students should not be subjected to arbitrary, inconsistent or disproportionate grooming standards that interfere with their education, dignity, identity or freedom of expression.

It said under the existing framework schools have significant discretion in determining and enforcing grooming standards.

The Foundation argued that in practice this has resulted in students reportedly being denied access to school over matters such as belt buckles, uniform length and hairstyles.

FWCF legal consultant and attorney-at-law Kayla Wright expressed concern about reports of black boys being required to cut or alter their hair to meet subjective standards of what is considered “neat” or “well groomed.”

Ms. Wright questioned whether or not those rules are fair, reasonable, transparent and consistently applied.

FWCF said it also recognises positive developments, including the relaxation of hair grooming policy by one school.

The systems are being implemented by e-Learning Jamaica.

Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon gave the update while responding to questions from educators at the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s annual conference.

Dr. Morris Dixon acknowledged a suggestion for public private partnership in acquiring the systems, saying this method could be used at a later time.

She said the need for solar power at schools became prominent in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.

She said requests for proposals will be issued soon.

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) says it is working with stakeholders across the region to have the Caribbean Targeted Education Certificate (CTEC) recognized as a qualification for employment.

CXC Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Wayne Wesley says the individual CTEC modules were designed with workforce readiness in mind.

He says the modules provide students with specific skills and competencies that can be applied in the workplace.

Dr. Wesley added that the modules provide employers with more information about an applicant’s competencies, allowing them to determine more easily whether the applicant is qualified for the job.

Speaking at the Jamaica Teachers Association annual conference, Dr. Morris Dixon explained that the ministry was able to move around monies already in its budget, in order to give schools more funds.

Dr. Morris Dixon said over $800 million was identified and reassigned towards operational grants for schools.

She noted that priority was given to early childhood, primary and special needs.

The Minister noted that the new funding approach is intended to help bring about more equitable allocations.

This as the residents remain uncertain about where they will reside.

Mr. Meadows says the Government must move with urgency to find a solution for the displaced residents.

Persons have remained on the land, and are living in tents set up by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM).

Speaking last week, Dr. Holness said the Government will find ways to support the families affected by the demolition exercise.

However, he cautioned that the state will act cautiously, so that the response does not set a precedent that is unsustainable.

In a statement from the PNP Mr. Meadows highlights several issues affecting the residents, including the the lack of sanitary conveniences in the affected area.

Mr. Meadows says the PNP is ready to work with the Government to resolve what he termed a human-made crisis in Cooper’s Pen.

Several residents and taxi operators are staging a protest over poor road conditions in the Back Pasture and Point Hill communities of the West Central St. Catherine constituency.

Dr. Christopher Tufton is the Member of Parliament.

Residents say they are fed up with the state of the roads.

One taxi operator laments that the roads are in need of urgent repair, as they are damaging their vehicles.

Another taxi operator says the protest has inconvenienced several residents, but they had no choice, but to withdraw their services.

Calls to MP Dr. Christopher Tufton for a comment on the matter went unanswered.

“Jamaica is not in a recession, and a recession is not likely for the rest of 2026”.

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) gave the confirmation after again being questioned by reporters about contractions in the economy during a quarterly press briefing yesterday.

Principal Director of the Economic Planning and Research Division, James Stewart, explained that the January to March quarter would have had to experience a decline in the economy for a recession to be declared.

He explained further that the quarter recorded a 3.3 per cent growth.

This is despite PIOJ’s initial projections in March that the January to March quarter would see a contraction in output within the range of four to six per cent.

The Education Ministry is reporting improvements in 18 of the 34 subjects for the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC).

Portfolio Minister, Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, made the revelation while addressing the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s annual conference in Trelawny this morning.

It comes, a day after the exam results were released.

Dr. Morris Dixon said that while Jamaica is not where it needs to be, significant progress is being made.

This, despite the various challenges in the sector, including environmental shocks.

She said mathematics has improved from 44 per cent to 48.7 per cent over the past year.

She also pointed to the performance of students in English A, which remains above the regional average of 80 per cent.

It has moved from 85 per cent to 83.6 per cent over the past year.

Some students are expressing satisfaction with their Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) results which were released yesterday.

A St. Catherine student told IRIE FM News that he was extremely proud of himself as the grades he received were better than what he expected.

Another student who attended Jose Marti High School, said he was anxious for his results as he did not want to disappoint his parents.

However, he said when CXC uploaded the results to its platform he was pleased.

Meanwhile, a Trelawny student said she passed all her subjects and is proud that her hard work reaped positive rewards.

In the meantime, a St. Catherine teacher sought to encourage students who may not have gotten the results they were hoping for to not give up on themselves and to continue pursuing their dreams.

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) says progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) continues to be constrained by recurring issues relating to climate change, inadequate productive capacity and external energy shocks.

However, accelerating achievement has been linked to increased emphasis on improving health and educational outcomes, community development and revitalising industry as well as innovation with institutional strengthening, critical to the process.

Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, PIOJ Director General, Dr. Wayne Henry said Jamaica is on track to achieve 26% of the global targets.

Dr. Henry added that in July, Jamaica completed its third Voluntary National Review on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The review highlighted, among other things, a decline in the prevalence of poverty and a high level of informal employment.