JPS powers $10m extra-lessons programme for western students
Published:Thursday | April 9, 2026 | 12:51 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) has launched a $10-million extra-lessons initiative to assist students who will begin sitting the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) and the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination this month to get them into state of readiness.
Hundreds of students in western Jamaica are slated to benefit from the academic support, which will provide intensive tutoring in core subjects to students in Westmoreland and St Elizabeth, who lost valuable instructional time following the storm.
The initiative is expected to reach 1,017 students across some seven high schools preparing students for CSEC examinations and 10 primary schools, where students are preparing for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exams.
“We are currently in a high-stakes race against learning loss,” said Susan Nelson-Smith, director of regional education services in Region 5 of the Ministry of Education, at Tuesday’s launch.
“When students fall behind in core competencies, the gap doesn’t simply stay there, it widens, affecting their confidence and their future economic mobility,” she added.
Nelson-Smith also noted that the programme, which was launched in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, will serve as an educational lifeline, providing additional teaching time and specialised support to bring students back to their expected grade levels.
The intervention at the secondary school level will focus on mathematics, English language, science, information technology, and electronic document preparation and management, while primary school sessions will concentrate on mathematics, English and ability tests, the core areas required for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination.
Classes will be conducted over a three-week period, as of April 7, with sessions held on Saturdays in St Elizabeth and an intensive programme over the same period in Westmoreland.
NATIONAL IMPERATIVE
In welcoming the programme, Nelson-Smith noted that rebuilding the education system requires collective national action.
“Education is not a solo journey for the ministry alone. It is a national imperative that requires the collective energy of the public and private sectors,” she said.
With national examinations fast approaching, Nelson-Smith says the initiative could prove decisive in helping hundreds of students regain lost academic ground
“This programme ensures that high-quality supplemental education is not a luxury reserved only for those who can afford private tutoring,” she said. “It is about equity, opportunity, and ensuring that no child is left behind.”
Marilyn McDonald, manager of community renewal at JPS, noted that thousands of students lost valuable classroom time due to structural damage, power outages, and prolonged interruptions to teaching in the aftermath of the hurricane.
“Through extra lessons and focused academic support, this programme aims to reinforce core subject areas, restore confidence, and improve overall readiness for national examinations,” she said.
The initiative represents a $10-million investment, with JPS contributing $7 million, with government ministries and corporate partners such as KFC; Popeye’s; Sunshine Snacks; Cinco; Little Caesars; CB Foods; Jamaica Broilers; Sangster’s Bookstores; Food For The Poor; the National Education Trust; the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information; and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, supporting the programme with meals, supplies, and logistics.
Audley Feare, principal of Aberdeen High School, was full of praise for the initiative, saying it will be a great help to students.
“The programme has really enhanced the potential and learning of our students. They have been out of school for a while, and these extra classes ... are giving them a boost in core subjects,” he said.