Good Practices Seen in Many Schools across Jamaica

Documenting some of the many good practices found in Jamaican classrooms is part of the mission of the Jamaica Partners for Educational Progress.  Through our network of educators and policymakers we have identified several outstanding and effective practices taking place in schools across the island.Schools, such as Jessie Ripoll Primary in Kingston, have made an extraordinary effort to target parents as partners in their attempt to maintain a high standard of student performance. This emphasis on parental involvement was also a strong theme at Lyssons Primary in St. Thomas where the Principal reported high levels of commitment and cooperation among parents. In both schools this is achieved through constant communication between the school and families and a shared vision of excellence in student performance.Some other schools are trying to address the critical problem of boys’ underachievement. In these schools, Pollyground Primary, Jericho Primary and Victoria Primary – all in St. Catherine – single sex classes have been created so that teaching and learning can be tailored to the needs of our boys. When we spoke to the boys attending these schools recently, they were happy to be a part of this effort and reported that they felt that these classes allowed them to learn at their pace, without facing ridicule from their female counterparts. The boys told us that they felt special and valued, and that their teachers showed care and concern for their wellbeing, and for this they were thankful. Having only boys in the classroom helped them to ‘focus more’ on their work and removed the ‘distractions’ posed by girls, they said. We have already shared some of these stories in our EduFocus bulletins and will continue to highlight encouraging classrooms practices, which are sure to improve basic education in Jamaica.