“This is a moment of hope.”
So said the Rt. Reverend Robert Thompson, the Anglican Suffragan Bishop of Kingston. We were sitting under a sunlit white tent in the schoolyard at Central Branch All Age School in the Crossroads area of Kingston, while outside our bright sphere students busied themselves – some helping out, in between classes, with all the special arrangements for their special day – April 21, 2015. They were trying not to make too much noise.
The school belongs to the Anglican Diocese. Reverend Thompson thought he “needed to be here,” despite a conflicting appointment. This was a celebration (and a demonstration) of a strong partnership: The Ministry of Education, the Digicel Foundation and USAID Jamaica collaborating on the Enrichment Initiative, an island-wide ICT project aimed at improving reading skills among students in Grades One to Three. The Digicel Foundation and USAID expanded the project in 2013 through a US$1.9 million agreement to reach an additional 95 schools over three years; it has exceeded its targets, with 37 Enrichment Centres and 97 library corners (with over 16,000 reading books) already established.
Digicel Foundation Chair (and the relaxed MC of the proceedings) Jean Lowrie-Chin brought us to attention, and the tall, dignified school Principal, Michael Sutherland was filled with pride as he welcomed us all. A group of girl students performed a fairly lengthy piece by Louise Bennett with aplomb. It must have taken some rehearsing.
Member of Parliament Desmond McKenzie said students in his economically challenged West Kingston constituency last year achieved a 65 per cent pass rate to attend “traditional” high schools – a significant achievement. “Inner-city schools work very hard,” Mr. McKenzie observed. “They may not have the prestige” of schools further uptown, he added, but they do extremely well with limited resources. Education Minister Rev. Ronald Thwaites, who represents the gritty Central Kingston constituency downtown, nodded his head in agreement. Mr. McKenzie gave the example of St. George’s Girls’ Primary and Infant School, which consistently achieves grades above the national average.
USAID Jamaica’s Mission Director Denise Herbol (who noted how proud she was of her son, now pursuing his doctorate at Cornell University, when he built his own computer) was very pleased with the program’s achievements, with just one year left to go. President Obama, she reminded us, believes parents must be “actively” involved in their children’s education. “Turn off the TV and the video games,” she urged. She felt reassured: “Jamaican children are well on the way.”
The new CEO of Digicel Jamaica (who has joined the board of the Digicel Foundation) David Butler was performing his first official function in Jamaica. He appeared cool and comfortable, chatting quietly with the politicians before the event. He noted that over 100 schools were now implementing the program; students were showing “marked improvements of up to two grade movements in a single year.” To date, a total of 231 primary schools are benefitting and the Foundation plans to bring in seven more schools by the end of next year. “Giving back,” he said, is his company’s commitment to corporate responsibility. And of course, Digicel is in the ICT business, so this program fits the bill.
In his inimitable style, Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites said the students’ performances “sell off” (in local slang). He tends to mix very Jamaican phrases (a touch of patois here and there) with more erudite language that perhaps derives from his legal and religious background. As a “church man” himself, he believes the Church should involve itself more closely in education, he said, helping to instil “morals-based values.” Forty per cent of schools in Jamaica are church institutions, incidentally. Rev. Thwaites sees the role of churches as primarily upliftment and the strengthening of family life. “People simply want to be happy,” the Minister suggested, “and this is the kind of partnership Jamaica needs – to add value to our lives.”
I found the interaction between the two politicians most enjoyable to watch; as well as the different ways in which they related to the children. We all progressed from the tent up a flight of steep stairs – the journalists with their video cameras, the women approaching the stairs with caution in their high heels. The students were awaiting us, seated at low, glossy red tables in the Enrichment Centre – a retrofitted classroom painted in lemon and lime colors.
Ms. Herbol took a little while to get the hang of the computer program, but some guidance from a student helped, to her amusement. During a question and answer session with the teacher, Mr. McKenzie responded, “I know the answer, Miss!” in true Jamaican fashion. Minister Thwaites hovered benignly over the tables, then sat with folded hands and paid close attention. Jean Lowrie-Chin sat straight down at a table and got to work with a small boy and girl on one of the exciting learning tools.
Some of us began to spill out of the cool confines of the classroom. I made my way down the stairs even more slowly than I had ascended them. A student skipped down past me, making me feel very old (my knees are uncooperative). I sensed a mood of “anything is possible” as I walked across the yard. The children were invigorated, happy to be the center of attention and to try out (and show off) their numeracy and literacy skills through the medium of hands-on technology. Even the students who had not directly participated seemed eager to be a part of it. A group of boys stacked metal chairs.
After all, in the Minister’s words – and simply put, “Education is still the only legitimate means of upward mobility.”
Footnote: I know that the Vote of Thanks is customary and a necessary part of Jamaican ceremonies. I must give Shauner Murray, Enrichment Programme Specialist, a special pat on the back for her lively and enthusiastic vote. Possibly the best I have ever heard!
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