Prime Minister, Transport and Education Ministers visit HWT Transport Centre

Several commuters at the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre in St. Andrew had an opportunity to directly express their concerns to Prime Minister Andrew Holness and two other leading officials this morning.

Mr. Holness was joined by Transport Minister, Daryl Vaz and Education Minister Fayval Williams.

This morning’s visit comes as thousands of teachers and students return to the classrooms after the summer break. The new academic year begins today.

Their visit also followed the handing over of 100 new compressed natural gas buses to the Jamaica Urban Transit Company last Tuesday.

Mr. Vaz had also promised to make unannounced stops at transport centres and bus parks, as a no-nonsense approach will be taken towards inefficiency.

PNP expresses sadness at passing of Jamaica Labour Party Councillor, Marjorie McLoed-McFarlane

The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has expressed deep sadness at the passing of Jamaica Labour Party Councillor, Marjorie McLoed-McFarlane.

The Councillor, who served in the Aenon Town Division in Northern Clarendon passed away yesterday.

The PNP said Councillor McLoed-McFarlane’s contributions to her division and the wider Clarendon community will be remembered.

The Party said it stands in solidarity with all who mourn her loss.

New academic year begins with a deficit of at least 137 teachers

As the education system faces what has been described as one of the worst teacher shortages in years, the new academic year has begun with a deficit of at least 137 teachers.

This as checks by IRIE FM News revealed that up to yesterday September 1, several schools across the island were still seeking at least 135 teachers.

The vacancies were published in one of the country’s main newspapers.

The DeCarteret College in Manchester, which was not listed in the newspaper is also in need of 2 teachers.

Acting Principal Marlon Britton said 10 of its teachers left the system through different ways, including resignation.

He said 8 of those vacancies have been filled.

Mr. Britton said existing teachers will cover the classes until the 2 vacancies are filled.

The Education Ministry had indicated that foreign teachers would be engaged to fill the gaps at schools.

However, Mr. Britton said the institution was not considering this option, due to the possibility of a language barrier.

Meantime, the Belmont Academy in Westmoreland is in need of at least 5 teachers as well as teacher assistants.

This as 7 teachers resigned, some are on leave and several others have migrated.

Principal Rayon Simpson said the institution advertised 4 times but has not been able to fill all the posts.

He said the school indicated an interest in a foreign teacher, but that request will not be met.

NPTAJ hopeful this academic year will be uninterrupted by violence

The National Parent Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ) is hopeful that this academic year will be seamless and uninterrupted by crime and violence.

NPTAJ President Stewart Jacobs laments that the last academic year saw several incidents of violence in schools and their immediate environs.

Some of the incidents led to classes being disrupted.

For instance in April, some 14 St. Catherine schools closed their doors for a day, as tensions flared following the fatal shooting of an alleged gangster by the police.

Mr. Jacobs is hopeful that there will not be a repeat of such incidents this year.