Category:Education in Jamaica

From Jamaica Wiki

Education in Jamaica is based on the British model. Nowadays the following categories of schools exist: early childhood education for the children between 1 and 5 years; primary education for the children between 5 and 12 years; secondary education for the children between 12 and 18 years; high schools and tertiary education.

The early childhood education in Jamaica includes Basic, Infant and privately operated pre-schools. As mentioned the age cohort is usually 2 – 5 years. The early childhood education is supported by the Government of Jamaica. There are 2,595 early childhood institutions.

The primary education schools are privately owned or run. The primary education in Jamaica is designed to suit the basic educational needs of students and prepares them for secondary education. It includes children between the ages of 5-12 years.

The secondary education system in Jamaica includes lower schools for children aged 10-13 or 14. A wide range of subjects, including Spanish and French as 2nd languages are taught in these schools. Some schools group students based on their academic achievement the year prior. This can greatly impact what subjects some students might be able to take later on in school, and what teachers they might be assigned to.

The next level of the secondary education is the upper school forms. Students can choose up to 10 subjects that they will study. The obligatory subjects are Mathematics, English Grammar, Biology, History and English Literature. Most students take at least one foreign language. Other subjects include: Physics, Chemistry, Spanish, French, Accounting, Principles of Business, Information Technology, Religious Education, Technical Drawing, Art, Theatre Arts and about 25 others.

The next form of education is the sixth form which is divided into upper and lower sixth. It is optional and includes two years of education. The entry into the sixth form of education is very competitive, especially in suburban Jamaica where there are less sixth form schools. At the end of the course students attend the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams. This exam is considered quire hard, even harder than most of the exams students will attend at the university.

Those who passed the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams have the opportunity to enter universities, which are part of the Tertiary Education in Jamaica. There are several universities in Jamaica - University of the West Indies at Mona, University of Technology (U-Tech), Northern Caribbean University (NCU), Edna Manley College of Visual and Performing Arts (an artistic conservatory), College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), G. C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sports.

Universities are the only education institutions that offer a degree. Some colleges that have joint programs with universities also offer some kind of degree at the end of the education cycle.

Universities in Jamaica offer full and part time education. The part time education is very suitable for those who are working and still need to get a university degree.