Approximately 400 students from 30 high schools across the island to benefit
December 14, 2021
The JPS Foundation has donated over $1.5M to cover exam fees for students sitting the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Industrial Technology (Electrical) Exams in 2022. The grant provides for 399 students from 30 high schools across the island. This brings to over 2,700 the number of high school students benefitting from the JPS Foundation’s CSEC sponsorship since 2016. The total contribution to the programme over the period has been approximately $10M. The cheque was presented to the Overseas Examinations Commission (OEC), which falls under the Ministry of Education.
Addressing a small gathering at the handover ceremony, Minister of Education, Youth and Information, the Honourable Fayval Williams, thanked the JPS Foundation for their continued corporate outreach and expressed the importance of integrating skills-based learning in the Jamaican education system. “This is in sync with the national education objective of making a skills-based course mandatory for all high school students,” said Minister Williams. She also noted that, “[The Ministry] has been placing greater emphasis on project-based and problem-solving learning, with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEM/STEAM) being integrated at all levels.”
JPS Foundation Deputy Chairman, Ramsay McDonald, speaking at the event, encouraged students to work hard and make the most of their opportunity. “The JPS Foundation’s commitment is to provide an opportunity for students, with our CSEC Exam Fee Grant. It is up to you, the students, to make the very best of this opportunity. Even if this is not your ultimate field of study, we believe that your exposure to Industrial Technology at the CSEC level will open your eyes to the ever-expanding possibilities in a changing world,” he remarked.
Examinations Officer for CSEC and Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) at the Overseas Examination Commission, Mr. Tanjay Holmes, stated that “The provision of fee grants is indeed giving light and power to the people. An investment that will aid in the sustainable development of our country.” Addressing students, he said, “We charge the recipients to make the best use of this investment. Again the OCE commends the JPS Foundation for this invaluable investment in our country’s future: An investment that is powering what matters.”
The JPS Foundation was established in 2012 and is the corporate social responsibility arm of the Company, with particular focus on science and technology education and environmental management.
JPS Foundation Deputy Chairman, Ramsay McDonald, signs the sponsorship cheque for 399 students from 30 schools to sit the CSEC Industrial (Electrical) Exam in 2022. Looking on intently are: (l-r) Examinations Officer of the Overseas Examination Commission, Tanjay Holmes and Minister of Education, Hon. Fayval Williams. The JPS Foundation has been sponsoring the sitting of this exam since 2016. Roughly 2,700 students have benefitted from the programme since its inception.
The Minister of Education, Hon. Fayval Williams (2nd left) is flanked by Examinations Officer at the Overseas Examination Commission, Tanjay Holmes (left), JPS Foundation Deputy Chairman, Ramsay McDonald and JPS Director of Corporate Communications, Winsome Callum. The occasion was the official handing over of the sponsorship cheque for students sitting the CSEC Industrial (Electrical) Exam in 2022. The JPS Foundation has been pleased to sponsor students for this exam since 2016 to the tune of $10M. Roughly 2,700 students have benefitted since the inception of this grant.
