Drunk in class - One in 10 students report going to school inebriated or under influence of drugs, survey finds Jamaica’s classrooms are facing an unsettling challenge, with one in every 10 high-school students reporting that they have gone to school drunk, while a similar proportion say they have turned up under the influence of marijuana or other drugs. The finding is among several troubling revelations from the latest Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), which paints a concerning picture of the health and well-being of Jamaica’s adolescents, including poor dietary habits, declining physical activity, and worsening mental health indicators.
All western schools to reopen Monday, declares Morris Dixon Western Bureau: Despite claims by several principals that their schools are not ready, Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon is insisting that all schools across the ministry’s Region Four – covering Hanover, St James and Westmoreland – will reopen their doors for the start of the new school year on Monday. Morris Dixon’s comments came as several schools that were extensively damaged during the passage of Hurricane Melissa last October prepare to continue operating under temporary arrangements while repairs are being carried out.
Ferris Primary reborn Western Bureau: After months of rehabilitation work in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Ferris Primary School in Westmoreland is now all but ready to welcome students to its newly transformed campus. According to principal Tracie Campbell, the school is currently about 98 per cent ready, with final preparations under way and a water-distribution problem being addressed. “I could safely say 98 per cent and, considering today being Wednesday, I’m sure that by Sunday evening it will be perfect,” she said.
Pastor turns personal struggles into youth mission WESTERN BUREAU: For 35-year-old pastor Randell Gordon, the hardships of his childhood and a near-fatal motor vehicle accident have shaped a mission to help young people find purpose and resist the negative influences of society. Gordon, a recent graduate and beneficiary of the East Central St James Scholarship and Welfare Fund, plans to establish a programme aimed at helping young people develop a positive outlook on life while turning away from negative worldly influences.
Educator demands workers not be ‘scapegoated’ to maintain stable economy WESTERN BUREAU: The immediate past president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools is taking issue with the Government’s economic policy, arguing that Jamaican workers must not again be asked to sacrifice in order to preserve stability while economic growth remains elusive.
After Balcombe collapse, Crawford warns against repairs at open schools Chairman of the Balcombe Drive Primary and Junior High School Board Alden Brown is accusing the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information of failing to respond to appeals for assistance in addressing the deteriorating infrastructure at the institution. Brown said the school was forced to undertake repairs using its own limited resources as the new school year approaches, despite efforts to get the ministry’s attention.
Mair vows hands-on approach in New York Jamaica’s newly installed consul general in New York, Oliver Mair, has vowed to adopt a practical approach to his new assignment, with widespread engagement with Jamaicans across the jurisdiction. “I intend to be present, accessible and responsive across the jurisdiction, to connect our diaspora institutions more directly to Jamaica’s development priorities, and to ensure the consulate is experienced as a partner rather than an office. Expect to see me back here, New Jersey,” he said.
WATER CRUNCH - Drought drives up costs for car washes, laundries The severe drought conditions currently affecting the island have resulted in increased operating costs for water-related businesses in the Corporate Area as they seek alternative sources of supply to comply with prohibition orders and water-use restrictions. David Chambers, manager at Mountain Ridge Auto Spa on Mountain View Avenue in St Andrew, said the car wash had to pass on the additional expense to customers. “With rent, light, and utilities, I couldn’t cushion that, so I have to put on something,” he said.
JMDA warns of growing frustration over delayed IDT judgment Dr Jubilee Brown-Service, the newly appointed president of the Jamaica Medical Doctors Association (JMDA), says the association is giving the Industrial Disputes Tribunal (IDT) another two to three weeks to hand down a decision in the long-running dispute with the Ministry of Health over overtime and incentive payments. Junior doctors, who are represented by the JMDA, are said to be restive over the lengthy wait for the IDT to hand down a judgment.
Tourism sector backs Coopers Pen relocation plans WESTERN BUREAU: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has pledged the support of the tourism sector to residents of Coopers Pen, Trelawny, who were recently left homeless after the demolition of 20 houses. Bartlett made the commitment last Friday while touring the community with Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, who promised that the Government will play an integral role in the relocation of some of the affected residents.