Prime Minister Andrew Holness - file photo
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness, speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday
The government says it is moving to ensure that the right to a secondary education is made explicit in law. Prime Minister Andrew Holness made the announcement in the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon.
He noted that the right to early childhood and primary education already exists and said he has directed the Minister of Education, Youth and Information to "examine the existing legislation, with a view to making it illegal for any child to be denied a right to secondary education."
According to Mr. Holness, access to secondary education is not defined as a right in the Charter of Rights, "but the education regulations and the Child Care and Protection Act, places an obligation on the state to provide access to educational opportunity as a matter of policy and law."
He said, therefore, "Jamaican children are entitled to freely access public education up to age 18 and should be attached to an institution of learning up to that age."
But with secondary schools getting increased subventions from the government, Prime Minister Holness says they will now come under greater scrutiny over how they spend the funds.
"I have given directives to the Minister of Education to ensure that there is increased monitoring and surveillance of the education system to ensure value for money. I am also highlighting the fact that all schools that are given public funds are subject to be audited by the Auditor General and I will be asking for audits to be done on a sample basis," the prime minister declared.
He said he is encouraging parents, alumni and the diaspora to continue to support schools.
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