Government to establish Department of Family and Children’s Services
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The Government plans to establish a Department of Family and Children’s Services and reform the Youth and Adolescence Policy Division.
Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen advised that the initiative will strengthen governance and support evidence-based policymaking.
He was delivering the Throne Speech during the 2026/27 Ceremonial Opening of Parliament at Gordon House, on Thursday, February 12.
For fiscal year 2026/27, the G-G stated that legislative priorities in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information will include completing consultations on the Jamaica Teaching Council Bill and updating school governance regulations under the Education Act.
“Studies have shown that institutions with strong school governance are better run and deliver more impressive educational outcomes. These new regulations will introduce best practices of school governance to our institutions,” he explained.
The Governor-General noted that the Education Transformation Commission (ETOC) has, to date, implemented 33 per cent of its recommendations.
ETOC has been tasked with monitoring the implementation of recommendations outlined in the report of the Jamaica Education Transformation Commission (JETC), chaired by Professor Orlando Patterson.
The G-G further advised that the Government will introduce a modern communication apparatus to guarantee Jamaicans access to accurate and unbiased public information.
This, he said, will protect truth, strengthen trust, safeguard democratic values, and reinforce a shared national consciousness.
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