After months of consultations with students islandwide about transforming the education system, representatives of the National Secondary Students Council (NSSC), on Wednesday (July 5) delivered a report entitled, Reimagine Education to Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Within the Reimagine Education report is a host of student perspectives on the future transformation of the education system, based on feedback from 580 high school students gathered by the NSSC in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The Reimagine Education initiative was designed to facilitate the wider participation of youth in the work of the National Education Transformation Commission established by Holness and chaired by Professor Orlando Patterson.

The committee is expected to deliver the final report on the findings of the Reimagine Education report in the coming weeks.

Perspectives within the report are believed to be expansive in nature, with the student consultation process beginning from as early as November 20, 2020 marking World Children’s Day.

Among the perspectives included in the report is that of 74 students who participated in online sessions, including NSSC student leaders, students in state care, those in rural and urban schools, students with disabilities, those excluded from school and those in juvenile correctional facilities.

In addition to another 516 young persons who participated in a poll conducted by UNICEF’s U-Report social messaging service.

Students expressed their desires for more equitable and inclusive classrooms, enthusiastic and empathetic teachers, expanded curriculum content and engaging lessons particularly given the impact of COVID19.

‘Youth must have a voice’

Speaking on the report, Holness stated: “Our education system must be transformed to enable our young people and students to fully participate in the fourth industrial revolution. Our youth must have a voice in helping to determine how we progress to achieving a new paradigm in education.”

He added: “I am particularly pleased that students have been engaged by the Commission and the students have gone further and produced their own report, which I look forward to reading and examining your recommendations.”

The Reimagine Education initiative builds on previous efforts to engage Jamaican children and amplify their voices for better decision-making.