The Ministry of Education and Youth has launched the Literacy Education Acceleration Programme (LEAP) in collaboration with the Citizen Security Secretariat of the Ministry of National Security and the European Union (EU).

The initiative is being led by the MOEY as part of the Inter-Ministerial Schools’ Strategy under the Citizen Security Plan of Jamaica. The Strategy was developed to strengthen services specifically in schools serving communities in the Zones of Special Operations (ZOZOs).

The selected schools are Kingston High, Norman Manley High, Holy Trinity High, Haile Selassie High, Grange Hill High and Spot Valley High schools. According to the ministry, these schools have identified literacy as a crucial issue to be addressed to improve academics, safety and security.

The project was launched yesterday (May 2) and this week, teachers from the selected schools are being trained to use the literacy software.

According to the education minister, “We know that our schools are faced with different levels of literacy gaps, compounded by learning losses during COVID-19. We also know that low literacy can lead to behaviour problems in the classroom, low self-esteem and ultimately low employability later.”

“The size of the literacy gap requires alternative approaches, and we are excited to see the significant improvement in literacy from these pilot schools. The measurable improvements in literacy in the pilot schools provides tangible evidence and this gives us the confidence to roll out in additional schools in Jamaica,” added Williams

The LEAP initiative is an important component of the Citizen Security Plan, supported by the European Union.

“This teacher training on the literacy software is part of a much broader European Union (EU) and Jamaica partnership around the Citizen Security Plan, supporting an all-of-government approach to crime and violence. The EU is proud to partner with the Ministry of Education and Youth to increase social investment and strengthen schools to help their students to thrive,” said Marianne Van Steen, EU Ambassador to Jamaica.