State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Alando Terrelonge, has launched his islandwide “Schools in the Spotlight” tour.
According to the state minister, “These visits will serve to spotlight the positive and innovative things that are happening in our schools. I want to big up the work and dedication of our teachers, as well as highlight our students and show the country what talented, creative and LIT Jamaican youth make up our student population.”
The minister’s first stop was at the Kingston Technical High School (KTHS) on Tuesday, 03 February. At KT, the minister taught a Spanish class made up of top performing CSEC and CAPE students.
Terrelonge reminded the students that, “a foreign language is a tool of empowerment for our youth and our nation. Learning Spanish will make you better marketable in the future. It will open up doors of endless opportunities for you to secure the best jobs, not only in Jamaica, but across the Latin America and Caribbean region and the world.”
KTHS has one of the top performing Spanish as a foreign language programmes in the country, according to Mr Kevon Edwards, Spanish teacher at the institution: “We have had forth form students sitting CSEC and passing with grade ones.” Mr Edwards attributes the success of the Spanish language programme to their immersive approach to language learning, where Kingston Technical (KT) has on staff, a full-time native Spanish-speaking teacher from Cuba who assists with the programme. “Students are encouraged and given the confidence to use the language with a native speaker in natural contexts from the beginning, so they develop almost as if they were living in a native setting,” explained Mr Edwards.
Principal of the school, Mr Maulton Campbell, said the Spanish language programme “was just the tip of the iceberg for Kingston Technical; we have big plans.”
Mr Campbell plans on developing the school into a “language centre” where students will be specifically trained and prepared for the growing service industry as Jamaica welcomes more non-English speaking visitors to her shores.
“We want to capitalise on the history and location of the institution – don’t forget that we were founded in 1896 as the first of its sort in Jamaica. We have a strong history and heritage and I want to make the most out of that. With the development of cruise shipping in Port Royal and Kingston Harbour to come, KT is at the heart of it all [heritage tourism]. We have the oldest Masonic Temple next door and the old Mico principal’s cottage is actually right here on the premises. So, you see, there is a lot that we plan to develop here,” commented the principal.
The vision for KT, as expressed by Mr Campbell, is that “Each student should leave with a skill to help them create a job for themselves and therefore benefit the economy. The idea is not to limit them [students] to traditional careers, or niches. We are exploring the arts, languages, music, vocational subjects.”
Minister Terrelonge commended the vision and current success of the institution. In thanking principal Campbell for his warm welcome, the minister said, “I am sure Jimmy Cliff and Mutabaruka and other distinguished alum would be justly proud. These are the kinds of stories that Jamaica needs to hear, and what’s more it’s coming from a so-called non-traditional high school. This is a model to emulate.”
Terrelonge plans to take his “Schools in the Spotlight” visits nationwide.
