The Commonwealth of Learning’s (COL) Senior Adviser: Open Schooling, Dr Johan Hendrikz, recently met with the Permanent Secretary and senior officials of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information in Jamaica to introduce COL’s Open/Innovative Schooling model. The meeting was aimed at discussing collaborative areas related to improving teaching and learning and supporting initiatives related to the challenges of out-of-school youth in Jamaica.

The Ministry’s Chief Education Officer, Ms Grace McLean, stated that the meeting launched the process of developing a new partnership with COL. “The Open and Innovative Schooling model needs to be contextualised and adjusted to fit the needs of countries. COL and the Ministry would need to determine whether there is a strategic fit between the model and the ongoing strategies of the Ministry,” said Dr Hendrikz.

PHOTO CAPTION: R-L: Mr. Dean-Roy Bernard, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information; Dr Phylicia Marshall, COL’s Focal Point in Jamaica; and COL’s Senior Adviser: Open Schooling, Dr Johan Hendrikz.