Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Nigel Clarke; Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams (left), and Country Director, Caribbean Countries, World Bank, Lilia Burunciuc, display the Jamaica Education Project (JEP) Loan Agreement during a visibility ceremony held at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle offices in downtown Kingston, on November 20.
The government has secured a multi-billion-dollar loan through the World Bank to boost science, technology, and mathematics education in the country.
Finance Minister Dr. Nigel Clarke says the loan forms part of a partnership with the multilateral, which will bring significant growth to the country.
He signed the agreement along with Education Minister, Fayval Williams, at the Ministry’s Heroes Circle headquarters on Monday.
Robian Williams has that story.
Dr. Clarke says without significant gains in the STEM fields, the country’s pursuit of higher standards of living will be that further out of reach.
Dubbed the Jamaica Education Project, it’s a US $30 million engagement with the World Bank. That’s just over JM $4 billion.
The project will see the country establish six STEM-focused high schools. It will also be used to upgrade the STEM curriculum and teaching methods in all secondary institutions.
The finance minister says the project will ensure Jamaica is not left behind in the fifth industrial revolution.
Meanwhile, Dr. Clarke says the partnership will also bring a long overdue education information management system to the country.
Meanwhile, education minister, Fayval Williams, says the World Bank financing represents more than just a loan to the country.
Minister Williams says the government remains committed to providing quality education.
Fayval Williams, Minister of Education and Youth.
