Government Agencies in Jamaica

The Ministry of Education and Youth is responsible for lifelong education and training in Jamaica and coordinates provision between the government, donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local communities. Examinations and certification at secondary and post-secondary level is regulated by the Caribbean Examinations Council, to which 15 English-speaking Commonwealth Caribbean countries belong. For post-secondary qualifications, the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations are available for those wishing to gain expertise in the work environment as well as for those wishing to pursue conventional tertiary education. The University Council of Jamaica is a statutory body that provides accreditation of programmes offered by tertiary institutions in the country.

Public spending on education was 6.1% of GDP in 2010.

Vision 2030 Jamaica is the country’s first long-term national development plan; it aims to put Jamaica in a position to achieve developed country status by 2030. It expresses the aspiration for Jamaica to become a country where its citizens enjoy a high quality of life and world-class standards in education, health care, nutrition.

Vision 2030 introduces a new paradigm which redefines the strategic direction for Jamaica and aims to put the country on the path to sustainable prosperity. The new paradigm will move from dependence on tourism, minerals and agricultural commodities to development of cultural, human, knowledge and institutional capital.

The ministry of education places particular emphasis, in teacher training and in the classroom, on mathematics and numeracy, as essential skills in all areas of study and in everyday life.