Anniona Jones, vice president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPSS), has commended the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information for partnering with the HEART/NSTA Trust to design modern technical and vocational education and training (TVET) laboratories for Jamaica’s 14 technical high schools.
However, in an interview with The Gleaner, Jones, who also serves as chairperson of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s (JTA) Professional Advancement and Teacher Welfare Committee, and is principal of Haile Selassie High School, urged the government to expand this initiative by incorporating private sector involvement.
“The condition of our lab facilities remains a significant concern. With the push for problem-based and discovery-based learning, students need more hands-on experience opportunities to manipulate their environment to solidify their learning. We are deeply dissatisfied with the current state of our labs,” said Jones, who previously served as principal at Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St. Ann.
Jones pointed out that, beyond technical high schools, many other schools across the country have buildings labelled as laboratories, but which lack essential infrastructure.
“There is no running water, no electricity, no sink facilities, no fume cupboards. Students don’t even have the basic equipment needed to conduct the experimental activities required for the curriculum,” she stated.
Jones welcomed Education Minister Senator Dr. Dana Morris-Dixon’s acknowledgement of these issues, calling it a promising step toward improvement.
“When there is alignment between what the government recognises and what we, as administrators, experience daily, it bodes well for the future. The minister’s commitment to directing additional resources toward education, particularly for technical high schools, gives us hope for improvements not only in physical facilities, but also in teachers’ working conditions. This, in turn, can boost teacher motivation and help retain some of our brightest educators,” she said.
Jones emphasised also the importance of producing graduates who are not only certified, but also equipped with the practical skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving technological society.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVE UNDER WAY
Speaking at the JTA’s Education Conference in Trelawny on Tuesday, Morris-Dixon lamented the poor state of TVET laboratories across the island’s 14 technical high schools, stressing the need for modernisation to align with global technological advancements.
She assured educators that a strategic initiative is under way, in partnership with HEART/NSTA Trust, to design and develop customised laboratories for each institution.
“We are in the process of finalising the specific [type of] lab each school will receive,” Morris-Dixon told JTA members.
Jones acknowledged HEART/NSTA’s expertise in educational infrastructure, but underscored the need for collaboration with industry leaders and employers to ensure students receive training aligned with real-world job market demands.
“I believe the minister is consulting with as many experts as possible. However, my recommendation is to engage not only HEART/NSTA, but also industry professionals, the Employers’ Federation, and tertiary institutions. We must understand the minimum requirements for students entering academia, as well as those transitioning directly into the workforce,” she urged.
Jones stressed that the laboratories should reflect current industry standards across various fields, including auto mechanics, bar-tending, plumbing, and welding.
“Our labs in 2025 cannot resemble those from 1965. The world is evolving rapidly with cutting-edge technology, and we must ensure that students are equipped for the future,” she stated.