Dr Renee Rattray, project manager of the Mutual Building Societies Foundation (MBSF), has appealed to members of the Jamaican diaspora to support its Centres of Excellence educational programme.

Founded by Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) and The Victoria Mutual Building Society (VMBS), the MBSF started the Centres of Excellence programme in 2008. Its aim is to contribute to the development of quality education in rural communities and to support social transformation.

"Jamaica needs you and our education and our children need you," Dr. Rattray told delegates attending the biennial Jamaica Diaspora Convention 2011 on June 16, at the Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, St Ann. "We are looking forward to having many other partners."

rural high schools

The six rural high schools participating in the programme are: McGrath, in St. Catherine; Seaforth, in St. Thomas; Green Pond, in St. James; Godfrey Stewart, in Westmoreland; and Mile Gully and Porus in Manchester.

A model for effective public- and private-sector partnership, the project focuses on enhancing the performance of the three principal stakeholders in the education system—administrators, teachers and students, while also engaging the local community.

"Our focus has been empowering stakeholders and changing their mindsets," Dr Rattray explained. An important element in this is tracking student performance to determine where intervention is most needed.

"We have been seeing increased improvements primarily in student attitude towards learning," Dr Rattray stated, "and attendance has also improved."

Under the programme, she said, the schools have been assisted academically in the subject areas of mathematics, English Language and the sciences. Teachers have received assistance to improve the curriculum delivery to students; and equipment was donated to enhance science laboratories.

improved levels

She pointed to the changed image of Godfrey Stewart High, with improved levels of student attendance and teacher accountability. Dr Rattray said, "Such a huge battle has been won."

A new project, "I am the Change," was recently implemented in which 20 students from each school were taught financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills. She said, "They have now gone back to their schools and are setting up businesses. McGrath High School in Linstead is now producing a local newspaper. Therefore, they have been empowered to be job creators, rather than job seekers."

Training is now being conducted for the implementation of a mentorship programme to teach the students leadership skills, she stated. Approximately 8,000 students and 350 teachers are involved in the Centres of Excellence programme.