JSIF Project Helping Students Transition to High School

JSIF News, June 16, 2009: 

GSAT Students 

Each year that the results of the Grade Six Achievement Tests (GSAT) are publicized, students and parents realize that they are one step closer to graduation and the beginning of a new school term at a new institution, and one step closer to the “real world.” However, often lost in the shuffle are the students who struggle to fit in to the new surroundings peopled by all new faces. Thus many students feel alienated and this decreased student connection to the school community has spawned, in some cases, tragic results.

In recognition of this challenge, the Youth Education and Recreation component of the Inner City Basic Services Project (ICBSP) has developed a transitioning programme aimed at boosting student confidence and enhancing the school climate. More specifically, the programme provides educational support to improve academic performance and perceptions of self amongst students who are performing below grade level. The transitioning programme employs the implementation of GSAT classes in 12 communities including Passmore Town for students between the ages of 5-12 years.

A GSAT transitioning seminar being hosted in May in Passmore Town  

Gene Shaw, ICBSP Project Manager informed that, “The transitioning programme is being implemented in collaboration with the Greater Browns Town Community Development Benevolent Society and the Elletson Primary and Infant School. Thus far a series of “transitioning” seminars have been hosted with students in the GSAT classes to assist Grade Six students develop the knowledge, motivation and skills necessary to make a secure and successful transition to high school”.

The Grade Six Transition Programme will involve eighty-three (83) students from the Inner-city Basic Services Project GSAT Classes and the Elletson Primary School and will seek to meet the following objectives:

• Provide the students with access to information that can positively influence their self-esteem.
• Assist students to identify at least two goals and develop ways in which they can achieve these goals.
• Provide students with skills to cope with the physical, social and educational changes and challenges they will experience
• Facilitate parental partnership and support for students as they transition into high school

A critical component of the programme will be a one-day Transition seminar for both parents and students. This final programme component will be executed after a series of one-hour sessions in which the students will participate. The one day session will be held on Saturday June 20 at the Vauxhall High School.

The Youth Education and Recreation programme falls under the larger Jamaica Social Investment Fund executed Inner City Basic Services Project. This objective of this component is the provision of basic support services to reduce the environmental hazards and social fragmentation existing within the twelve pre-selected ICBSP communities. Among the programmes that have been and are being implemented under this sub-project are GSAT Assistance, Homework Programme, Remedial Education and Sports and Cultural activities. The Youth Education and Recreation component has an overall value of $30,334,000.00 with JSIF allocating $21,865,900.00, the communities $2,168,100.00 and other stakeholders $6,200,000.00.

The Inner City Basic Services began implementation in 2006 and is aimed at improving the social, economic and physical conditions of twelve targeted inner-city communities through the provision of access to basic infrastructure, access to micro-finance services, reduce crime and violence and land tenure regularization. It is being funded by a soft loan of US$29.3 million from the World Bank and counterpart funding of US$3.5 million from the Government of Jamaica.