JFLL ready for CSEC

DIRECTOR OF educational services at the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL), Rhoda Crawford, added that from discussions, there are plans to start the process of the literacy rehabilitation with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of National Security by month end.

“Once the paperwork is done, our first plan of action is to go into the institutions and start by accessing the learners, to see where they are [academically] and then do the placement based on their educational background,” Crawford explained.

She said the proposal is to implement the JFLL’s two-year High School Diploma Equivalency (HSDE) programme in the correctional system, with the hope of giving the inmates secondary-level certification.

CONFIDENT OF RESULTS

The HSDE programme, she noted, takes a learner from basic literacy to the proficiency level where they are able to sit Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects.

“We have a track record of being able to move an individual from zero literacy to the attainment of CSEC subjects, so we are confident that this agency (JFLL) can give the impactful results that will change the lives of the people and, ultimately, impact the crime rate,” Crawford said.

She added that the proof of such achievement was evident at the agency’s recently held graduation that included several persons who advanced with CSEC subjects after starting the programme at the lowest tier on the literacy scale.

“They were not able to read and write, but at the end of the two-year programme, we were able to see them graduating with at least five CSEC subjects. This is just what you need to enrol in most colleges and to gain employment, so the HSDE is a ticket to afford all participants an opportunity to reintegrate into the society,” Crawford said.