JFLL’s track record attracts donation from Japanese Embassy
JAMAICA FOUNDATION for Lifelong Learning’s (JFLL) track record of taking persons from a literacy rate of zero to obtaining multiple passes in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) has attracted the generosity of the Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica Masanori Nakano.
The Embassy of Japan, through its grass-roots human security assistance programme, handed over a cheque in the amount of US$143,602 to JFLL recently at the organisation’s East Street Education Centre in downtown Kingston. The funds will assist with expanding the infrastructure in order to help more persons.
Among the things the donation will be used for are: the construction of a new classroom building containing at least four classrooms, a staff room and a lavatory.
EDUCATION TO FIGHT CRIME
Ambassador Nakano said he was immediately interested in embarking on a project with the organisation after reading an article in The Gleaner recently, titled ‘Security ministry takes fight to crime with education’.
“Recently, I came across an article in The Gleaner newspaper about the activities of the JFLL. It was about the impact that JFLL has been having on the lives of the people who are studying at the agency. The agency has a track record of being able to move an individual from zero literacy rating to the attainment of CSEC subjects,” Nakano said.
“I understand that currently the Adult Education Centre has an enrolment of 301 adult learners, more than double the capacity for 150. Over 194 new adult learners are also on the waiting list in addition to other potential adult learners from the parish of St Catherine, St Thomas, Clarendon and St Mary, who are seeking registration at the centre.”
He congratulated the foundation for its commitment to improving literacy in Jamaica.
“The JFLL has proactively engaged in activities to promote education and lifelong learning and they are playing a very important role for many of Jamaica’s most vulnerable adult citizens to get the well-needed opportunity to study, the majority of whom could not attend or had to quit school either at the primary, all-age or secondary levels due to various reasons,” Ambassador Nakano said.