‘Time Out’ facility for education ministry’s Region Four next year

WESTERN BUREAU:

EDUCATION MINISTER Ruel Reid is hopeful that the Ministry of Education will be able to open a new ‘timeout’ facility in its Region Four division by next academic year after two similar facilities were opened recently in Kingston and Manchester to rehabilitate students with behavioural issues.

Reid gave the projected timeline while speaking to journalists following his keynote address at the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals’ 26th annual conference yesterday.

The conference was held at the Jewel Grande Hotel in Rose Hall, St James, under the theme “Ignite and Empower – Strategic priorities for 21st century school leaders”.

According to Reid, the ministry is currently trying to find a suitable location to house the facility, which he said is needed at this time.

“The facility is necessary, based on all the social issues we have down here, and we are really just trying to identify a proper location for it. I would want to do it for the next academic year to get everything in place,”said Reid.

“There was one place that we had identified, but there were some tenancy issues in terms of persons utilising the space, and we haven’t been able to acquire that facility. I will be talking further to Dr Michelle Pinnock [regional director for Region Four] to see where we can find.”