VOLUME 5 SECTION 1 STANDARDS FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Transcription

1 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 1 VOLUME 5 SECTION 1 STANDARDS FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS The Responsblty of The Mnstry of Educaton and Youth 2 Natonal Heroes Crcle Kngston 4

2 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 2 TABLE OF CONTENT CHAPTER BACKGROUND CHAPTER EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SCHOOLS CHAPTER PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND BUILDING STANDARDS CHAPTER INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS CHAPTER ACCREDITATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

3 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 1 Volume 5, Secton 1 INSIDE CUSTOMS CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND 1.0 THE MINISTRY The Mnstry of Educaton, and Youth (MOE&Y) s the polcy coordnatng and mplementaton body, responsble for educaton and youth n Jamaca. It operates two central campuses, sx regonal offces and fourteen agences. There are 1000 educatonal nsttutons under the Mnstry s purvew. The formal educatonal system currently comprses four levels: early chldhood, prmary, secondary and tertary. 1.1 VISION STATEMENT The Mnstry of Educaton and Youth must be the drvng force for change, growth and achevement n educaton and tranng, provdng the polces, strateges, plans, legslaton and resources (fnancal, human and facltes) to enable nsttutons and agences to acheve ther agreed outputs. 1.2 MISSION STATEMENT To provde a system whch secures qualty educaton and tranng for all persons n Jamaca and acheves effectve ntegraton of educatonal resources n order to optmze ndvdual and natonal development. The Mnstry delvers servces wthn a strategc framework coverng, Access, Equty and Relevance; Lteracy; Student Achevement; Youth Development; Accountablty; Effectveness and Effcency and Informaton and Communcaton Technology. 1.3 RESPONSIBILITIES The responsbltes of the Mnstry nclude: Devsng and mplementng systems of accountablty and performance management n order to mprove performance and wn publc confdence and trust. Developng and promulgatng broad polces and polcy gudelnes that are supported by research and approprate nternatonal experence. 1

4 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 2 Volume 5, Secton 1 INSIDE CUSTOMS v v v v v x x x x x xv Convenng symposa, for and consultatons to explan polces and receve feedback. Moblzng local, hemspherc, and nternatonal fundng for educaton. Ensurng that School Boards are apponted on a tmely bass, and that they undertake ther functons. Provdng resources, ncentves and assstance to schools to enable them to acheve stated educatonal goals and desred learnng outcomes. Gvng prmary attenton to resources for students wth specal needs and those at rsk. Constructng and mplementng natonal plans by consultng wth and nvolvng stakeholders to ensure access to and equty n educatonal provsons. Settng and mplementng fnancal accountablty standards to ensure that the funds provded for educaton are used for those purposes. Developng and mplementng a coherent system of human resources development and personnel servces to ensure that all nsttutons and offces are adequately and approprately staffed. Engagng all Mnstry agences and core unts n corporate plannng to realze effcences and effectveness n ther operatons. Revewng the educaton regulatons and makng them relevant to the crcumstances operatng n the wder socety. Developng and keepng current and responsve currcula and systems of student learnng and assessment that are renforces by educatonal materals, technology and socal servces. Developng and settng natonal attanment goals and standards n the domans of knowledge, sklls atttudes and values. Developng and mplementng a natonal system of qualty assurance nvolvng tranng, nternal and external supervson, school nspecton and school mprovement. 2

5 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 3 Volume 5, Secton 2 xv xv xv xv xx xx Analysng natonal educatonal results and recognzng and or rewardng success, and remedyng underachevement. Co-operatng and collaboratng wth other Mnstres and Agences n sharng and provdng addtonal resources to schools. Mountng natonal awareness programmes on topcal and current ssues relevant to educaton. Ensurng a confluence of n and out-of-school educaton and learnng. Ensurng a vbrant, self-renewng and sustanable educaton system. Fosterng a culture of research and encouragng the nterface between research and school/educatonal developments. 1.4 TYPES OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Educatonal Insttutons n the educatonal system are classfed nto four (4) groups: Early Chldhood, Prmary, Secondary/Techncal and Tertary. 3

6 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 4 Volume 5, Secton 2 CHAPTER 2 EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS FOR SCHOOLS 2.0 BACKGROUND Expectatons of schools and other educatonal nsttutons are constantly rsng to meet the challenges of socetes and compettve knowledge based economes. Students cogntve, psychomotve, and socal sklls as well as atttudes and values are expected to be at levels that enable them to functon as creatve, self-drected, carng and productve ndvduals and to contrbute to communty and natonal development Use of Standards The Mnstry of Educaton and Youth focuses ts efforts towards meetng publc expectatons and standards set for the varous levels of the system. All standards are nterrelated and are expected to be mplemented n an ntegrated mode. They are used to drve the educatonal process at every pre-school, preparatory, secondary and vocatonal school Assessments The attanment of specfed standards are utlzed among other crtera, to classfy schools along a contnuum of weak to strong, based on value added and actual attanment.these standards are assessed through panel vsts to nsttutons.all nsttutons are therefore encouraged to carry out self study based on the Standards and prepare Development Plans whch wll form the base of assessment at panel nspecton. 2.1 EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS Below are the educatonal standards, whch are assocated wth each of the four groups of the system: Early Chldhood The Early Chldhood Act and the Regulatons and Standards are avalable at the Early Chldhood Commsson at: Shop 45-46, Kngston Mall 8-10 Ocean Blvd. Kngston 4

7 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 5 Volume 5, Secton 2 Tel: (876) These documents set out the requrements for the establshment, regstraton and operaton of Prvate/Communty based early chldhood nsttutons Prmary and Secondary/Techncal Standards Manuals on Prmary and Secondary Educaton are avalable from the: DCEO Operatons Mnstry of Educaton,Youth and Culture 2 Natonal Heroes Crcle Kngston 2.2 INFORMATION IN MANUALS These manuals provde nformaton wth respect to roles and functons of the Board of Management of Schools, the Prncpal, the Parent, Students and Communty. In addton, there s also nformaton on Assessment and Evaluaton Procedures.The manuals also provde nformaton on: Output Standards; Input Standards; Process Standards; Context Standard and Currculum Content Standards. 2.3 OUTLINE OF STANDARDS Output Standards Ths relates to the general performance of students on tests and examnatons. They also relate to behavoural changes, manfested n atttudes, values, socal and manual sklls of students at the secondary level Input Standards The nput standards relate to the provsons of resources for secondary educaton n terms of the physcal plant, furnture, materals and equpment, 5

8 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 6 Volume 5, Secton 2 school staff and fnancng of schools Process Standards Ths refers to the pedagogcal and admnstratve practces employed by school staff and those who organze learnng as well as the applcaton of sound educatonal prncples and theores Context Standards Ths relates to the crcumstances or stuatons n whch the school operates.they may nclude parental and communty support for the school, the school s servce to the communty nteractons and relatonshps and mores and norms The Currculum Content Standards These are defned as what students are expected to know and are able to do. 2.4 SECONDARY LEVEL STANDARDS At the Secondary level some addtonal standards are n place Other Standards - Secondary Level Cultural Educaton - Educaton that allows the ndvdual to queston all knowledge, especally hstory, and to develop an understandng of self and socety. Specal Educaton - provson of opportuntes for students wth exceptonal needs. Gudance and Counsellng Standards - Facltatng the healthy development of students and the development of persons who are self-aware, self-motvated, self-drected and capable of makng wse and meanngful decsons. 2.5 TERTIARY EDUCATIONAL LEVEL STANDARDS The Unversty Councl of Jamaca Act, (1987) provdes the framework for qualty assurance at the tertary level through the powers vested n the Unversty Councl of Jamaca.The Councl s vested wth the power to approve and confer academc 6

9 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 7 Volume 5, Secton 2 awards and dstnctons and other matters connected wth the accredtaton of courses at the tertary level. 7

10 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 8 Volume 5, Secton 2 CHAPTER 3 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND BUILDING STANDARDS 3.0 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND BUILDING STANDARDS MANUAL The Manual on the physcal requrements and buldng standards for schools s n the draft stage. However, when completed the document wll be avalable at: Techncal Servces Unt The Mnstry of Educaton,Youth and Culture 2 Natonal Heroes Crcle Kngston 3.1 LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENT Developers of large scale developments n both the prvate and publc sectors, should be aware that they may be requred to nclude allocatng land and possbly buldngs and requred socal facltes, where a development, because of t s sze would have a negatve effect on exstng educatonal and other facltes. These requrements are ncluded n the Plannng and Development Volume 1 Secton1 n the Development and Investment Manual. Dscussons should also be held wth the Natonal Envronment and Plannng and the Mnstry of Educaton and Youth to ensure that the proper process and specfc requrements are met. 8

11 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 9 Volume 5, Secton 2 CHAPTER 4 INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS 4.0 PRIVATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Government recognses the vtal role that Independent Schools are playng but feels that some amount of control should be made to bear on these Insttutons. Government s polcy regardng the exstence of Independent Schools s lucdly enuncated n the Educaton Trust of the 70 s as follows: The exstence of Prvate Educatonal Insttutons reflect a demand for educatonal opportuntes n excess of those whch the publc system cannot now provde.the Government consders that t has a duty to ensure that these nsttutons are operated for the beneft and welfare of the pupls who attend them. Accordngly, the Government proposes to brng nto full operaton as early as possble, the secton of the Educaton Act, 1965, whch empowers the Mnster of Educaton to regster and regulate the operaton of Prvate Educatonal Insttutons. The stance of Government n ntatng control of Independent Schools s clear-cut and straghtforward. It s to guarantee that educaton of equal qualty s avalable to every chld (Prme Mnster ). Where Independent Schools are concerned t s the polcy of the Government to nsst on the mantenance of standards of educaton that are consstent wth natonal requrements. Where schools are unable to for one reason of another to meet these standards, Government offers help of varous sorts to enable them to do so. 4.1 MINSTER S POWER,AUTHORITY,RESPONSIBILITY The promulgaton of the Independent Schools Regulatons 1973 ( ) and Part IV of the Educaton Act, 1965, ntated the regstraton process heraldng n an ntegrated educaton system under the umbrella of the Mnstry of Educaton and Youth. The Act (1965) and Regulaton (1973) gve the Mnster of Educaton the power, authorty and responsblty to: Determne the age at whch chldren may be admtted to an Independent School; Evaluate the qualty of the educatonal experences beng offered n Independent Schools; and 9

12 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 10 Volume 5, Secton 2 Exercse control over the establshment and termnaton of such schools Independent Schools Commttee The Thrd Schedule of the Educaton Act (1965) makes provson for the appontment of an Independent Schools Commttee by the Mnster to hold offce for a perod not exceedng two (2) years.the Commttee conssts of three Government representatves one of whom s named Charman and one an Attorney, one representatve of Jamaca Teachers Assocaton and one representatve of the Jamaca Independent Schools Assocaton Ths commttee meets once per month to: v Consder all applcatons for regstraton Consder complants aganst regstered schools; Deal wth representatons made to the Mnster n respect of Notce of Complant served under secton 27 and dsqualfcaton arsng therefrom; and Make recommendatons and gve drecton to the Regstrar (as the case may requre). 4.2 THE REGISTRAR The Act (1965) and Regulatons (1973) speak to the appontment of a Regstrar of Independent Schools wth drect Responsblty to: v v Keep a Regster of all Independent Schools; Process all applcatons for regstraton; Serve Notce of Complant on schools wth the drecton of Independent Schools Commttee; Lase wth Mnstres of Fnance and Labour, Attorney General s Offce, other Government and non-government Agences on matters relatng to Independent Schools; Investgate complants - from students, parents and teachers and ntate necessary acton; 10

13 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 11 Volume 5, Secton 2 v v v x x x Advse prncpals/propretors of Fnally Regstered Schools on Tax Exemptons e.g. property, G.C.T., etc.; Gazette schools whch are fnally regstered, closed or have changed name and locaton; Revew proposal for new schools; Prepare submsson for the Drector of Publc Prosecuton Montor advertsement n the prnted and electronc meda; and Montor deferred schools re mprovements requred for regstraton. 4.3 STRUCTURE OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SECTION Types of Independent Schools The Independent Schools secton covers a wde spectrum of nsttutons whch offers varyng levels of educaton (Pre-prmary, Prmary, Secondary and Vocatonal). The Educaton Act of 1965 and the Independent Schools Regulatons, 1973 defne Independent Schools as any school at whch educaton s provded for twenty or more pupls between the ages of sx (6) and nneteen (19) years, not beng a publc educatonal nsttuton Responsbltes of the Secton When the regulaton was enacted, the Independent Schools Secton was establshed wthn the Mnstry and was charged wth the followng responsbltes under the law to: Ensure that all qualfed schools, throughout the sland, are duly regstered.ths nvolves locatng and nspectng the schools; and Exercse some degree of management and control over these schools. 11

14 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 12 Volume 5, Secton Objectves From the broad statements, made above, the followng objectves were developed to:- v v v v Equalse educatonal opportuntes for the chld populaton both n the publc and n prvate school systems. Ensure that educaton s dspensed under condtons whch are sutable and desrable. Ensure that educaton s dspensed only by those whose academc competence and regard for acceptable standards n moralty are unquestonable. Protect parents from persons whose sole ntent s fnancal gans through explotaton. Ensure that students can obtan records after they have left the school. Provde Government wth nformaton and data whch wll permt them to construct a reasonable pcture of the total educatonal needs of the country, as the bass for future plannng; and Prepare the grounds for the nsttuton of compulsory nsttuton. 4.4 STAFFING The secton s located n the Educatonal Servces Dvson and s staffed wth:- 1 Regstrar - S.E.O. (E.D.G. II) level 1 Educaton Offcer 1 ST III 1 CR I 4.5 SUPERVISION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS Inspecton of Schools Part IV of the Educaton Act and the Regulaton of Independent Schools authorzed the Regstrar or an Educaton Offcer actng for the Regstrar to enter upon the premses and buldng of an Independent School for the 12

15 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 13 Volume 5, Secton 2 purpose of Inspecton of the School Responsblty of the Propretor The Propretor of an Independent School, hs/her agent or employee shall furnsh the Regstrar or and Educaton Offcer all nformaton or render such assstance as the Offcer may requre for the Exercse of hs/her power n relaton to that school Responsblty of Regonal Offce Each Regonal Offce s responsble to assgn offcers to supervse all Independent Schools wthn the Regons Requrements from Schools The schools are requred to establsh and furnsh the offcers wth the followng records: v v v Admsson Regster Log Book Attendance Regster Account Student; and Staff Records Detals of Responsbltes Wth decentralsaton of the Mnstry, drect supervson of the schools s the responsblty of the Regonal Offces. It s the Regonal Offces whch ensure that:- v v All compulsory records are establshed and mantaned; Inspecton of new stes and buldngs s done to ensure sutablty; The qualty of the teachng/learnng experences provded s of hgh standard; The programmes offered and sutablty of teachers to teach them are acceptable; Provson s made for the welfare and nterest of both teachers and 13

16 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 14 Volume 5, Secton 2 students; v v v x x Proposals for new schools are submtted to the Regstrar pror to the startng of schools; All complants aganst schools are nvestgated and report wth supportng documents sent to the Regstrar s Offce; Students who wsh to return to the manstream are asssted; Assstance s gven to regstered schools to obtan concessons avalable to them; Census forms are dstrbuted, collected and data entered. 4.6 ESTABLISHING AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL Any organzaton or ndvdual wshng to establsh an Independent School s requred to submt a proposal to the Regstrar.The proposal should be sent to the Regonal Offce for the parsh n whch the school wll be establshed Contents of Proposal The proposal should nclude:- v v v v v x Msson Statement for the school; Name of the school; Propretor of the school and Board Members; Source of fundng for the school; The courses whch the school wll offer and the cost to students; The age group t wll cater to; How the school wll be staffed that s the rato of traned to untraned as well as full-tme to part-tme teachers. Character reference of the propretor, and The parsh/town n whch the school wll be located. 14

17 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 15 Volume 5, Secton Dscusson of Proposal The propretor should make an appontment wth the Regstrar at whch tme the proposal wll be dscussed pror to the grantng of permsson Permsson Requred Before Intake No advertsement for students or staff should be made untl permsson s granted by the Mnstry of Educaton and Youth. 4.1 REGISTRATION PROCEDURE Applcaton Applcaton for regstraton of an Independent School shall be made n wrtng, on the prescrbed form, addressed to the Regstrar, Independent Schools, Mnstry of Educaton and Youth, 2 Natonal Heroes Crcle, P.O. Box 498, C.S.O. and shall contan the partculars specfed n the schedule and be accompaned by: v v v A smple sketch of the school premses A smple floor plan of the buldng A copy of the school s prospectus Partculars of the fees charged for tuton n respect of each course A copy of teacher s contract; and Such other nformaton as the Commttee may from tme to tme requre for the purpose of these regulatons Provsonal Regstraton Upon recept of the applcaton the Regstrar shall request from the Regonal Offce n whch the school s located, a prelmnary report on the school. If the school fulflls the requrements of an Independent School as stated n the Regulaton, t shall be granted provsonal regstraton Fnal Regstraton After the frst year of operatng as a provsonally regstered school, the 15

18 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 16 Volume 5, Secton 2 school should seek to qualfy for fnal regstraton. To qualfy for fnal regstraton a school must satsfy the mnmum requrements n respect of: v Sutablty of the premses for the use of the school as regard to locaton, play area, safety, water supply and general envronmental factors; The adequacy and sutablty of accommodaton, facltes, furnture and equpment provded for pupls, havng regard to ther age, sex and levels of development; The scope, approprateness and educatonal values of nstructonal courses and experences offered to pupls, havng regard to ther age, sex and levels of development; The character, qualfcaton, capabltes and competences of the propretor and staff conductng the school; v Any crtera nherent to the proper applcaton of Secton 25, subsectons (4) and (5) of the Educaton Act Decson of Commttee The team of offcers, after the nspecton, would submt a wrtten report to the Regstrar, who would submt the report along wth applcaton to the Independent Schools Commttee. Based on the report: The commttee would take a decson; The Regstrar communcates the decson to the Propretor of the school Notfcaton n Gazette After the Commttee has approved fnal regstraton of a school, the Regstrar shall cause a notce to be publshed n the Gazette and the school entered n the Regster of Schools Notfcaton of Changes by Propretor The Propretor of a school whch s ether fnally or provsonally regstered or n relaton to whch an applcaton was made to the Regstrar for 16

19 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 17 Volume 5, Secton 2 provsonal regstraton, shall furnsh n wrtng to the Regstrar as soon as possble the followng: Partculars of any changes n the name or propretorshp of the school; In October of each year, complete and return census form wth all nformaton about the school; Schools neglectng to comply could run the rsk of losng access to Tax Exemptons. 4.8 TRANSFER OF SCHOOL AFTER APPLICATION After an applcaton has been made for regstraton of a school, the school or any department thereof shall not be transferred to any ste wthout the pror approval of the Commttee Requrements for a New Ste Where a propretor purposes to transfer a school or a department thereof to a new ste, he shall notfy the Regstrar n wrtng of the postal address of the ste and furnsh a smple plan, sketch of the buldng showng the proposed physcal layout of the school/department Inspecton of the New Ste The Regstrar shall arrange for the proposed new ste and buldng to be nspected and furnsh the Commttee wth: The partculars furnshed by the propretor; The Educaton Offcers report; The Regstrar s comments and recommendaton Approval/Dsapproval The Commttee may drect the Regstrar to approve or dsapprove the transfer of the school or department thereof as the case may be. 17

20 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 18 Volume 5, Secton PROCEDURES OF CLOSURE The Mnstry should be nformed of the pendng closure at least a year before closure. The publc should be notfed and durng ths perod there should be no admsson of new students. All employees should be duly compensated. In order for past students to obtan records the Admsson Regster should be submtted to the Mnstry. 18

21 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 19 Volume 5, Secton 1 CHAPTER 5 ACCREDITATION OF AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL 5.0 ACCREDITATION SYSTEM Accredtaton s a system of recognsng nsttutons for a hgh level of performance, ntegrty and qualty whch enttles them to the confdence of the publc they serve. The Mnstry of Educaton and Youth, n collaboraton wth Jamaca Independent Schools Assocaton, s currently workng out crtera whch regstered schools should seek to acheve n order to be accredted. 5.1 PURPOSE OF ACCREDITATION Accredtaton seeks to: foster excellence n prmary and secondary educaton; encourage school mprovement through the process of contnuous self-study educaton; and assure the publc that qualty educaton s provded for students based upon clearly defned goals and objectves that are approprate for the unque school populaton served. 5.2 WHO IS ELIGIBLE All regstered Independent Schools offerng Pre-Prmary, Prmary, Secondary and Vocatonal Courses or a combnaton of any of these courses requrng a mnmum of one academc year for completon, are elgble. 5.3 CRITERIA OF ACCREDITATION An on-ste evaluaton wll be conducted by a team of specally selected Educators and practsng professonals n the feld, at whch tme each programme wll be revewed to determne f the features of accredtaton are met. 19

22 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 20 Volume 5, Secton FEATURES OF ACCREDITATION The features of accredtaton are as follows: v The nsttuton s msson, goals and objectves Students Welfare Qualty of Staff and Admnstraton Desgn and Implementaton of Approprate Currcula 5.5 ASSISTANCE TO INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS TYPES OF ASSISTANCE Assstance to Independent Schools has been n the form of: Professonal - provdng advce re teachng/learnng procedure, lmted nservce tranng and staff development. Fnancal - provdng grants for specfc/desgnated schools Relef - Access to relef from property tax, custom and stamp dutes on tckets for educatonal tours, consumer tax as well as G.C.T. on educatonal materals and equpment. 5.6 TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE It s strongly recommended that n the nterest of all partes concerned, the Schools Admnstrator/Board submt to each employee a contract statng terms and condtons of servce for ther consderaton and sgnature before there s an agreement to employ. It should nclude: salary leave dutes evaluaton procedures termnaton of servces procedure relatng to nfractons - dscplnary actons re volaton of stated values. 20

23 Standards for Educatonal Insttutons.qxp 01/05/ :28 PM Page 21 Volume 5, Secton CONTACT INFORMATION For further nformaton please contact: The Permanent Secretary Mnstry of Educaton and Youth 2 Natonal Heroes Crcle P.O. Box 498 C.S.O. Kngston Tel: (876) Fax: (876) Webste: 21