Author Archives: jn_foundation

Managers of the iLead educational leadership project, a public-private partnership designed to improve the general delivery of education and the management of schools, have indicated that the project’s year-end report shows improvements in key target areas.

Jamaica National (JN) Foundation launched its First Responders Programme at Cardiff Hotel in Runaway Bay, St Ann.

The inability of some principals to properly manage human resources (HR) in their schools is being highlighted as one of the many reasons for the poor performance of students in these institutions.

Many experts have been urging principals to treat their schools as if they were actual corporate businesses in order to improve efficiency and performance, but despite the clear benefits to be derived from this, facilitators of the JN Foundation’s iLead educational programme say most schools leaders lack the necessary skill sets that are important to manage people.

“Schools don’t have a human resources department or unit, and most of the school leaders have to manage HR issues without the skills to deal with people problems,” said Gillian Chambers, human resource professional and leadership consultant to the iLead programme.

According to Chambers, some school leaders have developed the skills on the job but more needs to be done.

It was against that background that the management team of the iLead programme, being conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, recently trained principals and school leaders from participating schools in Portland, St Mary, and St Thomas, to manage the human resource issues within their schools.

“School leaders must coach, mentor and motivate their teachers effectively; treat with issues of trust, as well as manage conflict,” said Chambers, who has been holding a series of training sessions for principals, vice-principals and heads of departments from the newest participating schools in the iLead programme.

These schools are the Martin Primary and Retreat Primary and Junior High schools in St Mary; Windsor Castle All-Age and Happy Grove High in Portland; as well as the St Thomas Technical High Schools.

The other schools under the programme are Port Maria Primary, Horace Clarke High and Brimmer Vale High schools in St Mary; Buff Bay Primary in Portland and Robert Lightbourne in St Thomas.

During the sessions, principals and heads of departments highlighted problems they encounter on the job, agreeing that it was sometimes difficult to effectively coach staff and identify what motivates them.

TRAINING INTERVENTION

“I have had issues with teachers who have not been performing as well as they can, but I recognise there is also the need to improve my coaching techniques,” admitted Claudette Brimm-Layne as she expressed appreciation for the training intervention.

Responding to the issues raised, Chambers argued that the school leaders need to be intrinsically motivated.

“And, from there, they can create the environment for others to feel motivated and inspired.”

Chambers noted that good management skills are important to identify what motivates people, noting that given all the matters school leaders must manage, it would be difficult for them to identify what motivates each staff member.

“You can’t decide by yourself. Create a committee,” she advised. “Take a member of the ancillary staff, a teacher from each department, and so on. Then let them sit together and identify what motivates each person; and use that as your guide,” said Chambers.

The leadership consultant further argued that it is important for leaders to gauge expectations; and to plan for them so that staff members don’t develop ill feelings about the rewards process, which could result in conflict, she added.

Esther Tyson, iLead’s school improvement coach, agreed and added that when rewards systems are established, school leaders need to be perceptive and ensure that the system is fair.

“Separate the professional you from the personal; and be consistent across the board when you apply rules and standards,” she advised, referencing her experience as principal at the Ardenne High School in the Corporate Area.

According to Tyson, being fair, transparent and consistent in applying rules and standards was also an important way to build trust.

She said school leaders to document issues and not leave them “up in the air.”

Tyson also encouraged the school leaders to involve a third party where necessary and to be very transparent in their actions.

“There are some people you should never talk to alone. Lay all the cards on the table, so that it’s very clear to the parties involved where you stand. There should never be any ambiguity where you are concerned,” said Tyson.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20160214/help-some-school-leaders-lack-basic-hr-skills

In its constant bid to contribute to the preservation of local culture and history, the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation has committed to execute a four-year project, which will creatively illustrate the foundation and historical development of parishes in Jamaica.

Earl Jarrett, chairman of the JN Foundation, announced the launch of the Parish Histories of Jamaica Project at the recent commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Morant Bay Rebellion, hosted by The University of the West Indies.

He said the initiative was a legacy project, which will have a long-standing effect on Jamaicans at home and overseas.

“The sponsorship of these parish publications is another avenue through which we can preserve our rich heritage and guarantee that future generations, locally and overseas, can access information about significant events, as well as persons who worked hard to build this country we call home,” said Jarrett.

Pilot Programme

He explained that the project was the completion of a successful pilot programme undertaken several years ago, which resulted in the documentation of the history of Westmoreland. And the response to that initial work was tremendous. It has served as the basis for JN to revisit the project on a much larger scale, and to include all the other parishes.

“We recognised the importance of doing this history several years ago; and, therefore, we embarked on a pilot project to document the history of Westmoreland, which is the home of the Westmoreland Building Society, the pioneering organisation, which evolved as Jamaica National Building Society,” the general manager stated.

“And the response to the publication of the History of Westmoreland was overwhelming. therefore, we have decided to continue the project to document the history of the other 13 parishes,” he affirmed.

With St Thomas being the first parish targeted for the project, Jarrett recognised the significance of that parish to the history of Jamaica, and by extension, Jamaica National.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20151117/jnbs-foundation-revisits-history

A study has found that microcredit loans make people ‘richer and fatter’ in Jamaica.

Consequently, it can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the researchers from the University of West Indies, Mona, and Florida State University, Tallahassee, in the United States.

The study titled Richer but fatter: The unintended consequences of microcredit financing on household health and expenditure in Jamaica was published last year in Tropical Medicine and International Health, a European journal.

It utilised a sample from the database of the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), which operates a microcredit arm. The actual study was conducted between December 2007 and September 2008, but it becomes increasingly important with the growth of the micro-loans industry.

“The results demonstrate that microcredit financing is positively associated with wealth acquisition but worsened CVD risk status,” stated the researchers, who include Georgiana Gordon-Strachan, Colette Cunningham-Myrie, Kristin Fox, Claremont Kirton, Raphael Fraser, Georgia McLeod, and Terrence Forrester.

The method included matching 726 households of microcredit loan beneficiaries with 726 controls, or non-beneficiaries, by age, sex, and community. Then, the researchers administered a questionnaire to collect data on health and household expenditure. The weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure measurements were taken for an adult and one child (aged six-16 years) from each household.

Beneficiaries were those who received disbursements under the microfinance scheme for at least two years at the time of the study. The beneficiaries could qualify to borrow between $30,000 and $500,000, stated the study, which the researchers indicated was funded by the JNBS Foundation.

OVERWEIGHT BENEFICIARIES
The findings showed that more male and female beneficiaries were overweight, or obese, but more important, that 17.2 per cent of males (versus 7.1 per cent in the control) and 68.5 per cent of females (versus 63.3 per cent in the female control) exhibited substantially increased risk for CVD. In fact, children of beneficiaries displayed higher mean body mass index for their age than their control peers.

“We support the economic and other developmental benefits of microcredit financing but recommend that health promotion should be incorporated in such schemes to mitigate against a possible increase in CVD risk among beneficiaries. A number of initiatives report success in coupling microcredit with other innovative ideas inclusive of health promotion and education programmes … and money management,” said the researchers.

It is important to note that the beneficiaries’ average annual per capita household expenditure totalled $160,574 while controls (non-beneficiaries) spent $108,578.

The researchers’ review of the published literature revealed a dearth of evidence on the comparative differences in CVD risk between beneficiaries and controls of microcredit finance schemes.

Other authors, they said, have focused on comparing changes in equity and access to health services and other health indicators among communities exposed to microcredit.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/business/20160113/microcredit-leads-richer-fatter-jamaicans

A unique exhibition featuring an amazing and diverse range of photographs taken by high school students from rural Jamaica is currently on display in Brussels, Belgium, in an exhibition at the Headquarters of the European External Action Service (EEAS).  The exhibition is being staged as part of the activities to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of relations between the European Union and Jamaica. It was opened on 3 December 2015, and runs until to 31 January 2016.

Through the lens of high school students the project, which is sponsored by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation through its Resolution Project, depicts the various facets of Jamaican life and its people. Authentic and captivating scenes ranging from work, school, play, music, dance, religion, sports and nature are captured by the young photographers.

A reception to launch the exhibition was jointly hosted by the Mr. Roland Schafer, Acting Managing Director of the Americas Department of the EEAS and Ambassador Vilma McNish, Ambassador of Jamaica to Belgium and the European Union. Mr. Schaffer highlighted the strong partnership between Jamaica and the EU over the years.  As evidence of its commitment to this partnership, he referred to the EU’s allocation of 46 million euros to Jamaica under the 11th European Development Fund from 2014 to 2020.

For her part, Ambassador McNish referred to the special economic and political relations between Jamaica and the EU over the last four decades spanning a number of sectors, including education, security, agriculture and rural development.  “Jamaica and the EU have had a longstanding history of friendship and cooperation over the past forty years which will continue to strengthen for many years to come”, she said.   She described Jamaica National Building Society as the epitome of corporate social responsibility in Jamaica, noting its efforts to make a positive impact in areas such as community development, culture, education and youth and security.

Dr. Saffrey Brown, General Manager of the Jamaica National Foundation was on hand to welcome the guests and provide the background and context of the exhibition.  She said the main goal of the Resolution Project is the promotion of advocacy through the art of photography among young Jamaicans as a way of expressing themselves, focusing on issues that concern them.  The photographs ask complex questions about human rights, sexuality, gender and identity issues that affect them and the communities in which they live, she said.  The authenticity and uniqueness of Jamaica is captured through the lens of the young photographers.

Guests at the launch of the exhibition included representatives from the diplomatic corps, the European institutions, the Secretariat of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, as well as the Jamaican diaspora.  Members of Parliament Mr. Fitz Jackson and Mr. Mikhail Philips who were in Brussels to attend the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly also attended.

Jamaica National Foundation has staged similar exhibitions in several countries including the USA, the UK and Germany.

Stunning images of Jamaica, as captured by Jamaican teenagers, will receive prominence at the headquarters of the European external action service in Brussels, Belgium, at the ‘Out of Many, One Jamaica’ art exhibition.

Scheduled for December 4, 2015 to January 31, 2016, the exhibition is being mounted as part of the activities to recognise the 40th year of partnership between the European Union (EU) delegation and Jamaica.

‘Out of Many, One Jamaica’ will feature the work of student photographers in the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation’s Resolution Project, which was instituted in high schools in rural Jamaica to train students in photo-journalism and youth advocacy.

Saffrey Brown, general manager of the JNBS Foundation, noted that the collaboration with the European Union for the staging of the exhibition will provide an increased opportunity for Brand Jamaica to be shown on an international landscape and to reinforce the strong partnerships between Jamaica and the EU.

“This exhibition will allow persons to see the authenticity and uniqueness of Jamaica through pictorial depictions,” noted Brown. “It will also provide a medium for the students to showcase just how talented they are through their various expressions and interpretations of art. This partnership is indeed a perfect culmination of the 40th-year celebration between Jamaica and the EU, as we are taking Jamaica globally.”

Head of the EU Delegation to Jamaica, Ambassador Paola Amadei, remarked on the importance of the exhibition taking place in Brussels: “Our EU colleagues in Brussels, who have not had the opportunity to experience all of the variety and beauty what Jamaica has to offer, will be able to get a glimpse through this thought-provoking exhibition. It’s the perfect way to end a marquee 40th year of progress between the EU and the people of Jamaica.”

The mounting of the exhibition is also being held in collaboration with the Jamaican Embassy in Brussels.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20151208/out-many-one-jamaica-exhibition-mounted-brussels

THE country’s leading authority on mathematics education has indicated that one of the major gaps in the teaching and learning of the subject in local classrooms is the lack of focus on problem solving.

National Mathematics Coordinator Dr Tamika Benjamin, who is part of the team implementing the iLead educational leadership programme in schools — an initiative created and implemented by the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation and the Ministry of Education — told maths teachers from Happy Grove and St Thomas Technical high schools at a recent workshop that very often the tasks set by teachers are focused on finding answers to questions that already dictate the algorithm to be used to find the solution. However, she explained, problem solving requires students to find solutions without knowing what method to use.

“You have to allow students to use their own strategies; do not restrict them,” she stressed, noting that while questions may have one answer, problems may have multiple solutions.

“We stifle their development when we eliminate problem-solving. [That] approach adopted by most teachers encourages passive learning and consequently, students become dependent on instructions, rather than grasping concepts and confidently take on challenges,” she argued.

Using examples, Dr Benjamin challenged the teachers by demonstrating how problem solving tasks were different from questions teachers in general currently set.

“Thirty-five pupils attended a Children’s Day party. At the party, each girl was given five sweets and each boy was given three sweets. If a total of 155 sweets were given out the party, how many more girls than boys were there?” the Mathematics Coordinator asked, in an effort to demonstrate her point.

Dr Benjamin posited that the tasks set must deal with situations that are natural to the students and should centre on core mathematical concepts which they should learn. That approach, she said, shoulld lend itself to students justifying and explaining their answers.

The mathematic coordinator countered claims that students will resist problem solving tasks, insisting that dialogue must be an important part of the teaching and learning environment, in order to engage the students.

“Teachers have to ask purposeful questions that allow students to explain and reflect. Questions that help them to know what the students know. They must lead to meaningful discussions and ideas,” she emphasised.

In addition, she urged teachers to use a variety of strategies to engage students, including drawing or dramatising to “bring mathematics to life in the classroom.”

Happy Grove and St Thomas Technical are two of the new participants in the iLead programme, which targets ten schools in Portland, St Mary and St Thomas, given the National Education Inspectorate’s assessment of their needs.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/Problem-solving-missing-from-maths-education—Benjamin_45354

The organisers of the inaugural Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS) Foundation Heroes In Action 5K Run/Walk were pleased with Saturday’s event, which was held in the historic tourist town of Falmouth, Trelawny, with close to eight hundred people taking part.

Ryon Chambers won the male run category in a time of 17 minutes and 58 seconds. Second place was taken by Lenford Adams, 18:15, while Ronique Williams copped third in 18:19.

On the women’s side, first place went to Karlene Blagrove of Pacers Running Club in an easy-looking 22:07 minutes. She was trailed across the finish line by Jozanne Harris (Jamdammers) in 22:57 minutes. Jordan Waldschmidt ended in third, running 25:04 minutes.

What made the event more special was the fact that multiple Olympic and World Champion and world record holder over the 100m and 200m Usain Bolt was on hand to send the participants on their way.

Bolt, through his foundation, were key endorsers of the event that seeks to provide funding to the tune of $8m for the construction of a building that will house a classroom, a library and a sewing room at the Granville Place of Safety for Girls in Trelawny.

Celebrity Participants
Also taking part were Bolt’s parents, Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt; the town’s mayor, Garth Wilkinson; and several other well-known personalities, including members of the Trelawny FA, Linnel McLean (president), Ronald McLean (no relation) and Ms Hernie Brown, among others.

Paula Sinclair won the overall female 5K walk title ahead of Kimberly Clarke, with Brynn Broadie finishing in third place. On the men’s side, victory went to AndrÈ Smith of Go Run Running Club. The Jamaica National pair of Vivian Lawes and Jason Henry were second and third, respectively.

Munro College won the Team Championship (5K race) ahead of Grange Hill High (second) and Bolt’s alma mater, William Knibb High, in third.

Munro’s team of Rushane Fullerton, Leon Whyte, Daviere Witter, Marville Yee, and Michael Goss crossed the line first in a combined time of 1:34:26, with Grange Hill (1:45:36) next best. William Knibb had a time of 1:46:1.

Port Authority took the Team Championship 5K Walk, with Good Hope in second and the Child Development Agency back in third.

Saffry Brown, general manager, JN Foundation, described the occasion as a special one.

“It is an awesome occasion. It actually has a special meaning to the Granville School of Safety for Girls and the wider community,” said Brown.

“That we are able to hold this event in Falmouth, a very historic town, and with Usain Bolt on board through his foundation, it gives a real sense of pride and purpose to the event,” she added.

The event was held as part of the JN Foundation’s 141st anniversary celebrations.

http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20151020/jnbs-foundation-marks-successful-5k-runwalk-falmouth