Aid in Action

USAID, JCF and GoGSAT partnership to benefit nearly 4000 students

Kingston | Friday, May 08, 2009

Nearly 4000 primary school students will benefit from the expanded Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)/GoGSAT partnership with the support of USAID’s Community Empowerment and Transformation Project. On February 19, 2009 the COMET project team hosted a press launch to highlight the JCF/GoGSAT partnership for community transformation through education.

The launch event highlighted the inclusion of an innovative course on community safety and security. The Community Safety and Security Courseware includes modules on fire and road safety; personal safety such as ‘what to do if you get lost’; avoiding corrosive substances; and important telephone numbers to remember. The courseware also informs students about community policing and how it works; the Child Care and Protection Act; and youth development programs. It includes pre and post tests and interactive quizzes to strengthen and enhance the learning experience. It is expected that students who participate in this courseware will have a better appreciation of their role in building community safety and security and make them more knowledgeable on key personal safety measures. The Community Safety and Security Courseware is available to everyone participating in the GoGSAT program.  

USAID/Jamaica’s assistance in this area compliments its support to the JCF in developing and implementing innovative strategies to address youth issues. Gangs and truancy are issues of major concern in some communities. It is evident that gang members are often recruited from a pool of youth who drop out of school after failing the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and poor performance in school. To test the effectiveness of such an intervention the JCF and the USAID co-sponsored 370 students from selected communities to participate in the GoGSAT online preparatory course during the 2008 academic year. This effort was highly successful as more than 80 percent of the participating students, most of who had been deemed at risk of performing poorly and dropping out of school, received high grades in their GSAT exams. This success resulted in the expanded program that will reach approximately 3,900 students in 38 communities where the JCF is rolling-out community-based policing.  

Mr. Sean Osner, Deputy Director of USAID/Jamaica’s Office of Sustainable Development affirmed his enthusiasm about the success of the pilot and now the expanded initiative. “The Community Safety and Security Course will be accessible to students supported by the project and to any child who accesses the GoGSAT online system.” While affirming the power of technology in enhancing student learning, Osner advised that “young people need accurate information to inform their choices and build their awareness of their roles, rights and responsibilities.”

The launch brought together key stakeholders from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the Social Development Commission (SDC), Ministry of Education, private sector, teachers and students from the various communities. GoGSAT is an e-learning program that offers online tutoring and practice tests to prepare students for the GSAT.