Forty vulnerable students and six of their teachers will benefit directly from the one-year Scotiabank Teach to Transform Project launched on Thursday, March 12 at the Haile Selassie High School in Payne Land.
However, children struggling with literacy and other academic and sociological challenges right across Jamaica, and many of their teachers, will soon also be benefitting from this unique approach to positive change in our education system.
The dynamic, wider system change is being piloted during this Project at Haile Selassie High by The MultiCare Youth Foundation (MYF) the philanthropic arm of the ICD Group and the Creative Language-Based Learning (CLBL) Foundation. Scotiabank is supporting the initiative through a donation of $10 million.
MYF Executive Director Mitzian Turner explained at the lively Launch ceremony in the School Library,
“Our two Foundations (MYF and CLBL) have come together to form the Consortium Foundations for Change, to roll out this Collaborative Approach to Systems Change for Youth, Education and National Security for Jamaica, in a sustainable manner… It is important to note that this project was born out of recognised observation of some of the complex issues facing our students.”
While expressing the Consortium members’ sincere appreciation to the Scotiabank Foundation for its support, Mrs. Turner cited systemic barriers such as high illiteracy levels, limited access to evidence-based reading methodologies, inadequate remedial support systems and limited access to critical psycho-social support, leading to cycles of crime and violence and limited opportunities for socio-economic growth. She concluded,
“This reality requires an urgent, targeted and integrated approach that simultaneously addresses some of the root causes while providing much needed immediate support.”
Speaking at the launch, public affairs and communications manager at Scotiabank Deleen Powell said the project aligns perfectly with the bank’s commitment to creating more resilient communities through access to opportunities for empowerment.
“At Scotiabank, we believe strongly that education is one of the most powerful tools for transformation. When we invest in educators, we invest in generations of students, who will benefit from stronger learning environments, greater opportunities, and the confidence to reach their full potential,” Powell said.
The Scotiabank Teach to Transform Project was lauded at its Launch by Director of Safety and Security at the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Richard Troupe. Mr. Troupe congratulated the Consortium members on the impact they were making towards positive change and praised Haile Selassie High School for its fixity of purpose in transforming lives. He went on to urge the 40 students who would benefit from the Project to be agents of change, and to remind the participating teachers that they were pioneers, and that,
“When we transform the way we teach, we are transforming the students.”
The Scotiabank Teach to Transform Project is outstanding in design in that it is multi-generational, simultaneously benefitting students as well as teachers, and addresses immediate needs as well as working for long range positive systemic change.
Participating students will be guided to develop foundational literacy skills, practical workforce competencies and prosocial behaviours with the expected outcome of contributing to higher graduation rates, improved employability, enhanced soft skills and lowered proclivity for involvement in crime and violence.
The project will also build the capacities of teachers and school administration through its training-of-trainers model for sustainability and absorption within the school system. This will allow for other students, both current and future, to benefit from the advanced skills these teachers will develop. Selected teachers will receive specialised training in literacy intervention strategies, tools and resources to support students effectively; ongoing instructional coaching and mentorship to ensure fidelity and effectiveness in implementing the methodologies. Current and future students will therefore benefit from the literacy training, as educators’ enhanced skills will help address literacy gaps.
Participants at Haile Selassie High School will be exposed to Life skills training including communication, decision making, conflict resolution, professionalism, resume writing, financial management as well as structured personal and career guidance and opportunities for one-on-one mentorship counselling and support. Through group cognitive behavioural therapy, beneficiaries will gain support and skills to cope with trauma, stress, anxiety and behavioural challenges, to develop a positive mindset and self-autonomy.
In addition to its financial support of the Project, Scotiabank and the Scotiabank Foundation will provide other value-added activities with the school, to include financial literacy guidance and facility tours for the students.
