Education System in Jamaica, NY, NY

Introduction

Neighborhood Jamaica, NY is located in the borough of Queens in the neighborhoods of New York City. Jamaica, NY was established under Dutch rule in the neighborhood of New York in 1656. Jamaica, NY has experienced a series of reforms to restructure and improve provide public educational services. In 2007, the Parliament adopted a bill on education increasing the number of grades in high school from three to four years. The reform was both welcomed and criticized. In 2010, another revision reversed this by reducing the senior high school years from 4 to 3 (IBIS World, 2011). This revision had brought its share of problems, including in terms of infrastructure and logistics for the implementation of the program in four years passed from the beginning of the academic year 2009-2010.

Although there have been significant improvements in the neighborhood's educational system, there is a need to investigate the efficacies of the transition and reforms in educational sector. This report examines the education system structure of impacts, implications and implementation of the recent educational reforms in the Jamaica, NY's educational system. The population in Jamaica, NY has a literacy rate of 77.9%. Primary and middle-school education is free and is mandatory (NYC, 2012b). Students begin their six year primary education at age six. This is followed by junior secondary school system for 3 years of academic training combined with technical and vocational training. The senior secondary (or technical/vocational) school goes with a three-year course as the last stage at the school level followed by university education (NYC, 2012b). This study primarily aims to investigate the pedagogical implications of education reforms in Jamaica, NY. The study will conceptualize and elaborate the impacts the new reforms will have on the teaching, learning and administration outcomes in the context of Jamaica, NY.

Jamaica, NY's Education System

Jamaica, NY's education system is divided into Kindergarten school, Elementary school, Junior High school, Major High School, Specialized training school, College and University. The elementary school is up to 6th grade then the high-school ends after 12th year. After High school, students can choose from Training School (specialized courses), College-Junior College or University (NYC, 2012b). Lack of access and quality in higher education within the nation can be very costly, both in terms of hard earned foreign currency and talent of the youth. Empowerment of youth by offering the latest and best quality of higher education is the prime responsibility of universities and schools of higher learning.

Currently, two universities have opened their branches in Jamaica, NY. Key focus areas for higher education according to a recently done study by US Education department include:

Innovation In financing

Use of ICT

Research grants and research outputs

Skill development

Regulatory framework

Developing Industry partnerships

Vocational education and training (VET)

Accreditation

State and Federal Funding to Jamaica, NY Education Institutes

According to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), state governments provide an average of 37.0% of all college funds to Jamaica, NY community (NYC, 2012a). Financial assistance, which subsidizes tuition fees and other expenses, comes in the form ...