JAMPACT has adopted the following five basic schools: Coles, Crescent Road, Maxfield Park, Mount Olive and St. Stevens. At the beginning of this administrative year the executive team under the leadership of the education co-chairs made the decision to live up to the organization’s name and really make an impact on the schools we had adopted during the seven years of JAMPACT’s existence. As a result, the education committee conducted a needs assessment of the schools. The following document includes information gleaned from that assessment as well as a vision of the kind of impact JAMPACT should have on the schools.

Many not-for-profit organizations as well as corporations in Jamaica adopt basic schools offering varying degrees of support - monetary and in-kind. In the past, the support provided by JAMPACT to our schools has been primarily centered on hosting Christmas treats for the students. This has occurred consistently over the years. Though this more than some organizations have done, it should not be accepted as the best that JAMPACT has to offer.

This is a very critical time in our nation’s education system and we must understand that the transformation of this system begins with early childhood education. JAMPACT has already begun to take part in this process by hosting an education forum this year whose aim was to identify how the Diaspora can help to make the recommendations of the Taskforce on Education Reform, which was commissioned by the Jamaican government, a reality. We must now continue on this path, and aim to become leaders in the process, by envisioning our schools as models to be duplicated by the government and others who have adopted schools.

As mentioned above, a needs assessment has been conducted this year and there is much to be done to build the foundation for what will eventually become "model schools."

The Basic Needs of the Schools

• Infrastructure / Capital expenditure

  JAMPACT’s schools are in dire need of desks, chairs and dry erase boards. Along with the items identified in the needs assessment, JAMPACT should also consider a bed for each school for a sickbay. All of JAMPACT’s schools suffer from poor lighting and excessive heat. Therefore, we should look into securing fans or some other type of cooling mechanism such as Sprayed Polyurethane Foam, which is a product that is sprayed on roofs to help cool buildings. Coles Basic School recently identified their wish for securing a water cooler as a high priority. Another very important part of laying the foundation in terms of the infrastructure is to get schools outfitted with telephone lines so that Internet access may be possible in the future. We should also try to help the schools secure kitchen supplies such as pots.

• Student Supplies and Teacher Materials

  The schools always need teaching materials and student supplies. One way to address this problem would be to approach the Gleaner for reams of paper. Additionally, JAMPACT should approach companies in the US for books and supplies. This should be an annual outreach.

• Nutrition / School Feeding Program

  Since all of our schools provide lunch at a cost, we may want to fund a feeding program that would eliminate or subsidize the cost to parents.

• Sanitary Conditions / Restrooms

  Many of our schools do not have facilities designated for children’s use. One of the organization’s aims should be to see to it that this is not the case. Students and adults should not be forced to use the same facilities.

• Playground Equipment

  Most of the schools do not have a proper play area. Some of them are limited by the amount of space available. Therefore, it may be useful to provide them with plastic playground equipment, which is durable and portable. We could also provide simple sporting equipment and board games for a play corner.

All of the issues above were mentioned to us when the needs analysis was conducted earlier this year. The education committee feels that these needs should be met in order to get the schools to an acceptable functional level. Below are the issues that JAMPACT should be confronting in an effort to make our schools "model schools," schools that other organizations would also want to produce when they take on the responsibility of adopting schools.

JAMPACT has the opportunity to impact, not only the approximately 450 students that attend the schools, but to also impact the communities within which these schools exist. In taking on any of the above projects we need to ensure that the communities are involved in whatever way possible so as to create a sense of ownership among the people in the communities. This will help to cement the sustainability of our projects.

Building proper playgrounds seems to be an ideal way to get the communities involved. Not only should we get the communities involved, we should involve our members by planning an annual trip where we go to Jamaica and, for example, help put the playgrounds together. Whenever possible we should seek to get involved in the communities we are trying to facilitate - planting the flowers on the playground or digging up the concrete and planting grass to make it more suitable for children etc.

Currently, none of our schools provide breakfast. This is something that JAMPACT could consider doing. We could do this by involving local companies such as Grace Kennedy or a big supermarket chain like Superplus.

• Infrastructure / Capital Expenditure

  A model basic school should have a solid infrastructure. The building should be a concrete structure that is well lit and well painted in bight student friendly colors. The building should be well maintained and uphold the highest standards of cleanliness. Murals should be present depicting heroes/heroines or situations conducive to the students’ social and emotional development.

• Student Supplies and Teacher Materials

  An adequate amount of supplies should always be on hand for teachers and students to utilize. It is important, however, that teachers have a safe and secure place to house the supplies.

• Nutrition / School Feeding Program

  The ideal basic school would offer a free breakfast and lunch program with a very nutritional menu. JAMPACT should contact a nutritionist to put together a feeding program that will provide vital nutrients utilizing foods that are low in cost.

• Technology

  The ideal basic school should have a computer lab that provides access to the Internet. The ideal student to computer ratio should be no more than 3:1 in the lab.

• Teachers

  Teachers must be well qualified and motivated. They must also receive ongoing professional development. JAMPACT can play a role by organizing the necessary training through organizations like the JTA. The organization could also provide financial assistance to teachers seeking necessary and additional certification.

While it is critical for us to provide our schools with the resources necessary for them to become successful institutions, the sustainability of our efforts should be paramount in our decision-making. As a result, JAMPACT will work with the school administrators in order to ensure appropriate mechanisms for accountability.

We must continue to make the stakeholders, i.e. the school and community, a part of the process every step of the way. This will include consistent dialogue with our schools in an effort to help them construct models for their sustainable development. Therefore, instead of merely providing funds periodically, we would work together on a business idea aimed at sustaining the work done. For example, the schools could start a garden producing organic fruits and vegetables for sale. Once a particular school becomes sustainable, JAMPACT will have an opportunity to replicate our efforts in other schools.

JAMPACT’s adopt-a-school program has the potential to be the hallmark of our beloved organization. We can provide the Jamaican Diaspora with a solid example of how to effectively construct and manage a sustainable project on the ground in Jamaica.

A successful program will also provide us with the credibility necessary to approach small grant giving organizations as well as large donor-agencies. This will begin a process that will eventually transform JAMPACT’s fundraising initiatives. The organization’s growth and continued success depends on this type of effort.

This vision should be used as a guide or template with regard to how we think about and assist our schools in the future. Of course, there may be revisions along the way. However, the intent should remain the same. We must ensure that all our basic schools achieve their greatest potential.