Access to Quality Education in the Jamaican Language Part 2

Access to Education in the Jamaican Language Part 1

Justice for All is about more than courtrooms and law books; it’s about ensuring every Jamaican, in every parish, can access justice without fear or favoritism. A PNP government will rebuild trust by making the justice system faster, more transparent, and closer to the people.

Completing sovereignty: Jamaica will replace the British Monarch with a Jamaican President, chosen by and accountable to the people. The Caribbean Court of Justice will become our final court of appeal, keeping the highest legal decisions within the region.

Constitutional reform: The process will be participatory and transparent, with public forums and outreach in schools and communities to allow debate and citizen input. Parliamentary accountability will be strengthened through measures such as fixed election dates, term limits, and an expanded Senate to include broader representation, including voices from the diaspora, persons with disabilities, and the Rastafari and Maroon communities.

Real access to justice: Legal aid will expand to cover civil and constitutional matters. The Domestic Violence Act review will be completed and its recommendations implemented. A basic financial services law will ensure fair banking access nationwide. Court facilities will be upgraded for safety, efficiency, and modern standards.

Legal reforms reflecting national identity: The Jamaican language will be recognized as part of our identity. Hair discrimination will be banned, ancestral spaces and cultural practices protected, and Rastafari fully recognized as an indigenous religion with associated rights. An accord will be pursued with Maroon communities to give modern recognition to their treaty rights.

Global justice commitment: Jamaica will join the International Criminal Court, reinforcing our dedication to international law and accountability.

Justice for all in practice: Laws will be applied equally, with stronger protections for women, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Public beach access will balance community rights with tourism needs. A clear pathway will be created for a community-empowered ganja economy.

The vision: A justice system that is efficient, dignified, and truly Jamaican, completing the unfinished work of Independence. The full plan is detailed in the party manifesto online. The time has come to build a justice system worthy of our people and our future.

Education is the bridge from struggle to opportunity, lifting families, strengthening communities, and growing the economy. A People’s National Party government will urgently rebuild education from early childhood to tertiary, focusing on inclusion and care for every learner and teacher.

Fixing the foundation: Every child must be literate and numerate by Grade 6. Chronic absenteeism will be reduced, early grades strengthened with smaller classes, better-trained teachers, and modern learning tools. Barriers to school attendance will be removed. The RIDE program will subsidize transport for rural primary and secondary students.

Support for students in need: 20,000 students will receive $10,000 per month through EASE to ensure educational sustenance. Every needy student will get at least one hot meal daily. Structured developmental screening will start from age three. The “First 1,000 Days” initiative will support brain development, parenting, and nutrition. Partnerships with churches and communities will expand early childhood programs. An Early Childhood Teachers Portal will share lesson plans, developmental red flags, and best practices.

Raising performance: Primary schools will receive targeted literacy support through programs like Veranda Basics, Mommy and Me, and telephone tutorials. Secondary schools will offer remedial support, academic camps in Math and English, night school for adults pursuing CSEC passes, parish career fairs, and vocational labs in all high schools. HEART/NSTA training will expand in construction, agriculture, culinary arts, and artificial intelligence.

Tertiary access and skills training: The goal is for each household to have at least one member with a tertiary degree or Level 4 HEART/NSTA certification. The “First in the Family” program will give full scholarships to the first family member attending college or university. A special student loan amnesty will remove penalties for borrowers in default, cap repayments at a fair income-based rate, and pause payments during unemployment.

Modernizing the curriculum: Financial and digital literacy, entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, and sustainability will be integrated across subjects. Jamaican Patois will be recognized as a cultural language, with English taught as a second language.

Arts and creative development: Creative and performing arts high schools will be built in Kingston and Montego Bay, with arts programs in every primary school.

Clear pathways for all: By age 12, every child will be ready for the next stage; by 18, every youth will be on a pathway to training, entrepreneurship, or tertiary study. Every adult will have access to upskilling and decent work.

Core vision: Education is not a privilege — it is the foundation for opportunity and national progress.