Over 400 stakeholders from the education sector in western Jamaica and representatives from various alumni and Diaspora organizations across the US, Canada, and England are expected to attend the Advancement in Education Summit in Jamaica between February 18 and 21, 2014. Billed as the first education summit, the event will focus on highlighting the critical needs, limitations, and strengths of the education system in Jamaica.
 
The Summit also aims to identify areas in which members of the Jamaican Diaspora in the US, Canada, and Europe can be of the greatest assistance. As one of the organizations championing and rallying resources around the cause of Early Childhood Education, JAMPACT will have representation at the event.
 
“It will be imperative that a comprehensive assessment be done to determine the existing organizations in the Diaspora targeting education; their impact, challenges and success; and capacity building issues,” notes Akelia Lawrence-Maitland JAMPACT Fundraising Chair and Chair of the Diaspora Early Childhood Committee.
 
The Summit at has been endorsed by the Minister of Education Honorable Ronald Thwaites, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Honorable Arnaldo Brown, and the President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, Mr. Mark Nicely.

Summit leaders are hoping that partnerships will be built among the various regions of the Diaspora, with the Ministry of Education, JA Teacher’s Association, Joint Board of Teacher Education, Early Childhood Commission and organizations contributed to schools and communities across Jamaica.
 
Underscoring this point Mrs. Lawrence-Maitland commented that “for JAMPACT, connecting with early childhood related entities, from schools to the Early Childhood Commission, will be critical to the forward movement of our work.”