Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams has urged students to take full advantage of the National Summer School Programme, which commences on Monday, July 4.

She was speaking at the Hope Valley experimental school graduation ceremony held at the University Chapel in St. Andrew on Wednesday (June 27).

She noted that the programme is designed to help students recover from learning loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students will also have on-demand access to the platform and content for the entire summer period.

Mrs. Williams also recommended that parents be engaged to inform teachers of the need for their children’s participation in summer school and to solicit their support.

Meantime, the Jamaica’s Teachers Association (JTA) has expressed disappointment with the Education Ministry’s decision to proceed with the National Summer School Programme, despite calls for it to be cancelled.

JTA President, Winston Smith said the Association requested on various occasions that the Ministry cancel the programme this year to allow teachers to rest during the summer, and recover from a high-stress period caused by the COVID pandemic.