Extended school days impractical for shift schools – Lynton Weir

The suggestion, put forward by Opposition Spokesperson on Education Senator Damion Crawford, proposes adding two hours to the school day to enhance students' academic and social development. With the country in the midst of a general election, Crawford, who is also vying for the St. Catherine North Western seat, argues that the extended hours would also provide a safer environment for students who return home to unsupervised households while parents are at work. 

Most Jamaican schools end at 2:30 p.m., but approximately 27 institutions, including Old Harbour High, still operate on a two-shift system due to large student populations. Under this model, the first shift runs from 7:00 a.m. to noon, while the second shift begins immediately after and concludes at 5:00 p.m. 

Given this structure, Weir contends that Crawford’s proposal, though well-intentioned, is impractical for shift schools like Old Harbour High, which serves around 2,500 students. Speaking Wednesday at an event organized by the Pollyanna Project Inc., a long-standing U.S. and Jamaica-registered charity, Weir emphasized that his assessment was based on educational merits rather than political allegiance. 

“If we extend the school days by two hours it means that the students on the afternoon shift at Old Harbour High School, and all the other shift schools, their shift will not finish by 7:00 pm. That by itself is not practical,” he explained at the special function staged at Sky Blue Club, Old Harbour. 

There is some convergence though, between Crawford’s idea that zooms in on homework and extracurricular activities and Weir’s proffered solution.

“What would be a better solution? A better solution is for us to put in place homework centres. Very, very effective homework centres. One of our plans at Old Harbour High School is to put in place a homework centre,” he added. “What our intentions are in our homework centre is to have it properly equipped with all the necessary resources that will advance teaching and learning, that will advance those students who are lagging behind and at the same time what it will do: those students who’re doing well, those students who’re good in math, good in English, all the different subject areas, we will have those students in place to assist the weaker students.” 

After making his proposal public, Senator Crawford was forced to clarify aspects of his proposed extended-day programme, noting it would be voluntary for educators, with special compensation provided. 

In September of last year then Minister if Education and Youth Fayval Williams, says the government was one step closer to eliminating the two-shift systems by the end of the academic year. 

As per the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), the country’s state media, Minister Williams, who has since moved to head the finance ministry, said then: “This year, Ocho Rios Primary School will be joined by Naggo Head Primary, Bridgeport High, and Papine High in the transition from the shift system. Achieving these four schools will mean that by the end of this year, we will have only 27 schools left to de-shift. We are coming from 38 when I sat in the chair at the Ministry of Education and Youth in September 2020.”