By Halshane Burke
More than 24,000 students are enrolled in the Sixth Form Pathways Programme.
The students are registered in 167 secondary schools and 42 tertiary or post secondary institutions.
The seven-year high school programme was launched in 2022 to with the aim of having students leave schools with either an occupational associate degree, accredited associate degree, Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects, a CAPE associate degree or national vocational skills qualifications.
Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams says for decades, sixth form was restricted to only a few students, but now, the Sixth Form Pathways Programme ensures students are employable and are able to develop personally and professionally with career guidance.
"The beauty of these many pathways," she touted, "is that a student coming in on Pathway 3 can aspire to be in Pathway 1, which is the traditional pathway. Before now, the traditional CAPE pathway may not even have been a thought for those students."
Mrs Williams said the programme will bring hope for many who would have graduated grade 11 with reduced opportunities.
She said it will equip them with more interpersonal and problem-solving skills, better communication, critical thinking and conflict resolution skills, as well as provide them with increased entrepreneurship and business development.
The Council of Community Colleges of Jamaica is the accrediting agency for the Sixth Form Pathways Programme occupational associate degree across tertiary institutions.
