Education Minister Andrew Holness has announced plans to roll out the Jamaica Schools Administrative System (JSAS) software in more than 600 schools islandwide.

This, he said, is to equip administrators with the tools to make informed decisions regarding effective management and timely performance measurements at all levels within these institutions.

The JSAS, which was developed by the education ministry with support from the United States Agency for International Develop-ment (USAID), assists schools in capturing data on student enrol-ment, academic performance and behaviour, as well as the scheduling and planning of activities.

Speaking on June 18 at the formal handover of a computer laboratory at the Penwood High School in Kingston, which was outfitted by the e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited, Holness expressed concern that some high schools were not adequately using the technology.

"We have decided to deploy this software in 600 schools. All high schools will be required to use this software.

"We have also selected various primary and junior high schools, and all-age schools as well, to use this software. It is the first step in getting administrators in our education system accustomed to measuring performance," the minister said.

Older Version

Holness pointed out that the older Version 6 format, which is deployed in the schools, will be rolled out first to facilitate familiarisation with the software over one year.

"We will then launch the newer Version 7, which is web-enabled, which means that the programme will not be resident on the computer. Rather, the schools will need to have Internet access in order to use the software," he added.

The minister pointed out that the newer programme format, in addition to benefiting the schools, will facilitate the ministry accessing real-time information on developments in the institutions.

"So when schools use this software, and they enter data into the computer, the ministry will be seeing that data in real time.

"We can then take data from a national perspective, and we will be able to see, through the creation of a dashboard of performance, which schools are doing well in various areas, and which are doing poorly," Holness said.

Penwood High School is the 100th secondary institution to be fully outfitted with computer technology by e-Learning Jamaica Company Limited. The school's laboratory has been furnished with a range of equipment, inclusive of 55 desktop and 20 laptop computers; scanners; digital cameras; televisions; multimedia projectors and screens. The company has already assisted with the installation of computer laboratories at some 143 schools islandwide.