History

The Executive Services Division was established out of the 1998 Strategic Performance Review of the Ministry as part of the Government’s Public Sector Reform Programme. The Division commenced operations in January 2002 and was created to vigorously push forward the change and performance improvement agenda, and guide growth across the Ministry, its agencies and institutions. One objective of the Division is to assist senior managers and programme managers to improve performance thus enabling operational efficiency and effectiveness and the achievement of the Ministry’s objectives.

In addition, the Division brings together a critical mass to energise change and facilitate growth. These include: Corporate Planning, Public Relations and Executive Support Services to the Ministers and Permanent Secretary. The core functions of the Division are: to strengthen the Corporate Planning process and its integration with other central processes such as the budget; develop and implement effective communication strategies with all education stakeholders; manage the secretariat of the Permanent Secretary and provide support and research services to the Executive Office.

Core Functons

• Direct and coordinate the production of the Ministry’s Corporate Plan in line with the agreed budget allocation for the Ministry.
• Direct and co-ordinate the production of the Ministry’s Annual Report.
• Support Senior Managers, Unit Heads and Heads of Agencies to submit their contributions, plans and information on time and to the required standards of the Corporate Planning process.
• Liaise closely with the Director of Finance and Staff to ensure that the Budgets, resources and the Corporate Plan are aligned.
• Support the implementation of the agreed Performance Management Programme within the Ministry and its Agencies, ensure the availability of data for the decision-making process and support the decision-making process of the Performance Management Group.
• Monitor the performance management programme of the Ministry and Agencies ensuring timely reporting and analyse and interpret results for impact and help to determine advisability of adopting proposed recommendations.
• Co-ordinate and monitor the legislative programme for the Ministry and ensure that all submission deadlines are met as requested.
• Direct the public relations and communications programmes of the Ministry ensuring that the internal and external publics are informed about programmes and activities and provide support to programme managers for the development and implementation of programme specific public relations activities.
• Provide support to Senior Managers, Unit Heads and Heads of Agencies and co-ordinate activities for the preparation of Cabinet Submissions, Briefing Notes and consultative documents to other Ministries and Departments.
• Coordinate information from the Divisional, Unit Heads and Agencies to prepare drafts for the Ministry’s inputs to documents and reports for Parliament, messages and speeches for the Ministers and the Permanent Secretary
• Co-ordinate reports on Education, summarising where necessary, in preparation for the Ministers’ and Permanent Secretary’s participation in conferences and meetings with other Ministers of Government and Senior Officials in the Ministry and other groups.
• Co-ordinate the processing and preparation of replies to Parliamentary Committees and other Parliamentary questions addressed to the Minister of Education, Youth and Culture and/or the Permanent Secretary.
• Manage the Secretariat for all senior management meetings and track the implementation of decisions from Senior Management meetings and advise the Permanent Secretary on a timely basis.
• Maintain register of all agencies under the Ministry’s portfolio and their organizational profile. Monitor the appointment and tenure of the Board of Directors and advise the Minister and Permanent Secretary of the date of expiration of the tenure of all Boards. Receive all Annual Reports and prepare the necessary documentation for these reports to be taken to Cabinet and Parliament as required.

Mission, vision, strategic objectives and policies

At the strategic level the Ministry has been guided by its Mission and Vision Statements and the seven strategic objectives which resulted from a rigorous review in 1998. With the transfer of the youth portfolio an eighth strategic objective has been added.

Mission

To provide a system which secures quality education for all persons in Jamaica and achieves effective integration of educational and cultural resources in order to optimise individual and national development.

Vision

Be the driving force for change, growth and achievement in education, youth and culture providing the policies, strategies, plans, legislation and resources (financial, human and facilities) to enable institutions, agencies and other bodies to achieve their agreed outputs.

Strategic objectives and expected outputs

To devise and support initiatives striving towards literacy for all in order to extend personal opportunities and contribute to national development

Literate Grade 6 primary pupils able to access secondary education.

A functionally literate adult population with skills to access employment, be capable parents and contribute to social, economic and community development.

To secure teaching and learning opportunities that will optimise access, equity and relevance throughout the education system

Five years secondary education for increasing numbers of pupils.

Higher levels of attendance and less disruption in the classroom at both primary and secondary levels.

Increasing majority of pupils learning in a satisfactory physical environment

To support student achievement and improve institutional performance in order to ensure that national targets are met

More students leaving school better qualified for work and adult life.

More students accessing teaching and learning with an increasing emphasis on technology and citizenship.

To maximise opportunities throughout the Ministryís purview that promote cultural development, awareness and self-esteem for individuals, communities and the nation as a whole

More pupils and adults participating in cultural activities with an enhanced feeling of self-worth.

The nation’s cultural heritage accessible to all communities

To devise and implement systems of accountability and performance management in order to improve performance and win public confidence and trust

Schools accountable to the Ministry for their performance through published inspection reports.

Greater public debate about education performance

To optimise the effectiveness and efficiency of staff in all aspects of the service in order to secure continuous improvement in performance

Schools’ staffing levels sustained according to agreed regulations.

Measurable efficiency gains achieved each year.

To enhance student learning by the greater use of information and communications technology as preparation for life in the national and global communities

Students leaving schools and colleges with ICT skills.

Teachers with ICT skills and able to use modern technology to support teaching and learning.

To promote youth development in Jamaica through multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration

Young people supported through the transition from teenager to adult.

Wide ranging provision for young people to nurture their talents and potential, and to meet their specific needs.