Phase One – Review of Social Education Programme

Programme Evaluation & Course Assessment Methods (EDID6504)

University of the West Indies (Open Campus)

Student Name: Candice Brown

Student I.D. No. 04008579

Assignment One – Phase One: Review of Social Education Programme

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 Phase One – Review of Social Education Programme

Table of Contents

Pages

Introduction ……………………………………………………………..3

Description of Programme – PATHE …………………………………...3

Shortcomings of PATHE ………………………………………………..5

Supplementary Programme for PATHE – (PHD).………………………6

PHD Objectives ……..…………………………………………………..6

Description of Target Group ……………………………………………..7

Justification for Programme ……………………………………………...7

References

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Introduction

The Jamaican economy is among the slowest growing economy in the developing

world. Statistics show that Jamaica has one of the highest debt in the region. (Worldbank

2016). A majority of the population is becoming more vulnerable to social problems which

hinder economic growth and advancement. This condition has contributed to a prevalence of

social issues such as crime, unemployment, teenage pregnancy and underachievement in

education.

Today approximately 17% of the population is now living in poverty and this

percentage has increased significantly over the past two years. The government of Jamaica

thus must create programmes to support growth and sustainability. (UNFPA 2016) An

example of a human development programme designed to stymfy poverty is the Rural

Economic Development initiative (REDI), the Jamaica Foundation for lifelong learning

(JFLL) and the Programme for Advancement through Health and Education (PATHE).

Each of these programmes have been successful in creating opportunities for the

vulnerable members of society but each has shortcomings which have impacted access and

meaningful participation in the programme. In the following report the PATHE will be

discussed at length and an effort will be made to address observed weaknesses of the

programme by implementing another proposed programme known as the Programme for

Human Development (PHD) to support learning of life skills necessary to impact

development.

Description of Programme

Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATHE)

This programme was initiated by the government of Jamaica and the World Bank

(WB). Its primary goal is to support youth employability, adult literacy, and healthy lifestyles

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for the vulnerable members of society. PATHE was introduced in 2002. Beneficiaries of

PATHE must be members of an impoverished family who demonstrate need after thorough

investigation conducted by a ministry officials.

This programme is described as a household benefit system. All members of the

household must submit copies of their birth certificate, tax registration number and another

forms of identification and complete a questionnaire. The family head or a representative of

the family head will then be required to act as a liaison between the Ministry of Labour and

Social Security and the household.

Applications are made at the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) offices

and an instant response is provided by a computer algorithm. If approved the recipient can

anticipate a visit from the MLSS representative within 6 weeks. If the applicants are rejected

they can immediately appeal. A home visit will be conducted and the application will be

reviewed by a panel of MLSS personnel in Kingston.

Categories of PATHE beneficiaries include;

- Children from birth to completion of secondary education

- Elderly not in receipt of a pension

- Persons with disabilities

- Pregnant and Lactating women

- Poor adults 18-59 years

Beneficiaries of health grants must maintain a prescribed schedule of visits to the doctor,

children over the age of six must be attending a government funded school with a minimum

monthly attendance record of 85% in order to be considered compliant. Payments to

beneficiaries are made available in February, April, June, August, October, and December

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beginning the 15th day of each month. There is also a school feeding programme which

allows children of beneficiaries to access money for lunch five days a week.

In 2008 a system of differentiated benefits was introduced for children receiving

education grants to encourage school attendance and school retention at the secondary level.

If beneficiaries fail to meet requirements they receive the base sum and may receive

remainder of funds if they demonstrate compliance. Tertiary students are also entitled to a

postsecondary grant in the form of a onetime payment to transition from secondary to post-

secondary institution.

Shortcomings of PATHE

The following challenges were noted when an investigation was conducted into the

programme known as PATHE;

- Limited access to information. It was found that information regarding access,

benefits and other necessary conditions of the programme was difficult to ascertain.

Material on relevant websites was outdated. There was no available printed

information at the MLSS offices.

- Limited communication between PATHE personnel and PATHE beneficiaries.

Persons who are found noncompliant or whom have been taken off the programme

are often not made aware of the change in their status. Also some beneficiaries are not

using the programme, while others who are in need are not able to access the service

- Beneficiaries receive limited training and social support needed to effectively use the

resource. Little effort is employed to equip beneficiaries with social skills necessary

move out of poverty in fulltime employment.

Consequently the major problems associated with this programme are; poor communication

between programme officers and potential beneficiaries/beneficiaries, unsatisfactory

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coverage of vulnerable populace and failure to support the provision of life skills and

educational services for the poor and disadvantaged population.

Supplementary Programme for PATHE

Programme for Human Development (PHD)

The introduction of a life skills course for all family heads of PATHE beneficiary

households. Participation in this training would also be a condition for compliance and this

training would be ongoing throughout the tenure of the beneficiaries’ participation in the

programme. Consequently the goal would be to equip beneficiaries with financial support and

life skills to move out of poverty thus creating opportunities for wealth and entry of others in

need.

Aims

1. To facilitate beneficiary access to fulltime employment in a practical area through

skill training.

2. To improve the quality of life of beneficiaries by providing life skills training

3. To support entrepreneurship by facilitating training in entrepreneurship skills

4. To increase the number of PATHE graduates from the programme each year

Objectives

1. To improve at 60% of the unemployed and employed beneficiaries skill sets by

facilitating training and certification in core areas via the JFLL the HEART Trust

NTA.

2. To provide employment for at least 60% of beneficiaries family heads by establishing

partnerships with public and private sector organizations.

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3. To provide ongoing training for beneficiaries in life skills by facilitating training for

the family heads via the JFLL.

Description of Target Group

The target group refers to the group of persons who will be participating in this programme.

In order to best serve the needs of the house hold, the head of the household or his/her

representative will be required to participate in this training programme. This will include

persons from ages 25 -65 years old who lead the application process at the onset of

registration.

Justification

The problems noted were directly related to user access to information and user

dependence on the programme. In order to support development the PATHE programme

must seek to teach skills which make individuals independent from state support.

Consequently training and certification in employability skills as well as entrepreneurship

should motivate participants to eventually become disqualified for PATHE or in other words

move out of absolute poverty.

Employability skills would include life skills such as; personal development,

budgeting, basic literacy and numeracy, and professionalism. Furthermore by means of a

partnership the HEART NTA this programme seeks to equip household heads with

marketable skills in areas which demand labourers in today’s economy.

Another driver for the economy is entrepreneurship which is will be extended to all

participants. Not only will beneficiaries be equipped with skills in developing business plans

and accounting but also information regarding grants and loans for business development.

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Funds are available by means of programmes such as REDI and Youth Upliftment through

Entrepreneurship (YUTE) programmes available by means of the Ministry education and

youth.

References

UNFPA (2016) Country Profile Jamaica – UNFPA The Caribbean. Retrieved from

http://caribbean.unfpa.org/public/Home/Countries/Jamaica

WorldBank (2016) Overview – Jamaica. Retrieved from

http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/jamaica/overview