Elaine Foster-Allen - file

SEVERAL SCHOOLS will come under increased scrutiny over the next three weeks, as the National Education Inspectorate (NEI) begins a pilot examination process to improve the quality of the offerings at the island's primary and secondary schools.

The process will entail the inspection of 10 schools chosen from regions one and six.

Chief inspector at the NEI, Elaine Foster-Allen, said the pilot phase, which will begin today, would be used to test procedures and instruments that have been developed for use in the inspection process nationally.

She said the inspectorate is being established to promote a culture of excellence in education, the acceptance of a system of accountability, as well as the goal of continuing institutional improvement.

"Our mission is to hold schools accountable while at the same time supporting them by helping them to improve," Foster-Allen told The Gleaner recently.

Evidence based

She explained that the inspection project would be merely evidence based.

"We want to feed back the information to schools and other education providers and to make sure that the educa-tion minister (Andrew Holness) has information to use as evidence. We also want the public to know what is happening in our schools based on evidence."

Foster-Allen added that the NEI would objectively, independently and rigorously inspect, assess and review the quality of schools, education services delivery, policy implementation and application of ministry-approved standards.

Welcomed by jta head

Included in the mandate of the NEI will be the task to evaluate and monitor improve-ments in weak and failing schools, as well as to recom-mend that appropriate remedial action be taken to facilitate improvements.

Meanwhile, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, Michael Stewart, has wel-comed the move by the education ministry to have the schools inspected.

He said the association supports any programme that would advance and promote accountability in the education system.

nadisha.hunter@gleanerjm.com