Several initiatives are in place to prepare students for the world of work, said chief education officer in the Ministry of Education Dr Grace McLean. She was responding to comments at a recent Gleaner Editors' Forum by Silburn Clarke, deputy chairman of the Labour Market Reform Commission, who had stated that the education system was not properly preparing students for the 21st-century workforce.

The latest National Education Inspectorate (NEI) report highlights what appears to be a pre-occupation of school administrators with the acquiring of resources, while less focus is being placed on teaching and learning as well as leadership and management.

THOUGH the National Education Inspectorate's (NEI) latest report has shown that approximately half of the school lessons observed by inspectors were 'unsatisfactory', it has admitted that "some innovative practices and the use of time and other material resources were unearthed during inspections".

DURING the tabling of the 2013-2014 Budget in Parliament the Ministry of Education was allocated $76 billion out of $602 billion to conduct its affairs, including the payment of teachers' salaries.