Jamaica’s Minister of Education is to visit Scotland as part of a fact finding trip to look at examples good practice in the Scottish education system.

The Rt Hon. Andrew Holmes and Dr Frank Weelpe, Executive Director of the Education Transformation Unit will be visiting the UK in March in order to gain full knowledge and understanding of good practice in reforming education in both Scotland and England.

Jamaica has been undergoing a process of transformation of its Education system. Simultaneously the national programme for reforming the public sector in Jamaica across all ministries has now reached the Jamaican Ministry of Education, and the Ministry is now entering the implementation stage of its modernisation programme.

The minister is looking to use the trip to inform the development of Regional Authorities and the creation of three new education supporting agencies based on experience of UK institutions. The three new agencies are:

			National Education Inspectorate
			Curriculum and Assessment Agency
			National Teaching Council.

The visit will take place on the 10 – 12 March.

The minister will meet with representatives from HM Inspectorate of Education, the General Teaching Council Scotland, and Maureen Watt the Minister of Schools and Skills, Scottish Government, with the view to learn about reform issues in the areas of:

			decentralised administration
			inspection at national level
			school improvement at the local level
			reforming the teaching profession
			performance management of school staff
			infrastructure development and financing, and early childhood.

This is the second time within two years that a Jamaican Minister for Education has visited Scotland. The visit further enhances Scotland's reputation as a centre for excellence in the education sector.

For further information please telephone Malena Malbaek +44 (0) 131 524 5729 or e-mail malena.malbaek@britishcouncil.org.