Two extraordinary schools were recognised recently for their hard work and dedication in increasing literacy and numeracy levels with the assistance of the Enrichment Programme.

The announcement was made at a forum held at the Wexford Court Hotel in St James, with the first group of 32 schools from western and central Jamaica who participated in this joint initiative.

The schools, Wilson's Run Primary in Region Three and Lucea Primary School in Region Four, were named 'Exemplary Schools' for their outstanding administering of the programme. Their level of monitoring and assessment of students' performance; attendance at learning and development seminars; compliance with reporting as well as utilisation of skills, were notable.

In addition, these schools have seen distinct improvements in their students' performance, which have excited and motivated the teachers to continue with the programme.

Both schools will be awarded grants for their performance, to be used to further enhance the delivery of the Enrichment Programme as well as other useful student-focused efforts during the coming school year. In addition, the Enrichment teachers from the institutions will enjoy time at Round Hill Hotel and Villas and Sunset Beach Resort.

First piloted in 2009 and now being implemented in more than 100 schools across the island, with USAID's support, the Enrichment Programme will be expanding to another 95 schools over three years. The intervention aims to facilitate and improve literacy and numeracy performance at the primary-school level through the use of information communication technologies (ICTs).

Digicel Foundation Education Programme Manager Dane Richardson highlighted the immense value of the teachers implementing the programme, saying, "The success of this and any intervention must be credited to the teachers and principals at the implementing institutions."