The Enrichment Programme, a literacy and numeracy initiative of the Digicel Foundation, within two years has exceeded its targets under the partnership with United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In 2013, the Digicel Foundation was awarded a three-year cooperative agreement from USAID to expand its Enrichment programme to 95 schools. "The Digicel Foundation has not only met, but has exceeded that target," said David Butler, CEO of Digicel Jamaica, at an official press announcement held at the Central Branch All-Age School recently.

"A total of 97 schools with an enrolment of 37,000 students are now implementing the Enrichment Programme with assistance from USAID," Butler added. "These results are remarkable and certainly provide further motivation for us at Digicel Foundation, to continue to do more to address and improve underperformance in reading at the primary level nationally."

Over the next year, the Foundation is planning to establish an additional seven schools through the USAID agreement, bringing the total to 104 primary schools impacting over 40,000 students.

Permanent asset

"This kind of partnership is what Jamaica needs, this is the stuff that won't erode, and this is a permanent asset to all of us - teachers, students and parents," Ronald Thwaites, minister of education, articulated.

The Ministry of Education has been a partner of the programme since its onset in 2009. The minister applauded the efforts of both USAID and Digicel who has fulfilled a moral responsibility to give back.

To date, there is now a total count of 231 primary schools across Jamaica benefiting from the Enrichment Programme.