Jamaican High Commission United Kingdom

Jamaican high commission

Ministry of Education Guidelines for donating Educational items to Jamaica

Guidelines from the Ministry of Education 

SUBLINK DONATE EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
We thank all our partners living in Jamaica and the diaspora who continue to contribute to the education system by donating educational materials. Educational materials serve to capture the interest and imagination of students, strengthen the delivery of curriculum and enhance the teaching learning environment. They include books, radios, televisions, and Information and Communication technologies, such as computers, educational DVDs and CDs.

Before any partner donates educational materials, he/she should clearly identify the school level or levels in which the educational materials will be used. These are Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. You should contact the Ministry of Education for guidance on the suitability of the goods. If you are sending educational materials from abroad, please ensure that you are familiar with the Jamaica Customs procedures for donating educational materials.

LINK WITHIN A LINK GUIDELINES
Audio-Visual

  1. Make sure that equipment are not old and obsolete
  2. Computers must meet the specification requirements established by the Ministry of Education
  3. Make sure appliances and equipment meet the electrical voltage and cycle suited for Jamaica (110-120 voltage and 50 or 50-60 cycle)
  4. Videos must meet the National Television Standard Committee (NTSC), PALS standards and those established by the Broadcast Commission of Jamaica

Print

  1. Make sure that the materials have no obscene/offensive image or text. These include expletives or images depicting pornography, etc.
  2. Materials should be in good condition and show no signs of wear and tear. All the leaves should be in tact.
  3. Materials should reflect themes and use the approach of the curriculum as much as possible. The curriculum guides are available on our website. Please contact the Ministry of Education’s Core Curriculum Unit or view our Approved Textbook List for guidance on the type of books schools may need. Please be reminded that most textbooks developed for primary/elementary and secondary schools outside the English speaking Caribbean, do not reflect the themes of our curriculum, and are, therefore, generally not suitable.
  4. Multicultural readers (picture books, anthologies, story books) that reflect the racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds of our students are highly welcomed and preferred
  5. Make sure that the content of the educational material is not outdated. Textbooks should preferably be no more than three years old.

SUBLINK EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS NEEDED SCHOOLS
Below is a list of some of the educational materials and equipment school libraries may need. It is always best if you contact the school to ascertain those materials and equipment it may need.
AUDIO VISUAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

  1. Facsimile machines
  2. Photocopiers
  3. Printers
  4. Multimedia projectors
  5. Computers
  6. Television sets
  7. DVD players
  8. Radios with CDs and cassette players
  9. Digital Cameras

10. Scanners

PRINT COLLECTIONS
Early Childhood      Age 0-6

  1. Alphabet & counting books
  2. Picture books
  3. Wordless books
  4. Concept books
  5. Nursery rhymes

Primary                  Age 7-11

  1. Adventure
  2. Fairy tales
  3. Bible stories
  4. Folk tales
  5. History
  6. Myths and legends
  7. Mystery stories
  8. Science fiction
  9. Historical fiction

10. Biographies

11. Sports

12. Modern fantasy books

13. Stories of about everyday life and culture and countries of the world

14. Poetry books

15. Informational books/textbooks

Secondary              Age 11-18

  1. Adventure
  2. Science fiction
  3. Modern fantasy
  4. History fiction
  5. Teen fiction
  6. Decision making
  7. Poetry books
  8. Grooming and personal hygiene
  9. Career choices

10. Growing up - Teen relationship with peers, parents and siblings

11. Awareness of their world

12. Environmental issues

13. Biographies – of role models.

14. Science Books e.g. about earth, sea, sky, cars, helicopters, engines and how they work.

15. Information Technology

16. Natural History – colourful, well written, interesting books about plants, animals and our world.

17. Poetry

18. Art and Craft

19. Sports and Games

20. The Classics, preferably illustrated editions

Reference

  1. Dictionaries and Encyclopedias
  2. World Books
  3. Atlases
  4. History (West Indian, African/American, European) and General Science.
  5. West Indian material written for children.
  6. Geography
  7. Biology

This print collection is a revised version of Guidelines for Donating policy, developed by MoE’s agency, Jamaica Library Service.
Customs Procedures for Donating Educational Materials   
If you live outside Jamaica and wish to donate educational materials to schools, please ensure that you are familiar with our customs procedures for donating educational materials. Prior to shipping these items, the shipper should contact the Ministry of Education to determine the suitability of the goods, and whether or not they attract customs duties. This will allow us to make the necessary approvals/waivers to be granted. This will also prevent extended delays at the port of entry and possible storage/demurrage charges. Please note that:

  • Information on computers being donated must be submitted prior to shipping to ensure that they are suitable for the intended purpose.
  • Letters of offer to the institutions should be sent prior to shipping of the goods.
  • The goods must be consigned to the relevant schools. Do not consign the goods to an individual.
  • Do not pack educational and non-educational goods (e.g. medical supplies) together, as the approval processes and requirements for customs clearance differ.
  • Do not pack personal items and educational materials together.

Clearance for Good sent by ship
For goods being shipped by sea, the following documentations should be sent ahead of the arrival of the goods to the beneficiary institution.

  • The Bill of Lading
  • Invoice (if goods are new)
  • List of goods and approximate value (if the goods were pre-owned.)

Clearance for goods sent by air
For goods being sent by air, the following documentation is to be sent ahead of the arrival of the goods to the beneficiary institution.

  • The Air Waybill
  • Invoice (if goods are new)
  • List of goods and approximate value if the goods were pre-owned.

When goods are accompanying a passenger, it is critical that the approvals and the necessary letters be obtained ahead of the arrival of the person, as they must be shown to the Customs Officer. This may be done either by sending the letters to the arriving passengers before they leave their country of residence; or informing a representative of the receiving institution to send them to the Customs Officer
The local recipient of these educational materials should apply to the Ministry of Finance, through the Ministry of Education, prior, for the waiver of any relevant duties or taxes. The recipient should then present all of the above documents at the time of seeking the waiver, and state that the goods will be used solely for the benefit of the named institution. The Ministry of Education will advise the Ministry of Finance by a supporting letter, that the institution is a duly registered educational one. The approval process takes a maximum of ten (10) business days.
For further information you may contact:
 
Chief Procurement Officer
Ministry of Education
2 National Heroes Circle
Kingston 4
Tel: 876-612-6008
Fax: 876-922-6568