NSSC Feature 2015 - National Secondary Students Council (NSSC)

The National Secondary Students’ Council (NSSC)
This week in our Youth Month Article series, the Ministry of Youth and Culture highlights the National
Secondary Students Council (NSSC) and their role in the positive development of the youth leaders.
Overview:
The National Secondary Students’ Council was established in 1975, through a
policy brought before government in 1973. This policy came as a response to
the growing demand for effective student representation and the need for
students’ involvement in the decision making process of schools at the all
levels.
The Education Act of 1980 states that “every public education institution
shall have a students’ council, which shall consist of elected representatives
of students with at least one staff advisor, elected by students.”
It also outlined that through the student councils at the secondary and tertiary levels the student shall have
the right to:
 Democratically elect their representatives;
 Have representation on the board of the institution;
 Meet with the principal, and staff or both, on any matter affecting the students’ interest.
The NSSC continues its representation of Jamaica’s students with the guiding philosophy, “responsible
students make the difference”.
The Role of Student Councilors
Student councils give students a voice and the opportunity to work in partnership with the school
administration and staff to improve their schools. A student councillor is responsible for advocating for
students’ rights and upholding the ideas of the National Secondary Students’ Council.
NSSC Activities
Between 2006- 2014 the NSSC has trained over 2,500 student councillors at the secondary school level in
students’ council roles and responsibilities, advocacy and student leadership. In October 2015, the NSSC
coordinated training workshops for schools across the island, with over 600 student councillors, staff
advisors and senior school officials being trained in areas such as: Role of Student Councillors / Staff
Advisors, Advocacy, Art of Facilitation, and Child Rights.
Facilitators for the workshops were:
- National Council on Education: Mrs. Merris Murray, CEO – (Education Act 101)
- Ministry of Youth & Culture - Mr. Davey Haughton / Miss Ruth Lawrence, Youth Empowerment
Officers, (Role of Staff Advisors / Art of Facilitation )
- Ministry of Youth & Culture Miss Kemesha Kelly, Youth Empowerment Officer , (Advocacy
Strategies for Student Councillors )
- Office of the Children’s Registry Officers: Mrs. Julia Smiley Green, Mrs. Lesia BhawandatVassell, Mr. Andre Bailey and Mr. Vincent Gardner
NSSC Executive: 2015-2016
President—Everton Rattray , Kingston College
General Secretary - Oshnel Bryan, Kingston College
Treasurer– Daniel Jarrett, Jamaica College
Public Relations Officer– Christina Williams, Titchfield High
Region 1: Kingston & St. Andrew
Vice-President: Benjamin Fraser, Ardenne High
Asst Vice-President: Shanice Phillips, Meadowbrook High
Secretary/PRO: Tafari Williams, Calabar High
Region 2: St. Thomas, St. Mary & Portland
Vice-President: Colleen Reid, St. Thomas Technical High
Asst Vice-President: Robyn Boyd, Marymount High
Secretary/PRO: Shanies Williams, Seaforth High
Region 3: St. Ann & Trelawny
Vice-President: Latresha Hall, Ferncourt High
Asst Vice-President: Tavain Francis, Cedric Titus High
Secretary/PRO: Sydoney James, Holland High
Region 4: St. James, Hanover & Westmoreland
Vice-President: Sherika Burgess, Mount Alvernia High
Asst Vice-President: Justin Frater, Cornwall College
Secretary/PRO: Samantha Smith, Grange Hill High
Region 5: Manchester & St. Elizabeth
Vice-President: Matthew Brown, Manchester High
Asst Vice-President: Jahnelle Pinnock, Bishop Gibson High
Secretary/PRO: Kevaughn Knight, Manchester High
Region 6: St. Catherine & Clarendon
Vice-President: Sineal Smith, St. Jago High
Asst Vice-President: Annalisa Bartley, Kellits High
Secretary/PRO: Mark Edwards, Spanish Town High
Message from National President, Everton Rattray, Kingston College
The NSSC sees Youth Month as an opportunity for continued growth
of youth at all levels, it must be highlighted that without Technical
and Financial support from the Ministry of Youth and Culture,
through the Youth and Adolescents, Policy Division our efforts would
be meaningless.
Through this continued support the NSSC in observance of Youth Month the NSSC has
embarked on several activities for this Month which includes:
•
International Students’ Day Forum – November 17, 2015, UWI Rex MPR
•
NSSC Region One (Kingston & St. Andrew) – Mass Meeting – November 20, 2015,
Merl Grove
•
NSSC Region One (Kingston & St. Andrew) – Student Council Capacity Building
Workshop - November 25, 2015, Lister Mair Gilby School for the Deaf
The NSSC wishes to thank the Ministry of Education, Office of the Childrens’ Registry, Ministry
of Youth & Cultures’- Youth Empowerment Officers, all Student Councillors, Staff Advisors
and Principals and all other stakeholders for their continued support to the movement. We will
remain #connected and committed to the cause of student empowerment as we strive for
excellence at all levels.
NSSC Region 1 Executive members;
pictured with the newly Installed Student
Council Body from the Lister Mair
Gilby School for the Deaf.
NSSC Region II ( St. Thomas, Portland
and St. Mary) Regional Workshop
Miss Merris Murray, Executive Director,
National Council on Education, presenting
on the ‘Role of student councillors on
School Board’ at the NSSC Region III (St.
Ann, Trelawney) Capacity Building
Workshop at the St. Hilda’s High
Miss Ruth Lawrence– Youth Empowerment
Officer (Centre) with the NSSC Executive at
the 3 day Planning Retreat, July 2015, held
at the Eltham Training Centre, St. Ann
NSSC Church Service for Student Council
Week in February 2015, held at the
Emmanuel Apostolic Church, Kingston, over
300 students counciiloors were present.
Mr. Kevon Campbell, Programme
Development Specialist at the Ministry of
Youth & Culture making a point at the NSSC
Executive Capacity Building Workshop
Benjamin Fraser – NSSC Region 1 President with Minister Hon. Lisa Hanna at the Youth Month Launch
NSSC Region One ‘ Schoolaz Voice’ with Minister, Hon. Lisa Hanna, Miss Khadine ‘Miss Kitty’ Hylton
and Mrs. Emprezz Golding. Check it out on our nsscja page on Youtube