HISTORY

The year 1974 is a landmark period in the history of Guidance and Counselling in Jamaica. The Ministry of Education responded to the need of youth by creating posts For Guidance Counsellors in the island’s secondary and tertiary institutions. At that time however, there were very few trained counsellors, so the need for the training of teachers/personnel became a priority issue. A training programme was introduced at the University of the West Indies School of Education in conjunction with North Carolina University for three years. This move resulted in a reliance on other professionals being drawn upon such as nurses, Ministers of Religion and to a lesser extent teachers to take up these posts had to make provisions for training of teachers.

The inauguration of the then National Association of Guidance Counsellors in Education (NAGCE) began after the placement of counsellors into the institutions commenced, which was in response to the critical need for support for the growing professional group. Communication at that time proved difficult, and counsellors needed to communicate in support of each other to deliver relevant programmes to the young people across the island, as well as grow professionally. The Association’s mandate was facilitated through meetings, where information was shared and decisions made and a week was dedicated as Counsellors Week which commenced with a Church Service. Counsellors were able to showcase some of their activities and discussed plans for the year ahead.

Another important landmark period in the history of the JNAGCE, followed a phase of lull in activities, commenced when school counsellors were summoned to a meeting at Caenwood Centre in Kingston on May 21, 1996. The Counsellors came out in numbers and clearly were agitated enough for change, to make certain demands of the MOE and the body they were affiliated with. That meeting heralded the re birth of the JNAGCE as the counsellors saw it fit to mandate a Task Force, with the responsibility of paving the way forward for the organization.

The Taskforce comprised the following

Rev. Andrew Bennett – Chairman

Rev. Courtney Walters – Vice Chairman

Rev. Errol Scott

Mrs. J. Rose – Bryan

Mrs. Valerie Newby – Collins

Mrs. Wilozene Alleyne

Mrs. G. Ferron

Mrs. Ulrica Clarke

Mrs. Edna Foga/ Mrs. Laura Levy (Secretary)

Mrs. Jennifer Willie

There were seven terms of reference for which recommendations were to be made:

Examine the constitution with a view for amendments
Examine the issue of role definition and recognition
Discuss the possibility of affiliation to a negotiating body
Clarify the role of the counselling executive body and the newly constituted Task force.
To examine the Job description of the work experience teacher and that of the guidance counsellor.
To clarify the relationship of the MOE, the schools with that of the counsellors.
To sensitize guidance counsellors to the importance of the association and their participation in meetings of the association.

The task force held three major meetings and had consultations with the following persons Dr. Delores Brissett, ACEO – Guidance and Counselling Unit; by telephone with Dr. Adolph Cameron, who was the then Director of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association. Several important documents formed the basis of review also for the recommendations and actions that emerged out of the task force. In November 1996 the findings were presented. These included:

Constitutional amendments for membership fees and closer review of the document to ascertain any possibility for further changes to be made.
Reclassification exercise for the post of counsellor, bearing in mind the various disciplines from which the counsellors were drawn.
Full upkeep to the travelling for the post of guidance counsellors.
Meeting be facilitated between several persons in the Ministry and the executive members. Mr. Wesley Barrett, CEO of MOE was consulted with regards to the Guidance policy among other things.
The treatment of office of the Guidance Counsellor be recognized by being detail relative to other post in the Education Act with regards to status, qualifications and function. A letter was sent to Dr. Phillip Hamilton, Co-ordinator of the division for Code of Regulation, outlining such recommendations.
A meeting with the JTA to discuss the ramifications of becoming an interest group of the JTA and not just an affiliate group.
For the consideration for Guidance Counsellors to be confirmed automatically in the posts as Senior Teachers in light of the responsibilities levelled on the Guidance Counsellors as opposed to responsibilities of some other positions such as that of the Work Experience Teacher that enjoys such considerations.
The role of the Guidance Unit was clarified as having a supervisory role, with a chain of command through from the principals to the ACEO of the Guidance Unit.
From this it was decided that the Principals needed to be oriented to the roles and functions by the Guidance Unit.
JNAGCE should be involved in orientation exercises for new counsellors and principals.
That the regional offices be fitted with a regional guidance officer, who should be known to the counsellors’ and who should maintain regular contact.
Structured in-service training should replace training workshops with certification for such at the end of each course establishment of proper registration system so that the association will become aware of who its members are.
Office facilities to be sought so that the business of the association could be carried out in an efficient manner.
Publication and distribution of a quarterly newsletter to counsellors and interest groups.
Notices of all meetings of the association be sent out in time to all registered members.
The association should draft a Mission Statement, Motto, and a logo to maintain the focus of the association.

HIGHLIGHTS

1996

Task Force mandate
New Executive body elected in November at AGM.
Membership fee moved to $1000.00
Members were asked to make a onetime contribution of $1000.00 to offset additional cost of the AGM.
February 25, 1997 Meeting with Dr. Adolph Cameron and other officers of JTA to discuss among other things the matter of interest group status.

1997

Decision for voting rights to be linked to payment of fees at AGM.

1998

Draft Policy document challenged as not being a policy document, same was the drawn by the MOE for review.
Draft code of regulation shared with the executive of the association.
Ministry of Education rolled out plans for appraisal of counsellors but met with objection as was felt by JNAGCE that an appropriate document more specific to counselling and not teaching was needed and the participation of the major stakeholders in the process.

Issue of gap and non-assignment of counsellors to the All Age schools versus Junior High Schools, and the age children leaving the system with no further training was raised with the MOE.
December 2-4 inaugural three days conference of JAGCE held at Portside villas, Discovery Bay- 120 members attended.
Annual Conference resolution for the name of the association from JNAGCE to JAGC, others suggested that it include “in education (E).” Discussions to come later.

1999

Recommendations for the list of items to be submitted to facilitate the development of a Code of Ethics, in the interim a set of proposed guidelines to be drafted and to be used until code was completed.
Proposal for a manual to be made by the association for Guidance Counsellors.
Office space secured at Coconut Grove in Ocho Rios, St Ann.
Name change from National Association of GCE to Jamaica National AGCE, debate was facilitated, changing were pending.
December 6-8 Annual conference, Jamaica Grand.
Motto adopted from Manchester chapter “ We care, we share and we make others aware”
Logo competition launched for submissions from across the island.
Recommendations for IDs for counsellors.
Recommendations for certificate for paid up counsellors.
Amendment to the constitution, read, corrected and adopted.
Secondment for an officer raised an issue in discussion with minister.

2000

New draft of the Constitution was presented and adopted at the half yearly meeting.
Awards ceremony for service to the JAGCE-sixty persons we recognized.
Public Forum on “Save our Nation” Jamaica Conference Centre.
Representation at General Council of the JTA reported by Rev. Anthony Eldemire.
President Brooks visited London England, for observation.
October 25, 2000 meeting with Guidance Unit, agreement for quarterly meetings.
Lawyer asked to review Code of Ethics.
Agreement for stipend to be paid to members of the executive.
Identification cards introduced for JAGCE at annual conference.
Recommendation for the conference to adopt the use of blazers presented by Manchester as the official blazer.
The official name change to JAGCE from JNAGCE was ratified.
Vision and Mission statement ratified.
Website Recommendation.
July 27, Recommendation that no officer would serve for more than three years in the same position.
2001 Survey of the needs was conducted among school counsellors.
Discussion on the code of ethics and constitutional amendments.
Fun Day held at Cranbrook Forrest, St Ann.
Discussions facilitated re professionalization of counselling with ministry officials.
Half yearly meeting.
In house session at Jamaica House
Open forum Half Way Tree square.
October 15-Meeting with Minister Whiteman.
Decentralization of Guidance Unit to regional officers.
Counsellors deliberated on separation from JTA, as it was felt that not much was happening for counsellors in terms of representation.
2002 Guidance and Counselling unit completed a draft Guidance Handbook for use by school counsellors.
Prime Minister PJ Patterson was patron for family the corner stone of nation building forum at the Jamaica conference Centre.
Members of the association attended American School Counsellors conference.
Manchester Parish association presents blazers to the body with logo crest for formal occasions.
2003 February Annual conference.
Better family Life projects.
National Prayer Breakfast.
Regional zoning to reflect the MOE’s zones.
The year of the association for review.
Publication of the code of ethics and manual for counsellors.

2004

Meeting with National Board of Certified Counsellors in the United States. Attended by Mrs Rosette James- President JAGCE. Dr Grace Kelly- Chair of the Licensure Committee, Dr Delores Brissett- ACEO of MOE, and Mrs. Antonette Brooks- education Officer CB board.

2005

Discussions with NBCC.
Confidential Draft Memorandum of Understanding between NBCC and JAGCE.
Discussions with National Family Planning Board.
Honorary membership recommendation for retired counsellors.

2006

Launch of Transforming Acting out Behaviours.
JAGCE registered as a company.

2007

July 11 agreement signed between JAGCE and NBCC.
Web page launched.
New logo being considered, tenders to provide designs.
Revision of the constitution undertaken.
Decentralization of the association being considered.
Of “Limited” from the excluded from the companies registration.
144 counsellors were certified with the NBCC at level 1.

2008

Office space rented in Mandeville and paid assistance engaged- cosponsored by TAB.
Level 2 certification.
CUG offered to executive members to enhance communication.
Meeting with MOE- secondment of office of President to aid in development of Association an Updating of Guidance Policy.
Meeting with JSWA.
Constitutional amendments re-visited.
Recommendations for salary deductions to facilitate fee payments.
Recommend Classification scale presented to MOE and JTA.
Meeting with Joint Trade Union.
Submission and presentation of a document to Houses of Parliament on Workplace AIDs Policy.
Shortwood Teacher’s College was presented with a trophy for Most outstanding Guidance Student.
Meeting with Dr. Brissett and Mrs Wiggan to facilitate discussions for an appreciation function for first cohort of Guidance Counsellors.
Anomaly created for counsellors by the introduction of the special Teachers’ allowance.

2009

Meetings with Jamaica Teaching Council to facilitate discussion on the way forward for the registration of counsellors.
Half yearly meeting suspended.
Proposed salary scale presented to ACEO and JTA.
JTA’s conference attended by two representatives.
Regional consultation facilitated to aid in boosting morale of disappointed counsellors.
Meeting facilitated with MOE and JTA with a view of having the anomaly created by the new allowance.
Exemplary award ceremony facilitated at JAGCE’s annual conference.

2010

Item writing for NBCC level three.

Presidents since the inception of the Guidance Counsellors Association.

Ms Marlene Christian
Mrs Pearline Ancher- Holy Childhood High
Ms Olga Moses
Mrs Yvonne Davidson ( Mary Mount High)
Mrs Edna Foga (Richmond High)
Ms Sonia Allen (Bishop Gibson)
Mrs J. Rose-Bryan (St. Mary)
Rev. Andrew Bennett- STETHS (1998-2000)
Mrs Antoinette Brooks- Fern Court High/ Brown’s Town Com College (2000-2003)
Rev. Nigel Powell- Hampton High 2003
Mrs Rosette Gordon James- Bethel Town Primary (2003-4)
Dr Grace Kelly- NCU (2004-2007)
Mrs Jeniffer Willie- Dinthill Technical (2007- 2009)
Dr Grace Kelly- NCU (2007-2011)
Mrs Rose Reid – Mico University (2011-13)
Mr. Kayson Jones (2014)
Mr. Sean Vaughan (2015)
Ms. Nina Dixon (2016)
Mrs. Marvalyn Neil-Napier (2017)
Mrs. Rosette James-Smith (2018)
Mrs. Simone Allen-Archer (2019)
Mr. Richard Skyers (2020)
Mr. Winston Nathan (2021)