Washington, D.C.:

Ten students from St. James High School in Montego Bay along with two teachers will participate in a one-week cultural exchange programme in the United States. The students will arrive in the U.S. today and will visit New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York among other places. The programme is organised by the education sector of the Jamaica Diaspora North East Region Committee. According to the chairman, Dr. Trevor Sewell, the students were selected on the basis of academic performance, good behavior and their involvement with the school's choir.

Dr. Sewell said that an extensive programme has been compiled for the students to participate in. They will call on New Jersey Governor John Corzine, tour Temple University in Philadelphia, tour the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and also tour New York and the city of Philadelphia. Additionally, they will visit a number of high schools and participate in a gospel concert.

Dr. Sewell said his committee forged a partnership with the St. James High School in 2004, with the aim of helping to lift the academic performance of the students at that institution. He said when the partnership was forged, the pass rate of three per cent in mathematics and 10 per cent for English language was cause for concern. With the committee's assistance, passes for mathematics are up to 20 per cent and 33 per cent for English language. This, he said, provides solid evidence of the potential to transform a low-performing school.

Dr. Sewell added that his committee is committed to assisting the St. James High School in whatever way possible, so that the students can one day take their rightful place in society.