Jamaica marked a milestone in education with the inauguration of educational television by the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC), a move praised by Governor-General Sir Clifford Campbell as “epoch-making”. The initiative aimed to bring lessons directly to students and teachers across the island, supported by local educators and technical staff. By combining classroom instruction with televised content, the programme was designed to enhance learning, expand access to quality education, and provide innovative teaching tools for both government and private schools.

Published Saturday, September 12, 1964

JBC inaugurates educational TV: Sir Clifford calls it an epoch-making event

Gleaner Education Reporter

“Today marks an epoch-making event in the history of education, and it is for all of us to rejoice that we have lived to see the day when this very important medium for matters pertaining to education is brought within reach of the pupils, as well as the teachers, in all our schools throughout Jamaica.”

These were among the opening remarks of His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Clifford Campbell, as the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation inaugurated educational television at 11 o’clock yesterday morning.

Sir Clifford congratulated the government and the Ministry of Education on the project and expressed the hope that the barriers and difficulties preventing the broadcasts from reaching everyone would be overcome.

Also welcome
He added: “To us in Jamaica, it is something new but also welcome. Every developing country throughout the world has been using it successfully as a medium of educating the pupils of the schools and bringing to their people the useful knowledge and information that they need educationally.

“We have now entered into that stream, and I want you to know how happy I am, speaking on behalf of the teachers throughout Jamaica; because I think I have the privilege to have served in the schoolroom, and I know what it means. I know the inspiration it will bring to the teachers and the pupils to enjoy this very happy medium.

“Speaking not only on behalf of the teachers but of all Jamaica, I have to say with a very grateful heart that we are happy and pleased that our government has been fit, and one can afford at this time, and soon after 1962, to put television in the schools of Jamaica. I wish God’s richest blessings on this venture.”

Before the governor-general spoke, the programme, titled 'Challenge to Opportunity', was introduced by Vin McKie of the Kingston College staff. He introduced Senator  Esme Grant, parliamentary secretary to the Ministry of Education, who outlined the history of the project, from the prime minister’s promise that television would be used educationally to the arrangements made for the series of broadcasts to schools to start next Monday.

Mrs. Grant paid tribute to the ministry officials who had worked on the scheme, and expressed gratitude for the help given by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Centre for Educational Television Overseas, which had made available the services of James Roberts and, more recently, Tom Singleton, who supervised yesterday’s programme.

Opportunity
She remarked that the response to the ministry’s offer to help schools acquire sets had been very good, and apologised for the absence of the prime minister, who offered his best wishes for the success of the venture.

The governor-general spoke next, and then Inez Grant, education officer transferred from the Publications Department to head the ETV section, outlined the programme planned for the term. She said that programmes televised on Monday and Tuesday of any week would be repeated on Wednesday and Thursday of the same week for the benefit of pupils who may have missed points, and to give everyone an opportunity to receive the programmes.

A demonstration lesson on 'The World We Live In' was then given by Dawn Marshall, geography teacher of Calabar High School.

After James Roberts had offered advice on the positioning of television sets in classrooms, there was a message from the Minister of Education, the Hon Edwin Allen, filmed and recorded before his departure for Canada.

 Allen thanked all those who had helped make the project a reality, and expressed special pride in the fact that the programmes would all be done by Jamaican teachers, demonstrators, and technicians.

Private schools
He concluded: “I hope as many schools as possible will avail themselves of this medium, not only schools run by government but private schools as well. Audiovisual education has come to Jamaica to stay, and the education programme will be only richer and better for it.”
A short dedicatory prayer was then offered by the Anglican Bishop of Jamaica, the Rt Rev Percival Gibson, and the programme ended.

The participants in the programme and the guests in the studio then went over to the Odeon Cinema for champagne and light refreshments.

In the gathering but taking no part in the proceedings were Her Excellency Lady Campbell, the Hon Edward Seaga, JBC board chairman K. H. Ivan Levy, top officials of the JBC, the Ministry of Education, the teacher-training colleges, and representatives of the religious denominations.

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