JCF CADET ACADEMY CELEBRATES STRONG SHOWING IN CSEC, CAPE RESULTS
Students at the Jamaica Constabulary Force Cadet Academy are celebrating outstanding results in this year’s CSEC and CAPE examinations, recording 100% pass rates in Information Technology and Physical Education & Sports at the CSEC level.
The Academy also earned a remarkable 98% pass rate in Human and Social Biology and 92% in English A. At the CAPE level, 93% of the Academy’s students were successful in Information Technology and its newest subject offering, Communication Studies, saw 88% of students earning a passing grade.
For the Academy’s principal, Deputy Superintendent of Police Tanecia Johnson, the recent results are evidence that the JCF Cadet Academy is changing lives. Speaking on a recent episode of the Force4Good Podcast, DSP Johnson explained that many of the Academy’s students come from humble beginnings, and for some, being at the Cadet Academy represents a second chance after struggling to find success in the traditional school system.
“Sometimes all it takes is a change of environment,” she explained.
Johnson also had high commendations for the Academy’s staff, saying, “They are very diligent, very creative; they show love to the boys, they are mothers, fathers…they don’t pay attention to time. They are willing to go beyond regular work hours to invest the time and attention into the students.”
The Cadet Academy was established as part of the JCF’s youth engagement and mentorship strategy in September 2021. It caters to males aged 16 and 17. As a registered secondary institution, students are taken through the Ministry of Education Skills, Youth and Information’s secondary curriculum in preparation for CXC and CAPE exams. But the students at the Cadet Academy receive more than academic instruction.
At the Cadet Academy, the priority is to help each student, and one of the ways this is achieved is through dialogue.
“One of the first things that we seek to do is have dialogue. That is very important. [It’s] very important to find out from the student. We say, tell us, what happened?” said DSP Johnson.
The boys are also provided with tools and lessons designed to assist them as they transition into adulthood. Among these is the IPAD lesson, which encourages the boys to reflect on their Identity, Purpose, Attitude and Destiny.
“We talk to these youngsters about their identity because we know sometimes we have that crisis. [We] talk to them about purpose—what do you want out of life? What kind of attitude do you need to survive not only in Jamaica but everywhere? What kind of destiny do you want as a young man… And also the conversation will always be respect. So identity, purpose, attitude, your destination, it’s as if you’re taking them vividly on a trip,” DSP Johnson explained.
The Academy’s holistic approach to education is influenced by Johnson’s own experiences working with young people. A former coordinator of the National Safe Schools Program, she has spent thousands of hours coaching and mentoring students across Jamaica. She said when working in schools, students often open up to the police officers and confide in them. This allows the police to hear and see the concerns of both parents and students.
“What some parents see as a problem is not a challenge for us here at the Academy,” she said.
She noted that the students of the JCF Cadet Academy thrive because of the individual attention and love they receive from their teachers. She also highlighted that the students have access to safe spaces where they can interact and speak with their teachers, creating what she described as a “home away from home.”
“At the Cadet Academy we have educators, we have our teachers, but love is central to what we do,” said DSP Johnson.
She recalled a student whose performance at the Academy’s entrance test stunned the staff. She said when the team interviewed the student, he shared that he had been out of school for months because his parents were unable to support him financially.
“We had to take a little break so that the child didn’t see the tears coming out…That youngster came in…[and got] nine CXCs and two CAPE subjects. He joined the JCF and is now a serving member,” DSP Johnson said beaming with pride.
But this story is not unique. DSP Johnson recalled another young man, a ward of the state, who sought her out on social media and asked to join the Academy. As a team, the Academy’s staff decided to intervene.
“We said let us try to help him. We had to call the Child Protection and Family Services Agency to get the clearance, and I am happy. The young man graduated [from the Cadet Academy] and now is awaiting graduation from the JCF,” she said.
As DSP Johnson shared her experiences, the Academy’s approach became clear. The JCF Cadet Academy begins by understanding the individual needs of each student and providing the support they need to succeed.
“We’re talking about children. We’re talking about the future. We’re not dealing with plants. And even plants, you have to nurture them too,” she said.
