Postal Training School established at CSO

29 August 2005 The Gleaner Pg. 7B

The dream of Postmaster General, Dr. Blossom O'Meally-Nelson, for a regional Postal Training School (PTS) has come true with its inception at the Central Sorting Office.

One aspect of the vision is for all post offices to be fully computerised to embrace current technological advances in business operations.

She stated: "The quest for professional and tertiary-level certification in response to the impact of globalisation and the advent of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) places a strain on the traditional education system in Jamaica .

"The Postal Training School will advance the pace of staff members' academic development by providing a range of accredited training curricula. Training in ICT (information communication technology) and postal operations will undoubtedly enhance our customer service and product development through intensification in the deployment of ICT in postal locations."

Eventually, the PTS will play a pivotal role in the development of a Caribbean Postal Training Institute. An additional element of the vision is a partnership with HEART Trust/NTA to provide increased access to professional and internationally recognised certification for staff who, by virtue of limited schooling, have reduced opportunities to access formal education and training systems.

Postal operations courses will be developed in collaboration with trainers at the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the Caribbean Postal Union (CPU). For long-term sustainability, income will be generated from a range of fees for training services.

As part of the pilot phase, 20 members of staff benefited from the first computer course (an accredited Peach Tree course) in March 2005. The HEART Trust/ NTA in partnership with Post & Telecom began training needs assessment. Eventually, computer-mediated learning through formal teaching institutions, edu-marts, cyber centres and other blends of mobile, distance and e-learning modalities will become a reality to enable access by rural participants, as well as to reduce costs (such as travelling).

Certification will encompass high school equivalency for these courses: ICT, life skills, language and communication; mathematics, literature, culture and arts, and social studies. Postal administration courses will be structured in basic or advanced levels.

Chief of Postmen, Aon Bascoe (standing), invigilating an assessment test at the new Postal Training School (PTS) located at the Central Sorting Office. The PTS will offer accredited training in postal administration and studies to attain high school equivalency. It will eventually be integrated into a regional training school.

Jamaica Post reminds you of the following opening hours:

Liguanea, Mon-Fri Saturday
Kingston 6
7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Cross Roads, Mon-Fri Saturday
Kingston 5
7:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Constant Spring, Mon-Fri Saturday
Kingston 8
8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Greater Portmore, Mon-Fri Saturday
St. Catherine
10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m

Arthur Ashe stamp issued

WASHINGTON (AP):

The United States Postal Service is honouring star tennis player Arthur Ashe with a postage stamp.

The first day of issue ceremonies for the 37-cent stamp took place on Saturday as part of Arthur Ashe Kids Day activities in New York before the U.S. Open. The stamp will be available today.

In addition to his tennis fame, Ashe established foundations to help disenfranchised youth and to support the fight against AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery.

Ashe, who died in 1993, was a native of Richmond , Virginia , where he learned to play tennis on the blacks-only Brook Field playground.

Racial barriers limited Ashe's freedom to compete in the South, but he eventually played in the world's top tennis tournaments and became the first black man to win the U.S. Open in 1968, adding the 1970 Australian Open and 1975 Wimbledon titles.

He became the first African-American to represent the United States on the Davis Cup team, playing in 32 Davis Cup matches and winning 27.

Ashe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985, and the main stadium at the National Tennis Center , home of the U.S. Open which starts today, is named in his honour.

Reuters

Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe (left), widow of the late Arthur Ashe, and their daughter Camera Elizabeth Ashe pose with the new United States Postal Service stamp dedicated to the memory of black tennis great Arthur Ashe in New York on Saturday. The black community was also celebrating Arthur Ashe Kids Day.