Labour Ministry Plans Seven Scholarships Under Revamped Social Intervention Programme

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is preparing to roll out seven scholarships aimed at building Jamaica’s pool of trained professionals while recognising the service of the nation’s most recent Labour and Social Security Ministers.

Portfolio Minister Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr. announced the initiative on May 19 as he made his contribution to the 2026/27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

The awards will form part of a redesigned Social Intervention Programme, which Charles said is being adjusted to give stronger backing to Jamaica’s human development goals and to better meet the increasing demands facing vulnerable groups.

“This restructuring will support investment in areas directly connected to disability support services, special education, behavioural therapy, early stimulation and other sectors where Jamaica requires stronger human capacity,” he said.

Charles outlined three main components of the revised programme. The first is the creation of the EDGE, or Executive Development and Growth Experience, Internship Programme inside the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, giving participants organised workplace exposure across important sectors.

The second component will widen the ministry’s capacity to provide field support for disaster response and social intervention work. The third will see a committee set up to design scholarships targeted at areas where Jamaica has pressing needs.

According to the Minister, the scholarships are intended to assist persons pursuing studies in special education, disability services, behavioural therapy, early stimulation, social intervention and similar disciplines.

The proposed scholarship areas so far are the Hon. Karl Samuda Social Intervention Scholarship; the Hon. Lester Michael Henry Labour and Human Development Scholarship; the late Hon. Shahine Robinson Inclusive Development Scholarship; the Hon. Fenton Ferguson Early Stimulation Scholarship; the Hon. Pearnel Charles Sr. Labour and Human Development Scholarship; the Hon. Derrick Kellier Human Capital Development Scholarship; and the Hon. Horace Dalley Social Development Scholarship.

“This is how we connect legacy to opportunity. This is how we honour service by investing in service and this is how we build the next generation of professionals who will strengthen Jamaica’s capacity to support and protect its most vulnerable citizens,” Charles said.

He added that as the country speaks about investing in people, dignity and inclusion throughout life, it must also acknowledge Jamaicans who helped build the nation and now stand as examples of wisdom, resilience and generational legacy.