ONLINE FEEBACK

Below are edited excerpts from comments posted by online readers reacting to the article about 17-year old Winston Swaby shunning overseas study and doing well in recent CSEC exams.

Local system works well

This young man is an inspiration to Jamaica and that the education system in Jamaica works and is of the highest quality. Well done, you are a credit to your family and your country. - Scott Frater

An inspiration

Much respect to this young man. His story should help to inspire other Jamaican males to work towards their goals. If you look around you, you see that Jamaican male students are underachieving in every possible way, yet, if you manage to find one who is passionate about learning, it is a marvel to behold. They are aggressive and innovative, with confidence bordering on arrogance. We need to inspire more of them. - Measure Zero

Unhealthy US environment

I am very proud of this young man. My 10-year-old daughter came to the US and started school here. She quickly told me she wanted to finish her schooling in Jamaica because the environment here is affecting her. The students have no respect for the teachers, they make a lot of noise during classes and they are behind Jamaican schools in terms of quality. - Kimdread

Public schools for minorities are mediocre

I can understand why he wouldn't like the environment. Hartford would not be a good place for him to attend a public high school. I assume he lived in an area where it's mostly Jamaican, hence the schools would be mediocre.

It is known that schools and services that are provided to minorities aren't the best. I think he quickly saw this. In terms of people commenting about the Jamaican system being way advanced, that is misleading and relative to location and class. If he were to attend a private or public school in an affluent neighbourhood, I am sure it would be different.

In any event, who knows if the choice of schools was the real factor? Perhaps he had a girlfriend in Jamaica or valued his friends. - Soul Rebel

An opportunity missed?

Interesting to know that he gave a up on opportunity to get free high school education and with his academic prowess could have garnered an academic scholarship to a USA university. The reality is a USA college/university degree is an asset and a person can go around the world with it and find a job in his/her field of study.

Sadly, it is not the other way around. Many medical doctors from other countries entered USA and can't find a job in their field, not for lack of jobs available, but for the fact they weren't educated in USA. Some have to go back to school and some just get jobs in other areas, such as being college professors.

I wish him all the best and commend him for making such a difficult decision. - Believable