Whither free education?

Esther Tyson, Contributor

Indeed, as wise King Solomon said, "The borrower is a servant to the lender." It seems that the plans to lift our education system to a higher level of efficiency and accountability are being threatened by the requirements of the International Monetary Fund, to which Jamaica is bound.

Is it possible that the much-needed pull-out centre in Potsdam, albeit far from being sufficient to fulfil the country's needs, might not be completed for lack of funds? The Jamaica Teaching Council, according to the news, will not be established. The plans to build three much-needed schools will have to be scrapped. The amount of money normally allocated from the national Budget to education has not been adequate to meet all the demands of the Jamaican situation, yet we are being required to slash even that allocation to an even smaller figure.

How then can we claim to be a nation that offers free education? It is clear that we cannot afford it.

UNESCO research indicates that for education to develop the way it needs to in most nations, there has to be partnership between the public and private sector. In Jamaica, this need has become even more urgent if we are to progress as a nation by educating our people. Our leaders need to face the stark reality that the national Budget cannot carry the full cost of educating our youth. They need, therefore, to look to ways to engage the private sector in assisting in providing education to the children of our nation.

Furthermore, I believe that the Government would do well to reconsider the whole matter of cost-sharing. Under this system, persons who could not afford to pay approved fees to the schools would apply through the schools for assistance from the Government. There was a process to determine the applicants' level of need, and this information was sent to the Ministry of Education. The ministry would then approve the assistance to each applicant, and this money would be sent to the schools. Persons who could afford to pay the full fees did so.

It seems then to be the proverbial 'shooting ourselves in the foot' to be paying fees for parents who can afford to pay, and yet not being able to establish much-needed alternative facilities to deal with so many of our at-risk students because of the lack of funds. During the last school year, the increase in violence in schools, antisocial behaviour and general disrespect for order has been alarming. Schools do not have the resources to deal with students who are the perpetrators of this type of behaviour.

Since the schools do not have the financial, human or physical resources to deal with this phenomenon, the Government needs to establish such facilities right across the island with a concentration of such centres in Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine and St James. Establishing one centre in St Elizabeth is a small start in this direction. Potsdam can accommodate only 40 students. St James alone will yield more than 40 students in one year alone, much more the numbers from Kingston and the other parishes. Alarmingly, even this one facility might not be completed.

Disturbing behavioural issues

We cannot continue to speak about 'failing schools' without addressing some of the very disturbing behavioural issues which are plaguing many of these institutions. This is not to deny the reality that principals and teachers do contribute to these schools performing below par; however, in some cases, the issue is much wider than the non-performance of these educators.

If, as a nation, we are serious about lifting the standard of education in our country, we will need to look at the reality of what is taking place in the schools. Schools reflect the state of the society. Students are coming into schools from homes rife with abuse and neglect. When these children come into school from homes and communities where violence is an everyday occurrence and abuse is the norm, the behaviour they display at school is simply a reflection of what they have absorbed from their living conditions.

In addition, many Jamaicans do not view education as valuable. After all, there are many students who have left university and are unable to find jobs. The question is being asked, "Why bother?" Instead, the thinking among some is that it is better to hustle and try to 'cut a chune' and 'mek a money'.

Teach entrepreneurship

There needs to be a shift in our thinking in education where we begin to teach entrepreneurship to our students so that they understand that they will have to create a livelihood for themselves, instead of expecting a job to be waiting on them. We need to give our young people the tools to survive in this new national and global climate.

Also, the business environment in the country needs to change to facilitate young, upcoming entrepreneurs making a success of any viable venture. Jamaica is known to be bogged down by bureaucracy. This red tape stymies the initiative of some who would have otherwise ventured into manufacturing or the services sector. We need to ensure that our education helps our graduates to make a living in a way that is more than 'hustling'.

Times are changing; our thinking needs to change with the reality that is facing us. We cannot afford 'free education', even if the proclamation gets votes for the political candidates. We need to begin to look at ways in which the private sector can partner with the public sector to provide quality education for our children. In addition, the education product needs to change. We need to ensure that our students leave school with the skills of initiative, creative thinking and entrepreneurship in order to have a good quality of life as adults.

Esther Tyson is an educator. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and esther.tyson@gmail.com.