Basil Jarrett | Investing in education: can we afford not to?

The Jamaican education system has always faced significant challenges, both in terms of educational outcomes and institutional functionality. I don’t think any right-minded individual would dispute that. What is debatable, however, is the best approach to fixing the system, especially when many of the problems are rooted in deep-lying social issues and an increasingly difficult economic environment.

Of the myriad of solutions that have been put forward over the years, perhaps the most comprehensive has been 2021’s Patterson Report. Ever since I completed reading the 346 pages of the document, I’ve been a huge fan of Dr Patterson’s work. Just don’t let the 346 pages scare you – there’s an abridged version that’s about 76 pages, but trust me, you owe it to yourself to slowly go through the larger document, if only to gain a sense of how comprehensive it is.

PRIORITISE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Among the recommendations being proposed by Patterson’s Education Transformation Committee are greater governance coherence, systemic alignment, pedagogical transformation, curriculum revision, and a focus on equity in our school system. But for me, the biggest takeaway was the call for a re-evaluation and rebalancing of spending that addressed disparities in funding for early childhood and primary school education.

Education Minister Fayval Williams appears to be in agreement with me on this as her ministry has already signalled that it is way ahead of the report in several key areas, including prioritising early childhood education. “We are moving apace to increase the number of Brain Builder Centres, increase the number of infant centres and infant departments, and to work with the private providers to ensure standards are met,” she told Parliament last May.

FOOTING THE BILL

The minister has been quick to point out, however, that implementing these and other recommendations from the report won’t come cheap. Last month, it was announced that adopting the 365 recommendations made in the report will cost an eye-watering $35 billion over the next eight years. Those figures, we are told, were calculated by the good folks at the Mona School of Business and Management.

Now, in any language, currency or time period, $35 billion is a lot of money. It is tempting, therefore, to start looking for ways to cut corners and shave a few pennies here and there. Except, however, that $35 billion is an awful lot of pennies to nickel and dime. A more useful endeavour may very well be to look at the value proposition on offer, rather than on sheer dollars and cents.

Now, as someone who has worked in some of the most dangerous and depressed communities in Jamaica, I can tell you first hand that poor education levels go hand in hand with crime, poverty, a lack of respect for law and order and a general breakdown in society. But I’ve also witnessed first hand the transformative power of education in those same communities. We need to realise, therefore, that investing in education isn’t just a budgetary line item – it’s the cornerstone of progress across all indicators of national development.

EDUCATION: A FORCE MULTIPLIER

Take, for instance, the economy. Unless we have a well-educated workforce, how else will we equip individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate an ever-evolving national and global economy? How else do we create a society that attracts investment, fosters entrepreneurship, and drives economic growth? Better educated individuals are better positioned to secure meaningful employment, reduce poverty and inequality and contribute to our economic bottom line. None of this is rocket science. What is not so obvious, though, is the impact on other critical national markers such as healthcare and social cohesion.

Educated individuals make more informed health decisions, leading to healthier lifestyles and reduced healthcare burdens. They also have greater odds of improved maternal and child health, lower mortality rates, and increased life expectancy. In terms of social cohesion and civic engagement, a well-educated population more easily cultivates values of tolerance, empathy, and respect and more actively engages and participates in civic matters, governance, advocacy and community development. Improve our education system, and other endemic issues such as crime, violence and corruption will also improve. I don’t think this is lost on anyone.

KEEP THE RECEIPTS

Which brings me back to that $35-billion question. When you consider the multidimensional impact that education has on almost all aspects of national life, it can no longer be considered simply as a cost. Rather, it must be seen as a multidimensional investment with a multidimensional return and the surest path to unlocking Jamaica’s full potential.

The one caveat I would add, however, is that as we prepare to make these very substantial investments, transparency and accountability must be the underpinning principles. But because this is still Jamaica after all, those principles must be reinforced by strict monitoring and accounting scrutiny. There’s just too much hanging in the balance to do otherwise. My message to the procurement officers and bean counters, therefore, is simple – spend what you must. Just make sure you keep the receipts.

Major Basil Jarrett is a Communications Strategist and CEO of Artemis Consulting. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram, Threads @IamBasilJarrett and linkedin.com/in/basiljarrett. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com