Use education to drive development - expert

Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

Deputy general secretary of Education International (EI) Jan Eastman says education is the right and only response to ills affecting society.

At the same time, Eastman, who was addressing the opening session of the 47th annual conference of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) at Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios on Monday, made it known that education should be all-inclusive.

"Education is the right response. It may be the only response that makes a real difference," Eastman said.

"Whether we are talking about economic and social development, decent work for all, alleviating poverty, an end to child labour, or bringing about social cohesion in democratic, peaceful and socially just societies, it is the right response," she added.

Empowering learners

Eastman said empowering learners means universal access to quality public education from early childhood to higher education, explaining that simply enrolling and being in school does not equate to or guarantee learning.

The education expert argued that teachers must be allowed to practise the art of teaching to the best of their ability, using teacher-designed assessment to measure learners' progress and inform instruction.