Community Colleges brace for economic crisis

Community Colleges are bracing for the effects of the economic crisis, which is already griping several sectors.



Stakeholders of the colleges say they may have to rely on welfare funds even more to help many students to meet some of their financial obligations.



They believe that with people losing their jobs and economic conditions tightening, there might be increased delinquency in the payment of tuition fees.



Speaking at a Gleaner Editors’ Forum, the principal of the Brown’s Town Community College, James Walsh, said he’s already feeling the effect at his St Ann-based institution.



He says one company has suspended a request for a programme to be developed to train workers in the bauxite sector because of the decline in that industry.



One of Jamaica’s largest alumina producers, WINDALCO, has cut production by 35 per cent because of a weakened global demand for metal.



The Principal of the Montego Bay Community College Dr Angela Samuels Harris says community colleges will need to continue to be innovative to respond to the economic downturn.