Education: Countless successes, in spite of problems
For any country to develop, it must have an educated population; a world-class cadre of creative and innovative people who are able to drive the economy to 21st Century productivity. Over the years, Jamaica has made significant improvements in its education system, and from a population of approximately 2.7 million, we have already generated countless Rhodes Scholars. Producing intuitive, highly skilled, intelligent professionals who leave their mark on the world is a telltale sign of a successful system, and confirms the abilities of Jamaican students.
One of our national treasures, Jody-Anne Maxwell, a 12-year-old student at Ardenne High School who won The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee Competition in 1998, dominated that year's Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee Competition in Washington, DC. Jody-Ann became the Bee's first foreign champion in the competition's 71-year history. Her steely determination enthralled Jamaicans on the island, as well as those in the diaspora.
The unforgettable win showed that Jamaica, despite having only two local universities at that time, could produce further brilliance in areas outside of sports.
According to Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Floyd Green, “We have a lot to be proud of. We still have challenges in our education system, but when you look at how we [have] progressed over the 55 years, there are a lot of achievements. We set a target in 2015 to have at least 85 per cent of our students be literate, and we have surpassed that target at 86 per cent. We have come a far way.”
Many institutions in Jamaica are leading the way in post-secondary educational training. The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, for example, has not only led in the cultural and creative industry, but also in performance and training, and has produced some of the greatest artists and artistes in the Caribbean. Similarly, The Caribbean Maritime Institute, which is now becoming a university, is the first of its kind to offer maritime training in a region surrounded by the sea. There is also the HEART Trust/National Training Agency which is active in shaping a vibrant and dynamic workforce through developing a framework for vocational education and embracing the skills of the Jamaican people.
With institutions that are blazing trails and facilitating diversity, as the nation turns 55, it is well on its way to becoming a country that stands on the value of its education system.
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