Petrina Francis, Education Reporter 
Bruce Golding (centre), leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in discussion with Mayor of Kingston and St. Andrew Desmond McKenzie at the Dr. Lloyd Cole Foundation Scholarship Awards for 2004\2005 at Medallion Hall on Hope Road last Friday. At left is Dr. Lloyd Cole. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
BRUCE GOLDING, leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has warned that if the Government retains cost sharing, it could lead to an increase in crime in the society.
Mr. Golding was speaking at the Dr. Lloyd Cole Foundation for Education, 11th Anniversary Scholarship Awards on Friday at the Medallion Hall Hotel in St. Andrew.
"If we don't want to continue feeding more frustrated young people into the hands of the criminals who are constantly looking for new recruit, I ask them (the Government) to think carefully about reneging on that commitment that was made regarding the cost sharing programme," said Mr. Golding.
Citing data from the 2002 Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions, which indicated that the average family spent $47,000 on educating their children, Mr. Golding said it is a fallacy to believe that cost sharing should be retained because parents must be prepared to contribute something towards education, as they are already doing so.
In the period leading to the 2002 general election, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson announced that cost sharing would be gradually phased out by 2005.
But, the task force report on education recommended that the government retain cost sharing. The report stated that the Government should re-examine its intention because 'some parents were in a position to fund a significant portion of their children's education'. This, the report stated was evident in the amount which parents spend on extra lessons.
In addition, the JLP leader said the additional $6-billion that have been allocated to education would barely take care of the inflationary effects of the last 12 months. He explained that the "additional $6-billion would only enable the government to do for education what they did last year because prices and cost have moved".
Mr. Golding congratulated the 22 students who were given scholarships from the Dr. Cole's Foundation and charged them to remain focus and strive for excellence.
Dr. Cole, who provides private funds to needy students, started his kind gesture in 1994. Under the programme, students from seven primary schools in rural and urban Jamaica receive awards of $15, 000 each.
Her Excellency, Chief Omodupe Akintola, Nigerian High Commissioner also congratulated the students who received scholarships.
Ms. Akintola said, any government that invests heavily in education would win in the battle in fighting poverty and crime.
She said, however, that no Government can succeed in carrying out this responsibility alone, adding that efforts such as Dr. Cole's is important in achieving these objectives.
