Jamaica education plans still 'far off the mark'

Nedburn Thaffe, Gleaner Writer

While noting that about 67 per cent of the country's labour force was without certification, former Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) president and senior technical advisor to the Ministry of Education, Ruel Reid, said Jamaica was "far off the mark" where plans for education and nation-building were concerned.

Reid, who was speaking at a graduation ceremony for 36 locally trained paramedics at the Medallion Hall Hotel in Kingston on Sunday, said, over the years, little emphasis has been placed on vocational training, even though there is an increased demand for trained workers.

"What is of real concern is that only 14 per cent of the workforce has full technical vocational certification and about 19 per cent with tertiary education.

"So we find that 67 per cent of the labour force has no certification, yet in developed countries, 80 per cent of the jobs are technically oriented," Reid said.

Reid said the training and certification of the 36 students was a step in the right direction as far as vocational training in the country was concerned.

The graduates made up the first batch of cohorts to be graduated from the AAIMS Alliance Health Division. The students were trained in the areas of phlebotomy, dialysis, surgical and pharmacy technician.

Acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Grace McLean, lauded the graduates for their achievements and challenged them to use the knowledge gained "to effect meaningful change" in the country.

"I welcome you to the partnership in the drive to make Jamaica a place of choice to live, to work, to raise families and to do business," McLean said.