Education without support is a road to nowhere

THE EDITOR, Madam:

There is a troubling tendency in Jamaica to glance at a roadside mechanic or a welder and quickly conclude that we need ‘better technicians’. But the truth is more complex and far more urgent.

For high-quality service delivery four elements must come together: education, training, facility, and tools. Too often, after the youngsters invest in education and training, they are left stranded without access to facility and tools.

Jamaica is not short of talent or good institutions. The Jamaican-German Automotive School (JAGAS) is a shining example of what excellent training can look like. Many graduates are indeed recruited by top automotive dealers, where they are exposed to world-class tools, structured environments, and customers who can afford premium service. But the space in that job market is limited.

Most skilled, certified, and ambitious people have no access to land, a building, or even basic tools. With no start-up capital or support system, they are forced to operate under trees, on sidewalks, or in makeshift spaces just to put food on the table. These are not ‘unskilled workers’ or ‘hustlers’ – they are trained professionals doing their best with what little they have.

After graduation, if a young technician was to go to a bank to apply for a loan to set up their business, more than likely the it would be rejected – or worse, they would be buried under unmanageable debt. Within weeks, they’d be operating at a loss, on the verge of default, and back to square one.

A revolving loan facility to support skilled graduates needs to be created. The Government of Jamaica has a critical role to play by facilitating the environment by negotiating favourable credit lines, encouraging partnerships with the private sector, and removing barriers that cripple our skilled workforce before they even begin.

There needs to be a team of competent business advisers, which can be within the framework of the National Training Agency. These budding businessmen need guidance on how to structure and scale their ideas into viable enterprises. Teaching them how to pool resources and collaborate with others who have complementary skills can allow them to form strong business partnerships and share the early burden of investment and operations.

The meteoric rise in productivity in countries like China happened with government intervention. Jamaica is a developing economy. Most of us are building from scratch, with no inherited wealth. If we continue to send young people into the world with skills but no means to use them, then we’re not educating a workforce – we’re exporting one.

This lack of opportunity is one of the silent drivers of Jamaica’s brain drain. But it doesn’t have to be. Education, training, and just a little push is the difference between a hustler under a tree and a thriving small business.

CARLTON FEARON

Brumalia, Mandeville