Letter of the Day | Punished for being educated

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing not just as an unemployed graduate, but as a Jamaican who did what our society consistently tells young people to do: get an education, improve yourself, and contribute meaningfully to national development.

I hold two master’s degrees: a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Public Health. My qualifications have been formally verified and recognised by the University Council of Jamaica. By all official standards, my education is legitimate, accredited, and relevant.

Yet I cannot find a job.

This is not a story of entitlement. I do not claim to know everything or to have decades of experience. What I do have is training, discipline, adaptability, and the willingness to learn, qualities employers often say they want. Still, opportunities remain out of reach.

What makes this experience especially painful is the explanation so many offer, almost casually: “Don’t you know anyone in high places?”

If connections now matter more than competence, then we are not dealing with individual failure; we are facing systemic unfairness.

I have reached out directly to senior professionals and high-ranking officials on LinkedIn, respectfully seeking guidance, mentorship, or a chance to prove myself. Most messages receive no response. That silence reinforces a harsh reality many Jamaicans already understand: merit alone is often insufficient.

This issue affects far more than degree holders. It affects parents who make sacrifices to educate their children. It raises questions among students about whether education is worth the cost. It affects a country that laments brain drain while quietly sidelining its trained citizens.

From a policy standpoint, this should concern us all. Employers increasingly demand “perfect” candidates-fully experienced, immediately productive-while offering few pathways for growth, internships, or structured training. When potential is ignored, talent stagnates or leaves.

Jamaica cannot build a competitive economy while discouraging education, normalising gatekeeping, and relying on informal networks to distribute opportunity. Transparency in hiring, investment in graduate development, and fair access to employment are not luxuries; they are necessities.

I share this not for sympathy, but to spark an overdue national conversation. Education should never feel like a punishment. And working honestly in your own country should not be impossible.

GARFIELD LEWIS