THE EDITOR, Sir:WE GO to school for many reasons, prime among them should be to absorb the skills, mindset and knowledge necessary to participate in the economy and society. The statements and reflections made by Andre Dixon of Margaritaville and Mr. Kerr-Jarrett at the recent Gleaner Editors Forum about the lack of job-ready people must stimulate further the national dialogue on the state of our educational system; and deficiency in putting students on a career path.
Our curriculums must begin to more than ever embrace two mandatory elements; community service and work experience in order to give students the high level of exposure to the community and the working world, which will add to job-ready attitudes, insight, knowledge and skills. This must be done from the earliest levels, so that students can, from an early age, build a consciousness about what career they want to engage in; a career fitted to the development and community needs of Jamaica.
Having only one Careers Day or Jobs Fair at schools is just not enough. There needs to be a dynamic partnership between the private sector and educational institutions to facilitate the relevance and revolutionising of our curriculums and educational system. This process must move beyond getting our students job-ready and move to a stage where graduates from high schools and universities are empowered to become leaders and entrepreneurs, willing to serve Jamaica for Jamaicans; to become the solutions to our present and future social and economic challenges.
I am, etc.,
MARK PIKE
WIXtraboy2001@hotmail.com
Countrystyle International, Mandeville, Manchester
