THE EDITOR, Sir:

IT IS indeed really amazing to listen the many opinionmakers who are trying to convince the populace that Jamaica cannot afford to have tuition-free secondary education. These are the same persons who thought Michael Manley was the greatest thing born in Jamaica when he made education free to the tertiary level.

This position being adopted by these persons, however, leads one to ask questions. If Barbados can have free education up to university level, why can't Jamaica have tuition-free education to secondary level? Can we afford not to have tuition-free education to secondary level? Are there not main areas of waste and duplication where savings can be made to offset the cost of this expense? If we cannot afford this, how then can we find the money to put the financing political party campaigning on the backs of the poor taxpayers?

Seemingly, many principals and education practitioners have swallowed this argument about our inability to accommodate this proposal financially, yet they negotiate a deal with the government through the Jamaica Teachers' Association that allows their children to attend secondary school tuition-free. Isn't this hypocrisy? What about the domestic helper who is earning the minimum wage? Why should she hug up this cost while the principal's child attends school free?

Minister Davies said that the young men in his constituency were uneducated, irredeemable and ignorant. We must be careful we turn the entire Jamaica into a South St. Andrew. The consequence will be grave for all of us.

I am, etc.,

JEROME HENRY

14 Second Avenue

Buff Bay, Portland