Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica is being urged to begin taking steps to formulate a national strategy on international education.

Becky Stockhausen, the executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) of Jamaica, said the international education sector has both a very high value and strong growth potential which the country need to make the best use of.

She made the comments while delivering the main address at the official opening of the Ocho Rios office of Versan Educational Services, held at the Almond Tree Restaurant in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, last Thursday.

Mrs. Stockhausen pointed out that, increasingly, governments of countries across all continents, including countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Japan, South Africa, Australia and the United States, are all involved in developing national policies on international education.

"We look forward to the day when Jamaica will resolve to maximise the huge potential that international education has on economic reform and growth and will one day formulate national policy that will accrue to the benefit of all stakeholders", she said.

The AmCham executive director said, however, that, as an addition to the potential economic return to a country, international education will increasingly be closely linked to policies associated with immigration and the labour market, national research requirements, domestic education, trade and other areas of national development.

She added: "It is also of significant importance in foreign relations, both bilateral and international, and is seen as a means of building longer term relationships for mutual political influence."

Doors to the future

Mrs. Stockhausen congratulated Versan Educational Services for opening doors to the future for so many children, through the provision of international education, during its 12 years of existence.

"Versan has seen what many other national governments are seeing through defining strategies for international education and have set a firm foundation for policymakers to follow," she argued.

Executive director of Versan, Sandra Bramwell-Riley, said the company, which has offices in both Jamaica and St. Lucia, caters for students age 10 years and older and has a reputation for sending highly qualified Caribbean students to some of the top universities and colleges in the United States.