Kenneth Sylvester, chief executive officer of Caribbean Knowledge Learning Network, has suggested that the Government give the education system to the private sector to run for 10 years.

"The current education system has failed in preparing the workforce for the future," said Mr. Sylvester, while addressing GraceKennedy Foundation's 19th annual lecture series, held last evening at the Little Theatre, St. Andrew.

"Where Jamaica is on the education scale, compared to its neighbours and the rest of the world, requires something drastic," he added.

Much more to be done

Mr. Sylvester said, while there were efforts under way to transform the education system, among other things, much more need to be done.

"If the people who are in charge to fix it (education) are the people who created it, chances are we won't be able to fix it," said Mr. Sylvester, whose lecture was entitled "Information, Communication Technology - Shaping Our Lives".

Pointing out that all countries are using information communication technology to move forward, Mr. Sylvester told the gathering that draconian measures are needed to take the issue of education forward.

While acknowledging that he did not know whether handing over the education system to the private sector would actually work, Mr Sylvester said the way forward is to look at new possibilities.