The Editor, Sir:

The assertion 'educate them for export' attributed to Aubyn Hill, chairman of Nation Growth Micro-Finance, is rather interesting to say the least.

I would argue that the emphasis of the education for students in Jamaica should be primarily to prepare them to assist in meeting challenges and opportunities facing Jamaica today and for the foreseeable future.

For example, a good number of students in technical schools, colleges and universities could be educated in the areas of alternative energy, agricultural production and the processing (value-added products) and marketing of value-added products just to name a few.

In other words, education must be made more relevant to our challenges and opportunities.

Several years ago, I served as a consultant to the University of Zululand in South Africa to assist in developing a strategy plan for the university, while others assisted in curricula development. The government told the universities that they must be relevant to the needs of their stakeholders or face the prospect of merger or closure.

Meeting challenges

We don't suggest such drastic measures, but some of our institutions must focus on preparing graduates who can assist Jamaica in meeting critical challenges of the 21st century and in exploiting opportunities

Educated Jamaicans will migrate. However, if we ensure that a sufficient number of Jamaicans, who are educated in Jamaica, are prepared to address the challenges and opportunities facing Jamaica, perhaps we will be able to export more value-added products. And more of those who would have probably migrated in the past will remain in Jamaica and create and entrepreneurship opportunities for others.

I am, etc.,

FRANKLIN D. JACKSON

franklindrjackson@gmail.com

Fayette, Mississippi

Via Go-Jamaica