By Omar Anderson, Staff ReporterA MAJORITY of Jamaican school leavers who were surveyed last year had not passed even one exam, according to the latest Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions (JSLC).
The 2001 survey which measures academic achievement by the highest level of examination passed by members of the households who are not currently enrolled in schools, found that 3.5 per cent of them have a university/college degree, while 15.4 per cent have attained passes in CXC and/or A'level subjects.
"The majority, 74.3 per cent have not passed any examinations. This varies according to location, consumption status and age," the survey added.
These findings, have been described by the Jamaica Employers' Federation (JEF) and the National Workers' Union (NWU) as a serious issue which doesn't augur well for business, while putting Jamaica at a disadvantage when the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) comes into effect in 2005.
"As far as the labour market is concerned, what is being considered now are qualifications and attitude as they relate to opportunity for employment in various organisations," JEF president Herb Lewis said yesterday.
He said because a growing number of persons being employed lack the basic educational skills, most employers were spending 11 per cent of their payroll on training.
"If people are seeking employment and don't have the basic qualification, it's going to be a difficult situation for business," Mr. Lewis said. "You (employers) would be taking on the State's responsibility to educate people."
Meanwhile, the JEF president says the failure of most Jamaicans to get themselves qualified could affect the country's participation in the CSME which calls for the free movement of labour and goods throughout the region.
"What we will find is that more qualified people from the islands will come here to take jobs that local people need to get qualified for," Mr. Lewis said.
For his part, Danny Roberts, vice-president of the NWU, said yesterday that the country was now challenged to focus on education and training to become competitive in the regional labour market.
"In an era in which emphasis is on the knowledge-based worker, obviously we have to increase our level of competence through education and training," he said. "This (74.3 per cent) will have implication for employment prospects and the CSME."
