THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM a Jamaican living in Canada, and I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that the Jamaican education system has become a casualty of politics. It would not be fair to lay the blame at the feet of the present government alone. Both parties have not done enough over the years to maintain and grow our education system.
However, after 14 consecutive years in government the ruling Peoples National Party cannot justifiably give any excuse for the depth to which our education system has plummeted. They have moved from being a party that championed the cause for free education in the 1970s to a government that cuts the allocation of funds for education in the face of a climbing crime rate, a shrinking economy and a system that is turning out illiterate students from high schools.
According to Anthony Johnson in an article in the Gleaner of May 4, 2004, allocation for compensation of employees for this financial year is down to $802.3 million from $854.5 million in 2003/4. Goods and services received $83,890 less than last year, while Primary Education went down to $9.16 million from $9.89 million last year.
Even if we had retained last year's allocation without an increase, it would not suffice, because it was not sufficient in the first place. With the rate of crime and unemployment skyrocketing one would have thought that more funds would have been pumped into education. I know that we have a mountain of debt but a significant part of that debt is due to the 'Run wid it' policy of Dr Davies prior to the last election.
My greatest disappointment though, is with the intelligentsia of Jamaica. They are conveniently silent on the matter, maybe because they do not want to ruffle political feathers. But my message is, you don't worry, you are creating a monster with your silence, which your voice will not be able to stop when all hell breaks loose in your castles of illusion. Then, like education, you would have become a casualty of the dirty politics you have practised.
I am, etc.,
LAVAL WILKINSON
lavalwilkinson@hotmail.com
North York, Ontario,
Canada
Via Go-Jamaica
