The Editor, Sir:As we strive to repair the ills faced by our education system, we need to address the need for more equipment, material, resources, better salaries but moreso, we need a new approach to education.
At the third annual conference on Lifelong Learning held at the Jamaica Conference Centre on Thursday, the main speaker, Professor Bob Fryer, National Director for Widening Participation in Learning in the United Kingdom, expounded on the concept of lifelong learning. Learning should not be the sole prerogative of educational institutions but should be a way of life. The individual should constantly be stretching his intellect, discovering new things and creating new things.
As we seek to build a new framework for Jamaica's education system, I agree with Professor Fryer's notion of education as an ongoing process. This approach will build citizens who do not wait for handouts from the government but citizens who create wealth, who strive for
quality and who will consequently reshape the Jamaican socioeconomic and political landscape.
The Honourable Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson, who spoke at the beginning of the conference, showed her awareness of this approach. I urge her, along with all stakeholders in education, that is, family members,
parents, employers, employees, self-employed individuals, in short, every individual, to expand his/her understanding of this approach to learning.
MORE PRODUCTIVE
Learning should not be confined to a certain place or period of time but is a lifelong process. As we live we should be learning; as we learn, we should grow; as we grow, we should become more productive and more creative. As Jamaicans become more productive and creative, our nation will move out of its socioeconomic and political slump.
Lifelong learning is the way ahead in the 21st century and technology is one of the tools at our fingertips to help us achieve this. Put resources in place to help individuals realise their full potential and in so doing allow them to help in nation building.
I am, etc.,
DESRINE CAYOL
dcayol@ncu.edu.jm
Department of English and Modern Languages
Northern Caribbean University
Mandeville
Via Go-Jamaica
