THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM an assistant principal living in the United States. There was a time when children entering the American school system from Jamaica were skipped grades because they were so advanced. Now, when many Jamaican children enter the American school system, they are held back.
I grew up in the 70s when education in Jamaica was really free. It was not a privilege given only to those with the money to pay all the fees. The government believed that an educated citizenry was an asset to the entire country and invested financial resources into making education a priority.
INCREASE IN POVERTY
The rampant increase in crime is directly related to the increase in poverty levels and a decrease in the level of literacy. When people cannot afford to educate their children and those children grow up and are unable to get jobs, they will resort to desperate measures in order to survive.
Until education is again made really 'free' and the cultivation of an educated citizenry is made a priority, Jamaica will continue to decline and those with an education will continue to emigrate in order to take advantage of more promising opportunities.
The middle and upper classes must wake up and realise that educating every child is essential to everyone's survival, and the violence we ignore as affecting only 'those people' who live in 'those areas' will soon be breaking down our own front doors.
I am, etc.,
SUZANE C. THOMAS
suect1987@yahoo.com
760 Vermont Street
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Via Go-Jamaica
