Former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush (left), guest speaker, shares a joke with William Clarke (centre), president and CEO of Scotiabank Jamaica, and Hugh Small, Q.C., at Scotiabank's annual lecture series at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel yesterday. Mr. Bush gave the lecture. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida, yesterday named "an ongoing radical transformation of the education system" as a key factor in the economic development of Jamaica.

Speaking at the fourth Annual Scotiabank Lecture Series, which was this year staged under the theme 'Confronting Radical Change to bring future Economic Rewards', Mr. Bush urged Jamaicans to focus on the concept of lifelong learning, with access to education being necessary for a just society.

While disassociating himself from any political agenda, he stated, "In confronting radical change we should agree that it (education) should be better."

A high-quality literacy education and focus on reading in primary schools were high on his list (which featured seven points), as he explained that without this they (children) would lose their chance to be "successful as adults".

"Pay teachers and principals for performance," he said, noting that this is radical thinking in the United States (that is not practised in all states). "There is a clear difference between excellent teachers and mediocre teachers," he continued.

The human infrastructure

Mr. Bush reminded those present that the human infrastructure in terms of education was very important. To this end, he charged leaders to establish clear goals, and among other things have the humility to listen, as communication is very important.

Members of the private sector were urged to use their expertise to impact on the present education system, thus ensuring that education becomes more relevant to jobs available. "Build a better business climate and focus on education," he encouraged, as building human capacity will require "dogged" determination.