The Editor, Sir:

Education has been a 'hot topic' for the past months; and I have received tons of emails in relation to a published 'letter to the editor'. There are many who are in total agreement that education should be for free, but the resources are not in place to fund the programme unless the private sectors are willing to invest heavily on their own self- interest, or in order to assist the Government with the funding.

On one hand, there are many who are relying on the Government to carry out its duties in an effective manner which will benefit the entire nation. On the other hand, instead of seeing the value of government ownership, leadership and regulation of some businesses in critical areas such as electricity, health care, among other areas, the Government prefers to evade its responsibility and privatise. This is sometimes a disadvantage to the country.

Instead of identifying the problem and consider meaningful solutions, they prefer to sell it for a price and rid themselves of the answerability. Soon, the Government or Jamaican people will own nothing and are open to abuse by private corporations. Now, the real question is, How can Jamaica afford free education? The concept of free education comes with a hefty price, along with revamp, revision, resize and restructured responsibility and resources.

The attitude I saw of privatisation is consigned only to the responsibility the Government is supposed to shoulder. If the private sector will not fund the programme, if the Government has such a problem with governance, how are we going to see free education unless there are changes in behaviour or changes in the Government?

I am, etc.,

CHARLES BROWN

charliebrown1004@hotmail.com

St. Thomas