Jamaica (with a population of 2.8 billion) currently has 50 institutes of higher learning. The United States, by comparison, has 4,360. When accounting for population sizes, the proportions are rather similar. However, the access to quality tertiary educational opportunities is far from equal. Improving access to higher education in Jamaica is a must for people to become more fulfilled intellectually and economically.

What are Some Barriers to Better Education? 

Currently, 19% of Jamaicans aged 19–24 attend some college or university. The college-educated make up only 15% of the entire workforce. Lack of funding for proper resources, infrastructure and previous government policies surrounding wealth inequality all contribute to this development. As of 2017, it was reported that 400,000 people lived in poverty, and 14,000 lived in extreme poverty. Along with overcoming a decades-long culture of elitism in academia, Jamaica does not have a strong structure in place for technical and vocational training programs. Dating back to 2009, at the time, 70% of the labor force, or 700,000, had no formal training.

What Has Jamaica Done to Combat These Challenges?

Over time, Jamaica has increased its investments to enhance formal instruction. The Human Employment and Resource Training (HEART) trust, a government agency, made gains in offering trade learning at 20 centers nationwide. 

In addition, Jamaica has emphasized improving its standards to ensure that teachers are more qualified and able to make a more significant impact on their communities’ youth. Until the early 2010s, school teachers could work in the field once they earned a three-year diploma in teaching degree from their university. Now, they must earn a bachelor of education degree, a four-year degree that includes student teaching in its curriculum. Part of making higher education in Jamaica a true possibility for its citizens centers around preparing students to be mentally and emotionally prepared to reach the next level. 

Moreover, the government recognizes that funding and resources must go into this department for positive changes. In the fiscal year 2022/2023, the Ministry of Education made up the highest expenditure on the government’s budget. Of the roughly $141.3 trillion JMD ($912 billion USD) government spending outlined, education received approximately $18.9 trillion JMD ($122 billion USD), with higher education priorities raking in $3.2 trillion JMD ($20.6 billion) of that sum. This is a significant increase from 2016/2017 when the education budget totaled $90.5 billion (~$14 trillion JMD).

What Have the United States and Other Developed Nations Done to Help?

Since Jamaica’s independence in 1962, the United States provided more than $1.4 billion ($185.9 trillion JMD) across various sectors. Part of this involved assisting in the funding for the Mona School of Business and Management and the College of Agriculture, Science, and Education. USAID efforts have helped more than a million young students from early childhood to tertiary levels, offering resources to improve literacy and mathematics skills. As for the European Union (EU), it has pledged to provide at least €30 million (~$5 billion JMD) from 2021 to 2027 to improve access to digital technology in the workplace and resources to fight against changing weather patterns. 

Effects of COVID-19

From 2019 to 2021, Jamaica saw its total yearly foreign aid reception plummet from $125 million to $58 million. COVID-19 created a global shockwave, which is the reason for the heavy decrease. Nonetheless, in some of the most dangerous and unprecedented times, struggling countries like Jamaica have been left in the dust. To be clear, the response to ending poverty and improving access to education in Jamaica was poor before the pandemic. However, a nearly 50% cut is drastic. It slashes opportunities to not only further build education but also to address water and food insecurity, lack of sustainable housing and everything else across the board. 

While Jamaica is classified as a middle-upper-level income country, it struggles with growth. Even as it is set to recover from its 10% drop in real GDP in 2023, underlying economic concerns still require attention. Underdeveloped business structures, low productivity, persistent crime and limited technological advancements for most citizens are all points of emphasis.

Hope for systemic improvement is never lost, but the global response must substantially increase to streamline the process. Developed countries cutting foreign aid expenditures should never be the solution to address deficits. After all, foreign aid is an investment that leads to prosperity for both parties involved.

– Elliott Borawski
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