Dear Editor,
Education must be our nation's priority; the Government must invest in our young, social capital. Michael Manley was a visionary who knew the importance of a good education. His work allowed many otherwise disenfranchised Jamaican children to become lawyers, doctors, etc, and they were afforded this opportunity free of charge. He pioneered programmes like "Crash" and JAMAL to get poor Jamaicans educated and employed, and live a life of dignity.
The Students' Loan Bureau (SLB) must not be allowed to bully and intimidate students out of their educational opportunity. Whilst it is clearly understood that loans need to be paid, it is much more important to have an educated population to keep up with globalisation and remain relevant in this age of computer technology.
When we compare our number of university graduates to other countries like Trinidad and Cuba, where education is free, we are retarding the future leaders of this country. With so many dunce bats running around the island, no wonder Jamaica is seen by some as the murder capital of the world.
It is also the obligation of the media houses not to encourage this injustice by helping the SLB publish pictures and names of these so-called delinquents. It is the society that is delinquent and is a hopeless atmosphere. After these students sacrifice to try and get an education — many of them bear hunger to be in class, many sleepless nights to pass exams -- this is how our country rewards them; no jobs, a devaluing dollar, and your picture will be plastered in the papers.
We must make better opportunities for our young graduates. This is disgraceful for the SLB. knowing the economic climate in Jamaica to be so unreasonable to students who are unable to pay. Students leaving university must not become victims of a society where corruption has erased opportunity and nepotism has become a way of life.
Minister of Education Ronald Twaites should partner with the business sector to put our intellectuals to work without party colours dictating employment.
Education is a human right, not a privilege. The Government of Jamaica has been spending exorbitant amounts of money on enquiries, cars, etc, and they are unwilling to invest in the people. Jamaicans need to wake up and smell the coffee; we are too caught up in curry goat business while our children are suffering.
Remember, every graduate is not going to get visa to go to 'foreign'.
Revd Tanasha Buchanan
tanashabuchanan@yahoo.com
SLB is being a bully!
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Education must be our nation's priority; the Government must invest in our young, social capital. Michael Manley was a visionary who knew the importance of a good education. His work allowed many otherwise disenfranchised Jamaican children to become lawyers, doctors, etc, and they were afforded this opportunity free of charge. He pioneered programmes like "Crash" and JAMAL to get poor Jamaicans educated and employed, and live a life of dignity.
The Students' Loan Bureau (SLB) must not be allowed to bully and intimidate students out of their educational opportunity. Whilst it is clearly understood that loans need to be paid, it is much more important to have an educated population to keep up with globalisation and remain relevant in this age of computer technology.
When we compare our number of university graduates to other countries like Trinidad and Cuba, where education is free, we are retarding the future leaders of this country. With so many dunce bats running around the island, no wonder Jamaica is seen by some as the murder capital of the world.
It is also the obligation of the media houses not to encourage this injustice by helping the SLB publish pictures and names of these so-called delinquents. It is the society that is delinquent and is a hopeless atmosphere. After these students sacrifice to try and get an education — many of them bear hunger to be in class, many sleepless nights to pass exams -- this is how our country rewards them; no jobs, a devaluing dollar, and your picture will be plastered in the papers.
We must make better opportunities for our young graduates. This is disgraceful for the SLB. knowing the economic climate in Jamaica to be so unreasonable to students who are unable to pay. Students leaving university must not become victims of a society where corruption has erased opportunity and nepotism has become a way of life.
Minister of Education Ronald Twaites should partner with the business sector to put our intellectuals to work without party colours dictating employment.
Education is a human right, not a privilege. The Government of Jamaica has been spending exorbitant amounts of money on enquiries, cars, etc, and they are unwilling to invest in the people. Jamaicans need to wake up and smell the coffee; we are too caught up in curry goat business while our children are suffering.
Remember, every graduate is not going to get visa to go to 'foreign'.
Revd Tanasha Buchanan
tanashabuchanan@yahoo.com
SLB is being a bully!
-->