EDUCATION SYSTEMS INEDUCATION SYSTEMS INCARIBBEAN NATIONSCARIBBEAN NATIONS

Mariah CameronMariah CameronOzanam ScholarOzanam Scholar

Class of 2017Class of 2017

• The education system in Jamaica is in crisis. The The education system in Jamaica is in crisis. The fact is that it has always been, but some recent fact is that it has always been, but some recent developments have increased concerns about developments have increased concerns about

its future. The problems range from poor its future. The problems range from poor discipline, to poor performances at the discipline, to poor performances at the

examinations level, to the recently announced examinations level, to the recently announced emigration of hundreds of qualified teachers to emigration of hundreds of qualified teachers to

schools in North America and Europe.schools in North America and Europe.

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

• Broad-based primary and secondary education with very limited provision for High School education

• The migration of young people in search of tertiary education abroad.

• External examinations and internationally accepted credentials being non-negotiable outcomes of education.

HISTORYHISTORY

• Duality in provision and access. While the provision has always been broad, its quality has not been evenly distributed.

• The strong involvement of the church in the provision of public education

HISTORY HISTORY (CONT.)(CONT.)

• Say Brother is WGBH's longest running public affairs television program by, for and about African Americans, and is now known as Basic Black. This is a program focusing

on the political, cultural, educational, religious, and economic aspects of the

Caribbean Islands.

• http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/sbro-mla001006-development-of-education-systems-in-the-caribbean

PROBLEMPROBLEM

• 80% and climbing, of current jobs and those in the long foreseeable future, will require advanced technical education and skills.

• Caribbean countries must move away from the old system, syllabus-based curriculum that prepares students to matriculate to institutions and to graduate with general degrees to nowhere or back home to sit down waiting for the end of time.

PROBLEMPROBLEM

• One fine issue is the matter of streaming, or the act of grouping students in streams

according to various criteria. Students are sorted into categories, according to the student's knowledge of aspects of the

competitive curriculum - knowledge that reflects the existing social structure and social

and economic opportunities.• Once the students are categorized and streamed, they are likely to remain in that stream for the major part of their school

career.

PROBLEMPROBLEM

Educational reform has become a major item of public policy across the globe. Prompted by the prospects of the new millennium parents, policy-makers have searched for answers and new approaches Many Caribbean countries decided to reform their education systems

through a collective effort.

IMPLEMENTED SOLUTIONSIMPLEMENTED SOLUTIONS

• Resulted in the Foundation for the Future—the OECS Education Reform Strategy of 1991.

• Belize started a project with the World Bank, which includes revamping the system.

• Bahamas, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago established Task Forces or Commissions that are discussing major reforms of the existing systems.

IMPLEMENTED SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED SOLUTIONS (CONT.)(CONT.)

• Guyana and Jamaica have both been implementing reforms in an attempt to cope with the fall-out from structural adjustment.

• Turks and Caicos Islands and the Cayman Islands have also instituted programs of reform.

IMPLEMENTED SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED SOLUTIONS (CONT.)(CONT.)

• Change the GSAT from being a primarily placement exam to being an effective preparation for high school education. The literacy transition policy is key in achieving this objective.

• Must reduce the number of subjects being exposed to students at any one time

• Improve examination system. They must be revised and made fit for purpose.

WHAT MORE CAN WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE?BE DONE?

• Come to a consensus on the curriculum and assessment system.

• Graduates that have the right mix of knowledge, skills and attitude.

• Must produce more creative graduates (male and female) that can compete effectively in the global economy.

WHAT MORE CAN WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE?BE DONE?

• Rivero, Marita. "Development of education systems in the Rivero, Marita. "Development of education systems in the Caribbean." WGBH Open Vault. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2014. Caribbean." WGBH Open Vault. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2014. http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/sbro-mla001006-development-http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/sbro-mla001006-development-of-education-systems-in-the-caribbeanof-education-systems-in-the-caribbean

• Miller, Errol. "COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN EDUCATION IN THE Miller, Errol. "COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN EDUCATION IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT." miller_Introduction. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May GLOBAL CONTEXT." miller_Introduction. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2014. 2014. <http://www.educoas.org/Portal/bdigital/contenido/interamer/BkIA<http://www.educoas.org/Portal/bdigital/contenido/interamer/BkIACD/Interamer/Interamerhtml/Millerhtml/mil_intro.htm>.CD/Interamer/Interamerhtml/Millerhtml/mil_intro.htm>.

• Ried, Ruel. "Change the Caribbean education system to TVET Ried, Ruel. "Change the Caribbean education system to TVET focused - Part 1." Jamaica Gleaner News RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 focused - Part 1." Jamaica Gleaner News RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2014. May 2014. <http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120314/news/news1.html<http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120314/news/news1.html>.>.

• Evans, Hyacinth . "Inside Jamaican Schools." <i>The University of Evans, Hyacinth . "Inside Jamaican Schools." <i>The University of the West Indies Press</i>. N.p., 8 July 2001. Web. 1 May 2014. the West Indies Press</i>. N.p., 8 July 2001. Web. 1 May 2014. &lt;http://uwipress.com/review/inside-jamaican-schools&gt;.&lt;http://uwipress.com/review/inside-jamaican-schools&gt;.

WORK CITEDWORK CITED