The New School Year and the Economic Pinch in Jamaica

This academic year, 2013-2014 has opened with much nervousness and excitement.  Nervousness due to the economic situation where things are financially challenged, and excitement in that students are hopeful in doing the best to make it in the very competitive classrooms.  Teachers have been challenged about their study and vacation leave and was advised not to apply at this time for various reasons.  So, the teachers also returned to school under a cloud of uncertainty not knowing if they still have a job and also, if they will be paid at the end of each month!  School administrators have done their best to repair, renovate and  refurbish their schools to make it look appealing to the eyes of the parents, who have invested much into their child's education.  The economic boat is certainly on turbulent seas!

Earlier in the year, the teachers were given a scare that would have caused a major disruption in the academic year.  The education ministry had announced that they would not hire new teachers, nor they would be granting leaves to most.  It was thought that teachers could take up and go whenever they had a mind to.  However, it was realized that granted leaves were were based on conditions that the teachers must fulfill over a period of continuous active years in the classroom.  This conditions were based on negotiated and singed agreements over the years and the ministry slowly found out that they would have been dragged into the courtrooms.  The ministry did the wise thing in the end and granted the much needed leaves.

The economic situation being felt in Jamaica has caused most to be wise in the spending, savings (if they can) & "partners" and overseas travels.  This can be seen in the amount of persons taking on work that they were not used to doing, car pooling, and bus pooling.  Even many of the children are getting into the act of investing in sales of garden products and snacks on a week ends in order to ensure that they attend school for the coming week.  Our country has often felt economic pinches but this one at this point in time has truly hit education way below the belt!  But, it was nice that parents have come all out this year to ensure that their children have their tools needed to learn and looking brand new in their newly made uniforms and stuff.

The advice that is now ushered to parents and children is to do incremental savings and time it for its usage at a point when a child is about to enter high school and college. Also, the students with their parents should look around for scholarships, see the requirements, prepare, qualify and apply.  Another advice ushered is to see what kind of skills needed and either acquire the skills on your own or pay to learn the much needed skills to help one to survive in these hard times. The final advice, if there are specific needs for  particular goods or services in a community or town, and you have the skills to provide it consistently, then offer it.  That way people in need are supplied and honest money can be earned.



This academic year is a tough one.  Stressing though it may be, there is still hope and if we look at history there have been episodes of economic/financial madness with the agencies that can make or break a nation, but Jamaicans have always learnt to survive under the worst of conditions.  However, I do believe that the right kind of education and will give us the edge to survive these times.  Parents and teachers, research, invest and help bring our education system to a point where we can reap the benefits of surviving the next economic storm and guide the country to a place where we can experience financial calm and enjoy the fruits of our labour.