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The educational system was slow to reach most Jamaicans until
the early 1970s. Even after the abolition of slavery, education
remained uncommon; early efforts were conducted mostly by Christian
churches. In the late 1800s, some secondary schools created in
Kingston served primarily the light-skinned elite. The limited
availability of schools, especially beyond the primary level, and
the elitist curriculum intensified class divisions in colonial
society. A dual system of education, characterized by governmentrun primary schools and private secondary schools, effectively
barred a large part of the population from attaining more than
functional literacy. In addition, much of the content of formal
education in Jamaica was largely irrelevant for students unable to
attend universities in Britain. In 1943, fewer than 1 percent of
blacks and only 9 percent of the mixed races attended secondary
school.
The start of early self-government in 1944 finally cleared the
way for increased funding for education. From the establishment of
the Ministry of Education in 1953 to independence in 1962, a
national education policy was developed that expanded the scope of
education and redefined educational priorities. During the 1960s,
the major goal of the government in the field of education was the
construction of an adequate number of primary schools and fifty
junior secondary schools (grades seven, eight, and nine). Until the
1970s, however, the educational system continued to provide
insufficient opportunities at the postprimary levels because many
of the features inherited from the British educational system
remained.
The PNP government elected in 1972 initiated major changes in
the educational system. Qualitative and quantitative improvements
in education were identified as the key elements of the new
government's program during its first term in office (1972-76). The
two most important aspects of the program were universally free
secondary and college education and a campaign to eliminate
illiteracy. Educational reforms were intended to redress the social
inequalities that the system of secondary education had formerly
promoted and to create greater access for all Jamaicans to the
preferred government and private-sector jobs that typically
required a secondary school diploma.
The reforms of secondary education had positive but limited
effects. Greater access to educational was the main accomplishment
of the reform process, but limited funding may also have lowered
the quality of education for the increased numbers of students
attending secondary schools. Nevertheless, the introduction of
universally free secondary education was a major step in removing
the institutional barriers confronting poor Jamaicans who were
otherwise unable to afford tuition.
After changes in its literacy policies in the early 1970s, the
PNP government in 1974 formed the Jamaica Movement for the
Advancement of Literacy (JAMAL), which administered adult education
programs with the goal of involving 100,000 adults a year. Although
in 1987 specific data were lacking, increases in the national
literacy rates suggested the program was successful. Literacy rates
increased from 16.3 percent in 1871 to 47.2 percent in 1911, 67.9
percent in 1943, and more than 85 percent by the late 1970s.
The educational system in Jamaica was quite complex in the
1980s. The public school system was administered principally by the
Ministry of Education and regional school boards. Four major levels
(preprimary, primary, secondary, and higher education) were divided
into a number of different types of schools. The preprimary level
was made up of infant and basic schools (ages four to six); primary
education was provided at primary and "all-age" schools (grades one
through six). Secondary schools included "new" secondary schools,
comprehensive schools, and technical high schools (grades seven
through eleven) as well as trade and vocational institutes and high
schools (grades seven through thirteen). The twelfth and thirteenth
years of high school were preparatory for university matriculation.
The government also administered a school for the handicapped in
Kingston.
Although education was free in the public schools and school
attendance was compulsory to the age of sixteen, costs for books,
uniforms, lunch, and transport deterred some families from sending
their children to school. Public school enrollment ranged from 98
percent at the primary level to 58 percent at the secondary level
in the early 1980s. Schools were generally crowded, averaging forty
students per class.
There were also some 232 privately run schools in Jamaica,
ranging from primary to college. The total enrollment in private
schools was 41,000, or less than 7 percent of total public school
enrollment. Most private-school students were enrolled in
university preparatory programs. Both public and private schools
were characterized by numerous examinations that determined
placement and advancement. This testing material was originally
British, but by the 1980s the Caribbean Examinations Council was
increasingly the author of such tests.
Several colleges and universities served a limited number of
Jamaican students. These included the largest campus of the
University of the West Indies (UWI), the College of Arts, Science,
and Technology (CAST), the College of Agriculture, various teachers
colleges and community colleges, and a cultural training center
made up of separate schools of dance, drama, art, and music.
Located at Mona in the Kingston metropolitan area, the UWI was the
most prominent institution of higher learning on the island,
offering degree programs in most major fields of study. As a
regional university serving the needs of all the Commonwealth
Caribbean islands, the UWI also maintained campuses in Trinidad and
Tobago and Barbados. Approximately 5 percent of the Jamaican
population participated in university studies, although some
students pursued their academic training outside the Caribbean. In
1985 the government announced plans to begin reorganizing higher
education, including the eventual merger of CAST and the College of
Agriculture into a polytechnical institute or a university.
In the early 1980s, the government reoriented its development
strategies for education, emphasizing basic education in grades one
to nine and human resources training. The government's plan
stressed rehabilitating and upgrading primary and basic education
facilities, improving the quality and efficiency of basic
education, implementing a full curriculum for grades seven to nine
in all-age schools, and establishing an effective inservice
training program for teachers. Problems in secondary education were
also identified, such as the existence of a complicated, secondary
school system that produced graduates of varying quality and wasted
scarce financial resources.
The goals of developing the human resource potential of the
population intended to provide educational opportunities for
students to prepare them for the types of jobs available in
Jamaica. According to Prime Minister Edward Seaga, elected in 1980,
a major policy in the area of primary education was to ensure that
primary school graduates achieved functional literacy. Secondary
education was restructured to provide students with an education
sufficient to meet the requirements of upper secondary school. The
government reported in June 1986 that only 9,000 of 82,000 students
in lower secondary schools were receiving an acceptable level of
education.
At the postsecondary level, the most important initiative of
the government was the Human Employment and Resource Training
Program (HEART). Announced in 1982, HEART aimed at providing
training and employment for unemployed youths finished with school.
In 1983, roughly 4,160 persons began job training or entered
continuing business education classes. In 1985 six specialized
HEART academies provided training in agriculture; hotel,
secretarial, and commercial services; postal and telegraph
operations; industrial production; and cosmetology. Nearly 1,400
persons completed agricultural or construction trades programs
administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of
Youth and Community Development. The HEART program called for the
eventual construction of 12 academies capable of training 500
youths at a time in various skills. The program's critics charged,
however, that funds could be better spent on community colleges.
Education became increasingly politicized in the late 1980s,
mostly as a result of the scarcity of resources. Spending on
education declined to about 11 percent of government expenditures
in the early 1980s, after peaking at nearly 20 percent of the 1973
budget. Issues of increased pay for teachers and renewed tuition
expenses at the UWI threatened to make education a national
political issue.
Data as of November 1987
- Caribbean Islands-Historical Background
- Caribbean Islands-Prosperity and Government Centralization, 1974-81
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Agriculture
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Tourism
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Turks and Caicos Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 7 - Strategic and Regional Security Perspectives
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Force and Industrial Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Growth and Structure of the Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-A Regional Security System
- Caribbean Islands-Tourism
- Caribbean Islands-Other Third World Relations
- Caribbean Islands-SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Balance of Payments and Debt
- Caribbean Islands-HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Caribbean Islands-ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Manufacturing
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the Commonwealth and Others
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: St - Christopher and Nevis ST - CHRISTOPHER AND NEVIS
- Caribbean Islands-The Penal System
- Caribbean Islands-The Soviet Presence
- Caribbean Islands-Colonial Heritage HISTORICAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Antigua and Barbuda ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
- Caribbean Islands-The Public Security Forces
- Caribbean Islands-Political Systems
- Caribbean Islands-EDUCATION
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Caribbean Islands-Changes in the Social Base of Political Power POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE
- Caribbean Islands-POPULATION
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Livestock, Fishing, and Forestry
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-ECONOMY
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Caribbean Islands-Agricultural Sector
- Caribbean Islands-The Barbados Defence Force
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-The Police
- Caribbean Islands-The Robinson Government
- Caribbean Islands-United States Preeminence
- Caribbean Islands-External Sector
- Caribbean Islands-Energy
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-POLITICAL TRADITIONS
- Caribbean Islands-THE STRATEGIC SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Livestock, Fishing, and Forestry
- Caribbean Islands-Industrial Sector
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the Commonwealth and Others
- Caribbean Islands-THE COLONIAL PERIOD
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Communist Countries
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHIC SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Natural Gas
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Incidence of Crime
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Barbados BARBADOS
- Caribbean Islands-The Road to Independence
- Caribbean Islands-PREFACE
- Caribbean Islands -CHAPTER 3 - TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
- Caribbean Islands-Services
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-World War II
- Caribbean Islands-External Sector
- Caribbean Islands-EDUCATION
- Caribbean Islands-Foreword
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-The Postwar Strategic Vacuum
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Regional Security Threats, 1970-81
- Caribbean Islands-Controversial Security Issues
- Caribbean Islands-HEALTH AND WELFARE
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Assistance
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 4 - The Windward Islands and Barbados
- Caribbean Islands-ECONOMY
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Banking, Financial Services, and Currency
- Caribbean Islands-HISTORICAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Education SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, 1800-1960
- Caribbean Islands-The Post-Williams Era, 1981-86
- Caribbean Islands-The Armed Forces
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 6 - The Northern Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Finance and Banking
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: CAYMAN ISLANDS BRITISH DEPENDENCIES: THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AND THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Services
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Land Tenure and Use
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: MONTSERRAT
- Caribbean Islands-Growth and Structure of the Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Transportation, Communications, and Electricity
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-Petroleum and Asphalt
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-The Pre-European Population HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: The Bahamas THE BAHAMAS
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Crops
- Caribbean Islands-National Income and Public Finance
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: Dominica DOMINICA
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands-Trade and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 1 - Regional Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Organizations
- Caribbean Islands-Revenues
- Caribbean Islands-THE REGIONAL SECURITY SETTING
- Caribbean Islands-Construction
- Caribbean Islands-Manufacturing
- Caribbean Islands-Agriculture
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-ISLANDS OF THE COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Political Dynamics
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with Latin American and Caribbean Countries
- Caribbean Islands-National Security
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-COUNTRY PROFILE: ANGUILLA
- Caribbean Islands-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-THE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS
- Caribbean Islands-Balance of Payments and Debt
- Caribbean Islands-INTRODUCTION
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Relations
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Current Strategic Considerations
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Narcotics Crime
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Petrochemicals
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-POPULATION
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-The Post-Emancipation Societies
- Caribbean Islands-The West Indies Federation, 1957-62
- Caribbean Islands-Relations with the United States, Britain, and Canada FOREIGN RELATIONS
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Crops
- Caribbean Islands-National Income and Public Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Sectoral Performance
- Caribbean Islands-Precursors of Independence
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-The Criminal Justice System
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHY
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Economic Policy and Management
- Caribbean Islands-Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
- Caribbean Islands-Political Unrest and Economic Troubles, 1970-73
- Caribbean Islands-Education
- Caribbean Islands-Labor Force and Industrial Relations
- Caribbean Islands-Chapter 5 - The Leeward Islands
- Caribbean Islands -Chapter 2 - Jamaica
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-The Governmental System GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Caribbean Islands-The Sugar Revolutions and Slavery
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-The Cuban Presence
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Land Tenure and Use
- Caribbean Islands-Macroeconomic Overview
- Caribbean Islands-Role of Government
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands-The Governmental System GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Caribbean Islands-Economy
- Caribbean Islands-Industry
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-The Increased Role of the United States
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Transportation and Communications
- Caribbean Islands-Country profile: Grenada GRENADA
- Caribbean Islands-Iron and Steel
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Banking and Finance
- Caribbean Islands-Postwar Federation Efforts
- Caribbean Islands-Health and Welfare
- Caribbean Islands-Government and Politics
- Caribbean Islands
- Caribbean Islands-Population
- Caribbean Islands-GEOGRAPHY
- Caribbean Islands-Industry
- Caribbean Islands-Consolidation and Economic Hardship, 1962-69
- Caribbean Islands-Patterns of Development
- Caribbean Islands-Geography
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