Free Education – at what cost?
Author : teriann‘Anything Free nuh good.”
This is a well known Jamaican proverb that suggests that if you are not paying for a service or product it must have a defect.
However, the recession has forced many to rethink their aversion to ‘freeness’ as they scramble to make ends meet.
The Minister of Education, has stated that he intends to introduce free education at the pre-primary level. Most basic schools charge a fee to cover various expenses even though they are given some money by the Government.
I wonder what impact this will have on the quality of care offered to our nation’s children?
While I wholeheartedly agree with the fees being waived, I hope measures will be put in place to prevent schools in depressed communities from being forced to close its doors. Or will those schools mirror their secondary school counterparts and simply increase payment for auxiliary fees?
I hope that one day we will be able to give every child the opportunity to access education at all levels, regardless of their financial status.
What’s your view? Should education be free at all levels? Read full article http://mobile.jamaica- gleaner.com/gleaner20110320/cleisure/cleisure1.php
Teri Ann Renee Paisley (Gleaner on-line writer)
Tags: costs, education, school fees, secondary schools
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4 Responses to “Free Education – at what cost?”
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Teri,
I am one who believe that education is and should always be the backbone of any nation if they want to succeed in the world and really attained statehood,
There is nothing wrong with free education up to the university level!..
Only if our leaders know how to do it!..
here is an example how this could and should work.
say the tax payers pay all educational cost for all student no matter what they are studying up to university!.. but in doing so there will be a clause for it./ where every graduates have to work in Jamaica if the Job is there for ten years!.
And on top of that every graduates have to as part of their free education must for as long as they work must contribute 10% of their salary no matter where in the world they are !…
You may ask how will this be enforced in foreign country!.. very easy. , you sing a financial treaty with foreign revenue department/government where they will be able to get the information.
and if our people understand and know what it mean to live in a great society. they wouldn’t want to try and skip out on this agreement!.
If every body adhered to this method!.. you would see how fast Jamaica started to grow and become once again the jewel of the Caribbean!…
The violence and crime we have now , we wouldn’t have because all our people would be educated and they would know how to better deal with disagreement when they arise. and just think how better our institutions would be!, better justice system, better health care, a professional police force!.. there would be so much respect for every one!.. the country would be a wash in wealth!.
Well said teriann, i echo evry ting u said….
Thanks djgangzta, keep visiting!
Hey Bob in an ideal Jamaica what you outlined would be fantastic! I hope one day we will get there (or even in the vicinity)