WESTERN BUREAU — The Montego Bay Community College’s (MBCC) $30-million, multipurpose Dr Lorna Nembhard Auditorium was officially opened last week, prompting education minister Maxine Henry-Wilson to commend the private sector for its involvement in the city’s educational sector.

Speaking at the opening, she underscored the need for even greater private sector involvement, as she stressed that government can no longer be expected to fund education alone.

“We have to move beyond the bounds of defining resources as what the government provides for education. Our community has ample resources that have not yet been garnered, that have not yet been harnessed into making our education the best that it can be,” she said.

While she acceded that the call for increased government investment in education was a legitimate one, she contended that there must be a return on that investment.

“The concern, and legitimate cry, is for the government to invest more in education. But there is a companion piece to this… What is the return that we are getting on the investment now. How well are we catering to create that ideal citizen-worker,” she asked.

According to the Minister, the 27-year-old Montego Bay Community College, where the Ivy Townsend Library was also officially opened, was a good example of the benefits of community and private sector involvement in education.

She explained that while the Ministry lent its support to the construction of the longed-for auditorium, it was the contribution of community groups and the private sector that saw the 10-month project through to fruition after some 15 years in the pipeline.

The auditorium and library were named after two of the institution’s principals who were lauded, at the official ceremony, for their contribution to the college’s academic and infrastructural development during their respective tenures.

Townsend served as principal from 1978 up to 1987 when she retired. She has since died. Nembhard succeeded her in 1987 and served up to 1999 when she died.

During the ceremony, Henry-Wilson spoke of the need to have an increased number of persons accessing tertiary education, as only 15.6 per cent of the population now pursue study at the collegiate level.

“If we are to adequately prepare ourselves for the future then, as a country, we have no choice but to aim towards having more than 40 per cent of the population complete tertiary education and become competitive in even middle-range economic activities,” she said.

At the same time she reaffirmed government’s commitment to early childhood education which was a major item in the ruling People’s National Party’s manifesto in the run-up to last October’s general elections.

According to Henry Wilson early childhood education is the foundation on which a good citizen worker can be developed.