The indicators of growth and development in a country are increased real GDP, increased per capita income, lowering of illiteracy, among other things. The Human Development 2012 Report ranks Jamaica 85 out of 187 countries with comparable data. This places Jamaica below the regional average, though there has been some improvement since 2010.

Two recent studies by Federal Reserve economists in the US showed education attainment as the strongest driver of per capita income and overall output. Every dollar spent on education must be seen as an investment in economic development. Business education is one area of education that deserves particular attention. Many educators are agreed that the role of business education is to produce people with the requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for the successful promoting and administering of business ventures. Business education teachers are then facilitators/trainers who enable the process of the development of a highly qualified workforce.

In the recent discussions about teacher quality and the relevance of some programme offerings at the various teacher training institutions in Jamaica, very little has been said about business education. Rather, there has been a push for more teachers of special education, mathematics and science. The reality is that we cannot all be offering only these subjects as, in order for us to grow and develop, we need businesses as they are critical drivers to economic success in Jamaica. Hence, it follows that it is imperative that the workforce is properly grounded in the fundamentals of business and that training begins from an early stage. Thus, the teaching of business education in high schools provides the platform from which students can begin their journey as they seek to build meaningful careers.

The University of Technology, Jamaica, through the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, along with many other institutions, offers a degree in business education and the programme is designed to enable the students to be able to function both in the classroom and in industry. This is so because, while the programme is geared mainly toward the classroom, the methodologies, skills and content learnt can be readily transferred to industry. The programme is structured to respond to the needs of the Caribbean Examinations Council, both at the preliminary and advanced levels, and the labour market. It is so structured that it also responds to regional and international needs.

We are operating in a global environment and thus competition has become a constant, so in order to gain and maintain a competitive advantage, organisations have to engage in the process of training and developing their human capital. This has given rise to the need for trainers/coaches. Also, a cursory examination of the local newspapers will show several job openings for people who have some training in business education. Graduates with a teacher training degree in business education usually fit this role as the training they receive in the education component of the course of study equips them with the skills and competencies required to engage and plan programmes to facilitate the adult learner.

Business education programmes, therefore, seek to, as highlighted in the Vision 2030 Jamaica, “develop an education and training system that produces well-rounded and qualified individuals who are able to function as creative and productive individuals in all spheres of our society and be competitive in a global context.”

Vivia M Clarke is a lecturer in the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies at the University of Technology, Jamaica. bcsprog8@gmail.com