MONTEGO BAY, St James — Principal of Montego Bay Community College (MBCC) Dr Darien Henry is calling on Government and other stakeholders to be proactive in crafting policies to counter low enrolment in educational institutions.

“Declining birth rates and consequent [fall in] school enrolment are reshaping the local education landscape. These changes call for decisive actions and forward-thinking strategies from all stakeholders, especially our leaders,” said Henry, who stressed the important role education plays in national development.

Henry was speaking at the recent 2024 MBCC Graduation Ceremony at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.

Directing his comment to permanent secretary in the ministry of education Dr Kasan Troupe, he called on the Government of Jamaica to flex its policy muscle… and continue to prioritise access to post-secondary education.

“We must do this with a sense of urgency if we want to increase the number of persons who are accessing post-secondary education,” added Henry.

He also called for steps to be taken to address challenges at the tertiary level.

“Currently, less than 30 per cent of Jamaica’s population is stepping foot into a college or a university or some avenue for post-secondary education; we have to flip the script,” he implored.

Henry said MBCC, “has been carefully evaluating our student enrolment patterns, and we are adapting and shifting dynamics accordingly.

“We are on an exciting pathway of expansion and… we have submitted, two weeks ago, our funding request for $1.25 billion in our quest to grow MBCC beyond imagination. So, please, Dr Troupe, when you see the submission on your desk, look at it and you hold it and say, ‘Yes, MBCC, you have my support’,” Henry urged.

The 2024 graduating class was made up of 216 students.

In highlighting some of their outstanding achievements in CAPE examinations, Henry singled out Noella Brown, to whom CXC awarded the prestigious title of Most Outstanding Candidate in the field of Humanities. Henry described it as “an honour that reflects the highest level of academic distinction”.

He also spoke of how well MBCC has done, overall.

“The college achieved an impressive average pass rate of 94 per cent in CAPE exams, with 100 per cent pass rates in several subjects including Caribbean studies, history, literatures in English, pure mathematics, agricultural science, sociology, environmental science, and physics. Notably, in environmental science Unit 2, every single student achieved distinctions or credits, and in Caribbean studies, an incredible 88 per cent earned distinctions or credits,” Henry said.

“Our business department also shone brightly this year. Year 2 bachelor students achieved a phenomenal 100 per cent pass in 10 of the 11 courses offered, with an overall pass rate of 93 per cent, while Year 3 students achieved 100 per cent pass in 10 courses, with an overall pass rate of 92 per cent. Among our talented students is Whitney Mulai, a proud graduand who placed second in the 2024 Junior Mayor Competition for Westmoreland. Whitney exemplifies the calibre of leaders we are cultivating here at MBCC,” he added.

Delivering the keynote address, Troupe urged graduates to continue with lifelong learning and “leveraging the power of technology”.

“Get up and use the technology. The technology can fix any gaps you have in learning, you just ask it. Go on to that ChatGTP or any one of them and tell them what your challenges are and it will tell you what to do. You have no excuse; let’s advance the culture of excellence,” she appealed.