Dear Editor,

In January, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) opened the doors to 600 new job vacancies, igniting a wave of hope among the unemployed and underemployed.

While the announcement brought refreshing optimism to many seeking work, it also raised pertinent questions about the limited local opportunities and robust challenges that lie ahead.

Recently, I came across an article in The Gleaner that highlighted the ongoing struggle of local nursing graduates to secure job placements, even as plans to recruit nurses from overseas continue to unfold. This disparity left me deeply unsettled, prompting me to question the nigh futile efforts — I dare say — of our students who are diligently and relentless pursuing their studies in medical school in today’s volatile job climate.

Students enter their studies with dreams and passions, rightfully expecting that their hard work will lead to employment opportunities. Yet those who pursue nursing programmes at prestigious institutions like The University of the West Indies (UWI) and University of Technology, Jamaica (UTECH), face tuition fees nearing $1 million annually — an investment that raises the stakes of their academic journey.

Leaving school, struggling to find jobs, and shouldering the burden of repaying student loans for their education will undoubtedly cause many graduates to question their initial decisions. This reflects a clear failure on our part to enliven their aspirations and encourage them to patriotically remain in their homeland.

Rest assured, the resilience of these graduates will not go unnoticed. Their resourcefulness will undoubtedly guide them towards their promised land, a land of milk and honey. As the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted, the global shortage of nurses stands at a staggering 6 million — a gap that offers opportunities but also underscores the urgent need for action.

I urge our recent graduates to cast aside their fears of crossing borders in pursuit of a better life. In a world where the job search can often feel discouraging, it is the courage to venture beyond familiar shores that will ultimately lead them to the opportunities they seek.

Dujean Edwards

Lecturer of behavioural sciences

University of the Commonwealth Caribbean

dujeanedwards@gmail.com