Dear Editor,

One popular statement many Jamaicans know is: Mi nuh have it. These words have dashed countless dreams and have been voiced so often they have become the go-to expression for lacking the financial means to turn prospects into reality.

Growing up in rural Jamaica, my mother would frequently make this statement when affordability seemed out of the spectrum. “Mommy, can I get this toy?” Her response would be, “No, mi nuh have it.” I would often bang my head on the wall in disbelief and rage, not fully grasping what this really meant. Kids see their parents as “heroes” who can get them anything they ask for, such irony!

As we matured, we began to understand that these words were both subjective and selective. We noticed that parents would often buy things they desire on either credit or debit, even when they’d say, “Mi nuh have it.” Meanwhile, the book list for the new school year would sit on the dresser, gathering dust, often seen as the least priority.

Despite forking out cash for new school uniforms, expensive school bags, and the latest Clarks, a report from the Jamaica Education Transformation Commission (JETC) had something else to say. They reported that in 2023, many students at the primary level were “barely literate”. This, therefore, raises an important question: What if this “Mi nuh have it” terminology goes beyond just materialism?

We are indeed feeling the pinch if our children’s education is on a downward spiral, despite having well-trained teachers, some of the most prominent teachers’ colleges in the Caribbean, and “top-notch” educational administrations. Is money really the barrier to educational achievement? Many would say yes, especially in a developing country where so many lack the financial resources to pursue education beyond high school. The few who do “have it” often have parents with prominent careers or benefit from generational wealth.

Others might argue that finances shouldn’t be a barrier, as parents have a responsibility to ensure that it doesn’t hinder their child’s education. Some might believe that the child is propelled to learn despite the already limited resources he/she has available at school or home. Having been raised in an almost single-parent household in which the weight fell mainly on one parent, I understand how money can be a barrier to education. Yet it can also make a child more aware of the tough realities of life. This is why it’s crucial for both parents to be financially involved in a child’s education, though that’s not the case for many in Jamaica.

Society often pushes the “fittest of the fittest” narrative, distracting many with expensive gadgets, fancy Clarks, and the allure of material things. Escaping these challenges relies heavily on a child’s intrinsic motivation as well.

We often hear stories of people overcoming tough circumstances to become successful, despite financial struggles or absent fathers. Higher education isn’t the only way out, but I can personally attest to how attending university and leaving my rural community has changed my life for the better. “Mommy, I want to be a doctor when I grow up,” or “Daddy, I want to be a lawyer when I get bigger.” But in reality, how many parents can afford to support their children’s dreams? What steps are being taken to elevate literacy instead of just saying, “Mi nuh have it”?

Let’s revisit that lingering question: Is money a barrier to educational achievement because parents “nuh have it”? One can only answer that question based on one’s own experience or background, as the answer may not be the same for everyone. But before you respond, try to reflect on all the times a parent has expressed this phrase to you or someone else, and then do a mental check.

Giovannie H Rowe

Educator

GiovannieHRowe@my.trident.edu