ECONOMIC inequality in Jamaica continues to shape the daily choices of its citizens, particularly in their access to public services like healthcare and education. Many Jamaicans find themselves on opposite ends of the economic spectrum, either able to afford quality services or struggling to access even the basics. Income remains a powerful indicator of poverty — Annie West from London School of Economic and Political Science in her research on poverty and educational achievement showed that children from low-income households are significantly less likely to succeed than their middle- and upper-class peers. Numerous other studies have also shown that family income is one of the strongest predictors of academic success and future life outcomes.

The myth of free education

While Jamaica offers free non-tertiary education, the actual cost of attending school, especially at the early childhood and primary levels, are burdensome for low-income families. Annually parents are asked to cover expenses such as uniforms, textbooks, registration, graduation and auxiliary fees, and due to fiscal austerity measures implemented by successive governments, investment in the Jamaican education system has been less than desirable. Jamaica’s “free” education system is expensive in practice and contributes to the underperformance of students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. In May of this year the Planning Institute of Jamaica reported that Jamaica’s poverty rate was 8.2 per cent, a notable improvement from 21.2 per cent in 2015. Amidst this milestone, this statistic must be more than a national talking point as such information is useful to guide the development of educational policies, strategies and decisions that support vulnerable families and the institutions that serve them.

The disparity in educational outcomes

Education has long been a proven tool for reducing poverty and increasing social mobility in any society. Yet, many students from poorer households and underfunded schools have not experienced these benefits. As proven by multiple household surveys done in Jamaica, parental education and income are key determinants of school enrolment. Income is a significant factor influencing students’ mastery of literacy and numeracy. This therefore means that students from wealthier families are more likely to succeed academically, while those from low-income backgrounds face systemic barriers.

The widening gap

It is an established fact that growing up in disadvantaged environments and attending under-resourced schools negatively affects children’s educational and economic futures. In Jamaica, despite parents’ best efforts, at present many still struggle to afford the basic educational necessities to prepare their children to function well at school thereby widening the gap between those who will meet their competency milestones in numeracy and literacy skills against those who won’t. Other than the economic disparity, events such as the COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected teaching and learning in Jamaica and whilst policymakers baffle to find the root cause of the growing literacy and numeracy problems seen amongst students, the learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are yet to be fully addressed by Jamaica’s national education strategies hence many students continue to be left behind.

A new approach to teaching and learning

To improve students’ performance especially in core subject areas, the Government of Jamaica must encourage the adoption of innovative teaching methods and invest in quality education for all. Singapore, a global leader in mathematics education, employs the CPA (concrete–pictorial–abstract) approach. This method ensures that students master foundational skills before advancing, effectively reducing learning gaps. Similarly, literacy must be recognised as a skill that requires targeted and individualised support. Students from low-income backgrounds often lack access to essential learning resources due to attending underfunded schools. Early intervention, coupled with adequate resources and increased social support can foster positive learning experiences and significantly improve learning outcomes.

Global lessons

Several countries have successfully transformed their education systems through strategic reforms. For example, as of the start of the 2025–2026 academic year, over 1,600 school districts in the United States have adopted a four-day school week. While it is still too early to determine the full impact of this shift on student learning, the decision underscores the fact that meaningful changes in education systems are underway globally. Jamaica must also pursue comprehensive reform to improve student performance across all levels of the educational continuum, especially at the foundational stages. Finland’s world-class education system and Singapore’s consistently high student achievement in mathematics and science serve as powerful examples and offers valuable lessons that Jamaica can emulate to raise educational standards and outcomes.

Bridging the divide

The Ministry of Education’s 2016 National Standards Curriculum aimed to standardise learning for grades one to nine. However, to date, disparities persist. To truly uplift all students, policies that improve teacher placement, retention, and compensation, and increased funding for education especially schools serving vulnerable communities, are useful advancement strategies. Learning disabilities must also be acknowledged and supported, not dismissed. Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or challenges. Equally critical too is the need for curriculum innovation. Many traditional methods of teaching have become outdated, curricula must evolve to reflect students’ abilities, and target learning gaps and respond to the realities of the current society. Consider the Tablet in Schools Programme which began over a decade ago. Has the programme been meeting its objectives? Undoubtedly, Jamaica has the potential to lead the Caribbean in educational excellence, but to do so we must bridge the divide. Better learning outcomes will only be achieved through sustained investment, improved teaching methods, adoption of a more inclusive and relevant national curriculum, and deliberate efforts to uplift students from underserved communities.

Dr Karlene Atkinson is an educator and acting vice dean of the Joint Colleges of Medicine, Oral Health and Veterinary Science at the University of Technology, Jamaica.

Dr Karlene Atkinson.