A detailed look at Jamaica’s education system and its policies over the past decade will show a semi-structured approach to education reform. On a steady but slow progression towards the attainment of UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), there is some progress, albeit scattered.

We see many of the changes taking place at the primary and secondary levels: an infusion of altered testing approaches, the introduction of pathways to learning, and shifts in the education system. Yet after each report we see the same challenges being reiterated: low literacy rates, lack of teacher motivation, under-resourced schools, and a disparity in the quality of educational offerings along with a disconnect in the school-to-work transition.

If anything, this suggests that we are further from the attainment of SDG 4 than ever, especially on the heels of the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which further weakened and highlighted existing gaps in the system. Therein lies the present reality of the education system, hinged on the haunting effects of our colonial past marked by rote learning — a lack of differentiated instruction in curriculum and pedagogy and standardised testing.

A key affective factor that continues to short-change the education system is the heavy influence of politics. I maintain and have been a firm proponent that the key pillars of society — though unavoidably influenced by — should never be hinged upon politics because of their direct influence on lives. We have seen a long-standing history of well-functioning policies and plans erased or unnecessarily changed simply because a new party took office, even though it would have been more fiscally prudent and beneficial to the populace to refine existing programmes and plans.

This brings me to the future of education. While we continue to get it wrong and play catch up, the world is advancing at a steady pace. Globally, education systems are being strengthened to allow for a more inclusive and just education, highlighting the necessitation of climate action towards a more circular approach to education and economic structures.

Jamaica, being a small island developing state, should have been at the forefront of the green transition given our geographical position and our vulnerability to external shocks. Is it that by the time we finally catch up we would have already been outdated? Are our youth being unjustly and inadequately prepared for the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution?

This is a call to action to the Government, the education ministry, public and private sector alike to unite towards the greater and public good of alleviating the pressing and urgent challenges within the education system.

There is substantial evidence available which highlights best practices in solving all the aforementioned challenges. Before another reform takes place or another task force is implemented I strongly urge and advocate for a closer look at our failing schools to examine what best practices can be adapted from exemplary models. Let this not be an ad hoc approach, but a systematic one, with monitoring and evaluation frameworks embedded at every step of the implementation process to allow for real time tracking.

I am confident that we have enough resources and adequate data available, and through stakeholder engagement and partnerships it is entirely possible.

A focused and structured approach is required to ease the comorbidities within our education system so that we can move on to other key and important aspects in alignment with global goals.

Veronia Jackson has over seven years of experience in education, particularly within the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer and veroniajackson18@gmail.com.