The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has, for over the past four (4) years, offered to pay for four (4) subjects at the CSEC Level.
(CSEC is the acronym for the Caribbean Secondary Examinations Certificate exams. These exams are administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council and determine the High School leavers' eligibility for higher studies at the tertiary level).
The subjects that the government is willing to pay for (subsidize) at the CSEC level, are English, Mathematics, a Science subject and Information Technology.
However due to the fact that during the period 2004 -2008 only:
1) 327,002 of the 344,865 students registered to take these exams, actually sat these exams
2) 171,428 of the 327,002 students (i.e. 52%) who took these exams, passed,
the GOJ will restrict the subsidy to students who actually pass these exams, as it cannot afford to be subsiding students who either don't sit these exams or who fail these exams.
E.g. the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) has spent over $400 million on these exams for the past four (4)years, of which $200 million was wasted due to students failing/not taking these exams.
(A pass at the CSEC level is a grade 3 to a grade 1, with grade 1 being the highest).
Implications for Parents
What this means for parents is that they need to encourage their children to do at least one Science subject at the CSEC level.
The Sciences helps students to analyze, investigate and report their findings re experiments, thus honing these skills which are essential for any 21st century career.
Doing Information Technology not only encourages computer literacy, but gives students an appreciation for the computer, its associated hardware, software and systems.
Thus providing a firm foundation for higher IT studies and/or other higher studies for which this computer appreciation is essential.
...So it behooves parents to encourage their children to make full use of the government subsidy, by passing these four (4) subjects.
It's time that parents understand that its costly to educate their children and if the GOJ is helping, the least they can do is ensure that their kids show up for and pass these exams.
Parents also need to be vigilant at seeking out any government help for their children, whether it be in the form of grants (like the above CSEC grant), or scholarships and ensure that their children are fully prepared to make use of these benefits.
I mean, why fork out hundreds of thousands of dollars on your child's education when, with only a little more discipline and commitment to getting A's, your child can pursue higher eduction for free?
C'mon parents, it's time that you started thinking strategically about your children's education, so that you spend less and allow people who are willing to give scholarships and grants to ambitious students, spend the money they have in reserve to do so...
What do you think?
(I would like to thank ubaltimore for the use of their Flickr inset photo of a smiling student, above).
Gillian
Sources Include
Article,"Govt loses about 200m in CSEC subsidy", by Kimone Thompson-Sunday Observer Senior Reporter, Jamaica Observer, October 4,2009
