Chief Education Officer Lauds Lifelong Learners

MANDEVILLE — Chief Education Officer at the Ministry of Education, Grace McLean, has lauded adults in Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, who have successfully completed training with the Jamaican Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL) and the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI).

She noted that they have made an investment in their own development. “I laud your decision to invest in your education; you have made the right choice. Improving your literacy, numeracy and maritime skills and knowledge will definitely lead to enhancement of your lives,” Mrs. McLean said at a combined graduation ceremony held on Sunday at the Old Harbour Bay Primary School.

The graduates included 18 persons, who were trained in the JFLL’s Level three and four Literacy and Numeracy Programme, with 10 in the Data Entry Operation Level one Computer Programme, and nine fishermen, who have completed a one-week fishing and swimming course with the CMI.

According to Mrs. McLean investment in education enables persons to be globally competitive and marketable in a shrinking global job market.

She said that the relationship between literacy and productivity is well documented, citing a 2007 Canadian study, which found a clear link between investments in human capital and the country’s growth and labour productivity.

“Investing in literacy and continuing education generally, is investing in someone’s feeling of self-confidence and sense of self-worth. Acquiring literacy and numeracy skills are about finding and maintaining a job, being productive, raising children, and living healthy. For workplaces, it means self-confident staff, who are willing to participate, to make informed decisions and smarter choices, thus increasing productivity potential,” she stated.

Teacher with the JFLL programme, Murelda Folkes, appealed to corporate Jamaica to assist the graduates with employment. “We would be grateful for any form of employment opportunities that could be offered to help in this regard as they aspire to achieve their highest potential,” she said.

Meanwhile, Marva Folkes, who spoke on behalf of the graduates, said the skills they have learnt “will certainly assist us to make a difference in our lives and in the betterment of our country”.

“The journey does not stop here for us. We have been given an opportunity to educate ourselves, all in an effort to improve ourselves, and our wider communities,” she said, while expressing “sincere gratitude to all those, who have helped us to reach this point”.

By GARFIELD L. ANGUS, JIS Reporter