Gov’t Committed to Ensuring Access to Tertiary Education – Senator Reid

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator the Hon. Ruel Reid, says the Government is committed to ensuring that higher education is attainable for every Jamaican regardless of their socio-economic background.

He noted that through the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) and other bursaries and programmes, students can access financial assistance to get into university.

“Our mantra is to get tertiary education to be the norm in Jamaica,” the Minister said, noting that the Government must “provide a pathway for the training and development of every young person in our country”.

“We are not into this thing about it being an elitist education system. I want the poorest of the poor to get an opportunity for tertiary education. We are doing all we can to give every student who wants to go to college, a foot in,” he added.

Senator Reid was speaking at the HEART Trust/NTA’s College of Hospitality Services/Western Hospitality Institute trade show at the Cardiff Hotel and Spa, Runaway Bay, St. Ann, on November 16.

The trade show displayed the work of students in the areas of food and beverage, and tourism and hospitality management.

This is under a programme being implemented, through a partnership between the HEART Trust/NTA and the Joint Committee for Tertiary Education (JCTE), for the training of students in areas targeted for economic growth, including business process outsourcing (BPO), agriculture, transportation and logistics, and hospitality services.

Senator Reid commended the students on the quality of work displayed and urged them to “continue on the pathway of a successful career as they contribute to the economic growth and development of Jamaica”.

He urged them to take advantage of opportunities in the tourism and agriculture sectors.

“With the growth in the tourism industry, with more rooms being built, there is an increasing need for skilled workers at all levels in the sector. You are, therefore, taking the right steps in be in the right place at the right time,” he pointed out.