describe the educational system in Jamaica. Is it effective in meeting the needs of the country?

Answer 1

Jamaica's education system is based on the Brisitish system and is much different than that of the United States. In Jamaica students begin school at the age of three (with home work and the whole works... simple stuff though) They are in school from 8-3 like everyone else. At grade 6 students take the Grade Six Achievement Test. This is done once a year by every single grade 6er in the country. The results are posted in the newspaper within 3-4 months, with the name of the school that you will attend. You choose 3 schools that you rank by preference and based on your score you might attend one of those schools. If you school too low to attend any of the three you are placed at a comprehensive high school. No student is restricted to schools based on residence as it is here in the states. Students start the 7th grade (high school) typically by age 10 or 11, and begin preparing for the Caribbean Examination Council exams (CXCs) which they will eventually take in the 11th grade (senior year). Student have to take core sub (eng, math, literature) and then choose classes that they might want to do as a career, such as sciences, business, technical drawing (engineering), computers, Home Economics. Students typically take 6-8 subjects in these exams and each subjects include 2-3 sets of exams. So think about it within a month you are taking 24 tests that will determine for most people the rest of their lives. This is an exam that all students in the particular subject int he Caribbean is taking as well. Most schools also offer the Cambridge exam (GCE) which is the British version of the CXC (CXC was born from it). Some high schools as you can imagine are better than others at preparing students to take these exams, so results vary by year. Based on the subjects that you take and pass you are eligible to get into college. This is where I feel that the education system needs to adopt a little from the US. In most programs, including law etc. you are in a cohort from your freshman year and go through with those same student until you get your degree. There are little or no classes that you will take with outside students. General education is tailored to your program. So think about it in your junior year in the school of engineering and you relaize after being involved in student activities, and you now believe you want to do college administration, you would have to apply with the new cohort of freshmen with the new college and you would have wasted all that time and credit.

I believe the system is effective. There is little room for error (especially when it comes to issues such as teen preg) as there are no alternative high schools and once they know you are pregnant you are expelled from school (both public and private).

The industries we have are limited, and we have a lot of educated unemployed citizens, because of this. Because we get out of high school at 16 years (I did at 15), you can work and cant drive till 18, most people end up going to school. Hope I answered your question. Education system has its issues but a part from Universities and Colleges I believe that the US can gain from learning from it (with Uniforms, course work etc.)

Answer 2

Educational System of any country is nearly same and they are all always wanting as they are rarely keep pace with changes in the world and Jamaica is no different.

Answer 3

well according to my parents late friend and my other friend who just came from there- it's strict - my late friend when he came 2 canada had 2 skip a grade - the educational system there is quite different

Answer 4

exactly it meets the need of the country by an effort of maintaining the need of the people in the nation