PM assures students of job security
Holness warns however of crime in that ‘better Jamaica’
Published:Saturday | January 13, 2024 | 12:10 AMOlivia Brown/Gleaner Writer
Prime Minister (PM) Andrew Holness has expressed optimism regarding the future employment prospects for Jamaican students, asserting that more than 90 per cent of them will have opportunities in the labour market.
Alongside that projection, Holness made comments suggesting a transformative vision for Jamaica which will not only significantly impact employment woes, but also foster a positive change in the country’s overall trajectory.
However, the prime minister warned that while they will have access to a ‘better Jamaica’, they will still have violence to deal with.
The prime minister was speaking during a ceremony at Manchester High School yesterday.
“You are the first generation of Jamaicans that in the last 50 years will be living in an economy that is growing. That means that the probability of you graduating from high school, and getting a job in Jamaica is greater than 90 per cent. All of you here have a greater than 90 per cent chance of leaving school with all your certification, and getting a job. That is a different Jamaica from the Jamaica that existed 50 years ago,” he said.
“It means that you have to prepare for that Jamaica, but it is also a Jamaica, where, when you inherit it, you will have to deal with violence. So two things are active in our country – our economy is doing well, and you will get jobs, you will be able to fulfil all your dreams and aspirations, you will have income, you will be able to buy your car, buy your house, further your education, invest in your business, you don’t have to seek (to) migrate to live well, but, the quality of life that you will inherit, and be able to live is going to be affected by the level of violence in society,” said Holness, adding that some children are exposed to violence early in life while in school.
Bullying report
A school violence and bullying report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) asserts that many children experience bullying, sexual and gender-based, and other forms of violence in schools. The report said too many children are also exposed to schoolyard fighting, and gang violence by their own peers.
The findings also report that an estimated 246 million children and adolescents globally experience school violence and bullying in some form every year.
“Last year, we had several incidents of young people injuring, and even killing each other,” he said, referencing the cases of a 14-year-old B.B. Coke High schoolboy who was hospitalised after being assaulted by a schoolmate in September last year, and that of a fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy reportedly by the police in a shootout at 100 Lane on Red Hills Road, St Andrew, on Wednesday.
Stressing on the need for peace in society, the prime minister said, “We can’t use violence to solve our conflicts,’’ adding that conflict resolution skills should be mandatory within schools and be made a curriculum subject geared towards addressing societal ills.
But expressing confidence in Jamaica’s future, and emphasising a forward-looking approach, Holness said his role extended beyond addressing current challenges, but also to tackle issues that would shape the country’s trajectory in years to come.
“I think we have done a fairly good job in putting in place things that will ensure that we will have a good economy. You [the students] are all a part of that critical long-term success of our economy. You will be good workers, and innovators,’’ he said to a round of applause.
“You are going to be the ones to inherit a properly structured economy, and you’re going to grow it. You are going to create the labour force that will attract the investments that will make Jamaica into a first-world country, but on the other hand, we need people who are going to respect law and order, people who will become good parents, [and] people who will take a stance in resolving conflicts,’’ Holness said to the students.
The prime minister also promised that Manchester High’s dream of having an auditorium would be realised.