Educational change in postcolonial Jamaica
This study provides a perspective from which present educational development and change in Jamaica can be analysed for guidance in formulating educational policies - The influence of European models inherited from colonialism poses special difficulties for today's innovators. One of these aspects is related to selection procedures. The social class preferences still strongly prevail and are reflected for instance in the distinction made between public and private primary schools. Educational demand exceeds school capacities and entails a high student teacher ratio. The secondary schools based on the English model offer few places which results in high competition. A concern for high dropout rate is at the origin of the creation of lower secondary schools which are vocationally oriented and offer terminal education. These schools however face several problems and suffer from low prestige. Two Thrusts have been established, one for curriculum development and the other for inservice teacher education. Because of the country's strong dependence on agriculture, agricultural education is provided at all levels. Success of educational change is also affected by economic factors such as the bauxite industry, tourism, unemployment, migration and external trade.
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| Format: | book biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
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Vantage Press
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| Subjects: | Agricultural education, Colonialism, Curriculum development, Educational development, Inservice teacher education, Primary schools, Secondary schools, Social class, Student teacher ratio, |
| Online Access: | https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000166123 |
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