What is the difference between a housekeeper and a doctor? In many instances in Jamaica, it's one generation. Against all odds, through mentoring, education, perseverance and taking advantage of opportunities abroad, some rise up from poverty and achieve greatness. But no one succeeds under only his or her own steam. It really does take a village to nurture a contributing member of society.

The elitist approach to education we inherited was designed to guarantee that Britannia ruled. We are now independent but Britannia continues to rule. Traditional Jamaican high schools are undeniably one of the great educational experiences in the world but only for the few who are chosen. At the same time, we relegate the majority of Jamaican children powerless and untutored. The final insult is to convince them that their condition is a result of their own weak-mindedness and lack of character and ambition.

A massive overhaul is needed. At present, our society is populated at the bottom of the economic and social ladder by dark-skinned people. In a true, self-fulfilling prophecy, we do not provide relevant educational opportunities because we believe it would be a waste of resources. We then pull the rabbit out of the hat and declare that their impoverished circumstances is their fault, not recognising that we placed the rabbit in the hat in the first place by not investing in their education. The poor are made to feel inferior, unable to learn and treated like outsiders because they have committed the crime of being poor. Somehow this must change. We must reconstitute our educational menu.

Positive change

Our schools can be agents of positive change if the curriculum is relevant to people's lives. Our Government should stop thinking that our people are burdens and mouths to feed and see them as talented and gifted people who will advance our cause if they are offered an education. You cannot begin to imagine the inventions, productivity and solutions for our problems that will follow if the masses of Jamaican children felt empowered, valued, self-confident and safe! We have a long way to go to remedy the historical neglect for this segment of society.

It is Jamaica's shame that so many of our citizens are illiterate and must buy their driver's licences. It is a disgrace that with the outstanding gene pool we have, that so few pass CSEC examinations or can even write a decipherable sentence. How will we compete on the world stage? The solution is in the resolve of our society, strategic planning and the appropriation of adequate resources. Let's make academic success the rule, rather than the exception. If you think educating our people is expensive, try ignorance.

I am, etc.,

Dr B. WAINE KONG

bwaine@bellsouth.net