Letter of the Day | Revive the TVET system in Jamaica

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Marcus Garvey’s call for industrial and practical education being central to self-reliance and national advancement remains relevant in our contemporary Jamaica.  Our national development and sustainable growth can only come through the recognition that technical and vocational education and training (TVET) must prepare people for the demands of the future. While Jamaican technocrats debate how to fund Jamaica’s education system, the fact of the matter is that the TVET system has failed. 

Modern Jamaica requires both strong academic foundations and highly skilled technical professionals. Doctors, engineers, teachers and researchers are essential, but so too are electricians, welders, software technicians, construction specialists, culinary professionals and other skilled practitioners to keep our economy functioning and developing. Sadly, we are currently facing a severe shortage in the availability of skilled labourers and, since April 2026, there has been a consistent call for Jamaica to import skilled labourers. 

This call to import skilled labourers is a signal that our TVET system has failed to prepare our citizens for the demands of our country. In his March 31 article titled ‘TVET is more than a philosophy’, Dr Appolenon Gordon pointed out that while TVET is espoused as the “engine of growth”, insufficient investment and lingering perceptions continue to undermine its true potential. He called for investments to ensure that our students use equipment appropriate for the 21st century since national development cannot be built on “theoretical welding” or outdated approaches to technical training. This, too, is a signal that the TVET system has failed to remain relevant and practical.

Unfortunately, in Jamaica, TVET is still often viewed as ‘second choice’. And so, while across the globe, practical problem-solving, design thinking, creativity and technical (competence hallmarks of quality TVET/STEM education) are celebrated as the way to the 21st century, in Jamaica, much of the public discussion surrounding education in Jamaica often frames TVET as being in competition with traditional academic pathways.  

The conversation can no longer be about which pathway is superior, but rather how we can better integrate both to create a more responsive, innovative, and productive society.

KAY DUNKLEY

Educator

kdunkley@hotmail.com