Working Paper Series: Special Edition of 2016 to 2018 Interns

1. Education reform should be given high priority. The structure of the education system particularly, secondary education is biased towards traditional professions (medicine, law, accounting, teaching). It does not adequately prepare young persons to be functionally part of the new economy. The impact of secondary school is important given that the majority of secondary school leavers are unable to pursue tertiary education due to the high cost. As a result, a high number of persons end up in the labour force with no marketable skill or experience. In response government is expending exorbitantly to correct this failure of the secondary system with little return. 2. Support more tertiary training and create an environment that would encourage some of the best to stay. The gap in skills shows the need for more training at the tertiary level. A special national fund should be set up to financially assist students in pursuing tertiary education. Complementary efforts should be made to make tertiary training more physically attainable by continuing to encourage the establishment of offshore institutions of higher learning as well as to explore the conversion of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College to a full-fledged university. 3. Information Technology should be compulsory at primary and secondary school. Given that modern day is driven by computers it is unacceptable that students leave formal schooling without computer and IT literacy. This is imperative if the country is serious about improving competitiveness, efficiency and productivity. 4. Create an environment for small and medium enterprises to start up, survive and thrive. Economists argue that there is little evidence to show that good education and retraining alone equates to good labour market performance. Eliminating the employment problem requires a long term commitment to growth. In that regard, it is necessary to create an environment where the private sector is able to innovate, produce and adapt to the changing consumer needs. A snapshot of the economy suggests that the private sector plays a huge role in driving growth and in providing employment. Hence there should be a critical review of policy to ensure that there are little barriers to the growth of the private sector’s small and medium enterprises.

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