When Did Education Become Free In Jamaica?

When Did Education Become Free In Jamaica?

By Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

Education is often considered a cornerstone of progress and social mobility in any society. Here in Jamaica, our journey towards providing free education for all has been a significant stride towards inclusivity and empowerment.

Before the implementation of free education, Jamaica's educational landscape was characterized by a lack of access for many. Early educational institutions were often private and costly, leaving a substantial portion of the population without the means to acquire an education. This disparity hindered the development of the nation's human capital and limited opportunities for economic growth.

For the first time in 1957, entrance to all grant-aided secondary schools was done through a Common Entrance Examination, and all scholarships and free spots were awarded to these schools based strictly on exam scores. Starting around 1948, an annual scholarship examination was held to determine the recipients of the few scholarships that were offered, including the Code Scholarship, scholarships for parishes without any grant-aided secondary schools, and foundation scholarships for some endowed schools.

The introduction of partially free high school education took place in 1957, under the leadership of Norman Manley, who was Jamaica's then-chief minister. Free education has been a core component of the People's National Party (PNP) platform since at least 1938.
In all government-owned and government-aided schools, free education, which included free meals and free uniforms, went into force in September 1973. In 1974, free higher education became a reality, including free boarding facilities.

On May 2, 1973, the fourth prime minister of Jamaica, Michael Manley, announced the free education project. For thousands of Jamaicans, this was the opportunity many economically disadvantaged people had been waiting for to improve their lives and those of their families. The program offered free secondary education in all grant-aided secondary schools as well as free tuition for qualifying Jamaicans who wanted to enrol in a tertiary institution. Many wealthy Jamaicans took their kids abroad after removing them from prestigious high schools. Evidently, they wanted to keep the structure of classes in place and believed that socialism, or even communism as some called it, was harmful because it promoted free education.

Michael Manley announced in 1974 a levy on the bauxite firms that had previously paid an insulting "flippancy" for the bauxite dirt, which they turned into aluminium products and sold for multiple times the price of the dirt. This was done to maintain free education.
Upper-class Jamaicans attacked Michael Manley for the bauxite charge because they disapproved of the premise and, worse, the fact that it was used to provide free education for hungry and impoverished children.

After the JLP won the election on October 30, 1980, Edward Seaga was appointed prime minister. A cess on university students was announced by the JLP government in 1986. The PNP took over as the government once more in February 1989.
Early in the 1990s, the PNP Government announced that cost-sharing would be voluntary in the schools. The prohibition on expulsion for failure to pay school fees, however, is still in place today. Since it was first implemented in 1973, the idea that education is free has remained true in theory.

While the introduction of free education was a watershed moment, Jamaica's education system has faced its share of challenges. Issues such as inadequate funding, disparities in the quality of education, and access to higher education have persisted. Efforts to address these challenges have been ongoing, with various governments implementing policies aimed at enhancing the education sector.

The evolution of free education in Jamaica reflects a nation's commitment to empowering its citizens and fostering equal opportunities. From a landscape marked by exclusivity to one that champions accessibility, the journey has been marked by significant achievements and challenges. The story of free education in Jamaica is a testament to the belief that investing in human capital is crucial for national development and progress. As Jamaica continues its efforts to refine and strengthen its education system, the legacy of free education will stand as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come.

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References & Sources For When Did Education Become Free In Jamaica?

1. n/a. (n.d.). Retrieved August 30, 2023, from https://www.nlj.gov.jm/MinistryPapers/1962/No.31.pdf
2. Burke, M. (2019, May 2). The Manleys and free education. Jamaica Observer. https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/the-manleys-and-free-education/
3. A flashback to Michael Manley's free education system. (2022, February 27). Jamaica Observer. https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/a-flashback-to-michael-manleys-free-education-system/

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