Cayman’s education system must turn out students competent in general literacy and computer technology as well as equip them with the necessary life skills if they are to succeed in today’s workplace, says a leading business professional.
Mr. O’Dea |
That goal is not being achieved, leaving employers no choice but to import labour, Conor O’Dea, managing director of Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Ltd, said Monday in his keynote address to delegates at the National Education Conference.
‘The quality and inconsistency amongst school leavers entering the workforce is poor and falls a long way short of acceptable standards.’
Mr. O’Dea said that Cayman is facing a tremendous shortage of skilled labour, both technical and professional. That demand is being filled by immigrants.
Importing labour is a short-term solution that has become ‘a fragile long-term solution as immigration policies can and do change,’ he said.
‘One could make the case that the ease of importing labour has taken a focus off businesses investing in developing a skilled local workforce and, similarly, Government investment in education.’
He said applicants for entry-level jobs increasingly do not meet the minimum education standards, making it difficult for employers to invest in them.
‘The reality is that many school leavers are not a good investment.’
Mr. O’Dea said if this trend continues ‘the labour force skill base may be obsolete by 2010.’
That’s why it’s vital to build an education system that is the ‘envy of the Caribbean and beyond,’ he said.
‘We desperately need the education system to produce more productive young adults for the benefit of the community at large.’
He emphasised literacy in the basics – reading, writing and arithmetic – is a key ingredient required by employers.
‘The reality is employers do not need a plethora of rocket scientists . . . consistent, tested general literacy levels amongst the majority of school leavers will go a long way towards filling the entry level needs of most employers.’
He said to achieve these goals, national standards for core subjects should be set at the primary level. If not met, extra tuition should be given to students so they can enter high school at the required levels.
Mr. O’Dea also suggested technical studies be introduced in high schools for those students who are not academically inclined.
‘Our national goal should be that a much larger number of high school graduates obtain a minimum of three grade passes at external exams, concentrating on the core subjects of English, mathematics and computers. This will meet the basic needs of employers.’
Digital literacy is another critical ingredient for Cayman to compete globally, he said, noting all students should have ready access to the Internet and multi-media resources in the classroom.
‘We must embrace and invest in digital literacy for our children and not just pay lip service to its importance.’
Equipping students with life skills is another key area the education system must address, ranging from drug education to such basic domestic skills as cooking, he said.
‘If the education system turns children into competent young adults ready to face the harsh realities and challenges of adult life then the educators have succeeded. It is up to the employer to develop these young adults into productive individuals in the labour pool.’
Mr. O’Dea stressed that the education system must address the long-term needs of Cayman’s economy and community.
‘If we do not invest in education, we will ultimately be investing in a social welfare system – the choice is simple.’
The two-day conference, which wrapped up Monday, aims to provide strategies to improve the education system. Feedback from delegates will be included in a report to be tabled in the Legislature on 7 October, which will provide the blueprint for reform.
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