Tell Me Pastor

A road to learning

DEAR PASTOR,

I am writing about the article entitled 'Nothing is for free'. You told the young lady that it is nonsense to believe that university education is only for the rich in Jamaica. Did you know a lot of countries offer university education for free? Some students are even given grants, especially if they have children while studying.

I do think the government can do more for its people in regards to education. If education was more readily available to individuals, then certainly we would see a decrease in crime in our society. Lack of education, results in ignorance and the way we manage daily encounters with conflicts.

Instead of putting up new highways and implementing yet another way to get money from people, I think the government should focus on making education free. Educating the population would be good for the economy and not put a strain on our already limited finances.

M.T., London, England

Dear M. T.

You have said your piece, but I insist that it is not true to say that university education is only for the rich in Jamaica. The weight of statistics contradicts what you have said. I am putting it to you that help is available to every poor man's child who has passed his examinations and is willing to enter university. And more and more people are taking advantage of that.

You are young. You don't know that this country offered free education in the 1970's and had to abandon the same because of lack of resources. I beg you not to use the argument about the government ignoring education but building highways.

Pastor