On March 26, 2016, Gleaner contributor and Barrister Sashakay Fairclough wrote an article entitled, “Are Degrees failing Jamaica?” It caught my attention and so I read to see what exactly she was asking. The bases of the article surrounded her lamenting on the value or lack thereof of a degree attained, she stated that many saw obtaining a degree as a way of escaping hardship and that many remained unemployed even after graduation.
She further went on to say that the Government continued to encourage individuals to pursue higher education only to have the job market saturated with individuals with degrees but no available jobs. This causes a devaluing of a degree as they have become less exclusive.She is of the opinion the opinion that too many students are at the University and that based on the said encouragement from the Government for school leavers to pursue higher education, this only left them at the end of the journey with an expensive paper and no prospects of employment.
I beg to differ with some of her opinions; I do not believe that obtaining a degree is ‘technically a waste of time’. While I see why she would postulate this, I was not a part of that statistic as I was fortunate to have already been employed when I obtained my degree. However I am inclined to agree with the devaluation somewhat ; when I began working some 15 years ago CXC’s and A’ Levels where sufficient to get an entry level, good paying job such as a Teller at a Bank or an Accounting Clerk at some other employer. Those with degrees were rare and were able obtain Managerial posts because of the rarity. Fifteen years later that does not remain true and so without a degree, an individual may obtain employment but certainly not in a Bank; and so the devaluation here really is that some persons end seeking employment even in areas where their degree has no bearing.
An article in the Economist dated December 20, 2012 entitled ‘Not what it used to be’ stated that College graduates earned more on average than their counterparts without a degree, also in the article the writer went on to state that there was growing anxiety in America concerning higher education because of the increased fees and student debt even though this was the key to getting a good job. The writer went on to pen that Universities were clinging to the medieval times when the educational concept surrounded mass enrollment, but the writer Donald Heller then makes reference to a book ‘Reinventing Higher Education’ by Ben Wildavsky whose book focusses on entrepreneurship indicates that Universities have failed to innovate.
This further gives strengthens another argument put forward by Miss Fairclough that academics should not be placed above technical learning as the world is changing and education is no longer the only way to get out of poverty. The lack of innovation on the part of the Universities see students sometimes taking courses that rarely leads them to the path they envisioned or I would say reposition them. I am a prime example of this, although leaving high school I was determined to pursue a degree in Psychology and so despite the fact that I got a job in the Bank, I focused on pursuing that degree, which to date I still have not yet been able to use some 10 years later. Maybe (and this strictly an opinion) the Universities could look at the background of the individuals applying and instead of granting them the course of choice, they could look at providing advise on alternatives that would allow the students to be able to make better use of their degrees. Maybe if that was available I would have pursued a degree in Banking and Finance and make this a career instead of being in a ‘job’.
Miss Fairclough went on to suggest vocational training and the teaching of trades that would be equally if not more beneficial to the society, and she states that these should be introduced in schools so that entrepreneurial skills can be taught much earlier than in the higher educational institutions. This will help them to understand how to acquire and maintain money which is important for survival in society. She also states in her article that there should be an unlocking of the geniuses in the youth for them to reach their utmost potential and that it should not always be about academics.
So is obtaining a degree still necessary? Yes it is. An article by Liz Weston dated October 5, 2015 in the Money College Planner Newsletter stated that college graduates that were polled a great majority of them agreed that their education was still worth it especially despite the cost. The cost is also a factor that also leads to individuals questioning the plausibility of obtaining a degree but the writer in her research indicated that of some 30,000 students polled a great majority agreed that their degree was worth it.
The writer goes on to reference an online survey that was also done by a gallup poll and it reads; ‘The grads in the national online survey were asked to rate on a 1-to-5 scale whether their educations were worth the cost, with 1 meaning “strongly disagree” and 5 “strongly agree.” Nationally, 77% agreed, answering with a “4” (27%) or a “5” (50%). Among those who graduated between 2006 and 2015, some 65% agreed their educations were worth the cost, with 27% choosing “4” and 38% responding with a “5.”
Brandon Busteed, Gallup’s executive director for education and workforce development, said his team expected more people to strongly agree that their educations were worthwhile. “It was surprising to me that it wasn’t higher than that,” Busteed said. “It doesn’t mean that half of the people think their education wasn’t worth it.” The reduced conviction among recent graduates is hardly surprising. Those grads emerged with more debt and poorer employment prospects due to a struggling economy. As the debt gets paid off and their earnings rise, they may have a change of heart’.
Despite all the negative factors that pertain I still believe that obtaining a degree is still necessary. I agree with Miss Fairclough that not all degrees are equal and it makes sense to pursue degrees that can create a great foundation for your job or job prospects. This in mind students should try to obtain a degree as it makes them more marketable and less likely to fall down the economic ladder.
References
Fairclough, S. (2016, March 26). Are degrees failing Jamaica? The Gleaner, p. A4. Print.
Heller, Donald (2012, December 17). Not what it used to be. The Economist retrieved June 15, 2016 from http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21567373
Weston, Liz. (2015, October 5). Why College is still worth it even though it costs too much. College Planner Newsletter retrieved June 15, 2016 from http://time.com/money/4061150/college-degree-worth-it/
trendsandissuesinhe 
Although the job situation in Jamaica has been so hostile, I believe that obtaining higher education degree is the driving force out of the poverty cycle. The author of the paper, Ms. Fairclough is correct when she mentioned that students are graduating from universities and are unable to obtain a job. However, I don’t think that to many persons are i Universities. What i think is that our government needs to fin innovative ways to provide employment for students pursuing higher education degrees.
I somewhat have mixed views as it relates to the comment that education should not be put ahead of technical learning. Yes, of course technical learning helps to provide the skills that are needed to complete specific task, but education is the recipe for change. I believe an educated individual creates the knowledge to uplift ourselves and to be scholars within our society. Therefore it is integral for students at the secondary levels to have the drive to do higher education degrees has this will provide them with the knowledge so that they can obtain reputable jobs and venture into professional career path.
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In today’s dynamic society, there are many different types of job ,hence, it is still necessary to get a degree and the gallup poll attest to this. Payment for jobs done are still largely associated to a salary scale and as such employees will use these as standards to allocate payment. Miss Fairclough is correct in positioning that degrees are still relevant but should be coupled with subjects geared to helping students managing there own business.
Students at higher education level should carefully select courses that will aid them in having greater employability skills and enhance their innovative habits.Does UWI gear students towards gaining these skills? I believe it does. However, it is the course selection done by the students that will guide them to enhancing their skills. When students leave the University and do not utilise the degrees they read for, and instead are working in areas of other interest, then it seems that their degrees have failed them. I wouldn’t say the degree has failed them but has made it possible for them to work in other areas with a clear understanding that they are no longer comparable in knowledge to the average man.
Whilst technical and vocational training is important to a students development, it must go with training in the theoretical aspects. Students in the end will then become more astute in their areas of study and offset themselves businesses which would relieve them of a debt burden some incur after they complete their higher education studies.
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This Blog topic is some what similar to another blog with the title, ” Is College Worth it?” Both blogs have a lot of similarities and defends higher education and the importance of it. I really appreciate this blog as it speaks to the Jamaican context extensively before venturing on to the international seen. It gave be a history lesson on the job situation that exist with less degree holders and now were having a first degree places you at bottom of the education scale in the sense that more and more persons are obtaining a degree.
I know for sure that many Jamaican who are working with out a degree would not pass up an opportunity to do a degree and with a degree many times a person can obtained a better job and salary. Degrees will always be necessary and in fact an emerging trend in Jamaica. The University Council of Jamaica registered the first higher education institution in 1991. Therefore the concept of higher education is still a growing trend for Jamaica. we continue to strive for excellence.
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The question is asked is obtaining a degree still necessary. I do agree with the blogger and I am screaming a resounding yes. It is however not necessary for all levels of employment.
I am sure a few of my past students who have more assets than I do without obtaining a degree, will attempt to refute this statement. This is because like many the value of their qualification is based on the quantity of assets they are able achieve as a result of obtaining said qualification. Would I like to have more assets? Definitely. However I looked back at my entry into the teaching profession approximately twenty five years ago as a high school graduate and I compared that thirty two dollars ($32) monthly stipend I was collecting with the four hundred and twenty eight dollars ($428) the other certificate trained teacher was collecting and I decided immediately that I needed to be trained. Both of us were teaching the same grade level, I had more CXC subjects and more students and she got more pay because she had certification. Today I look at the disparity in the basic salary of a teacher who possesses only a Diploma in Education as opposed to one who possesses a Bachelors Degree. If both are teaching for the same number of years with their respective qualifications, the degree holder will have a better pay package that the other teacher. In addition to the improvements salary, university graduates acquire particular knowledge, skills, attitudes and connections that help them to make better use of their environment. That being said, yes my degree is necessary.
I will not pretend to be ignorant of the fact that there are many degree holders who do not have a job or does not work in a job in their field of study. This does exist. Just look at the number of overly qualified persons who turn up for the Jamaica Defense Force or the Jamaica Fire Brigade recruitment drives. I suggest that the relevant stakeholders utilize the expertise of the researchers in the research programs offered by the universities to examine the job markets that will become saturated over a five year period such that universities will modify their course offerings to fit the job market. These studies should be published such that high school students and persons who are entering university will select courses for which they will more likely be guaranteed a job in the next three to four years. This research should include studies at all levels. If some intervention is not done; this new drive to “piggy back” on entrepreneurship might just result in our country having more sellers than buyers and more taxi drivers than commuters.
Ann-Marie Golding-McLeggon
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Is obtaining a degree still necessary? Definitely yes. Its a investment one makes in themselves for life and no matter what, persons with a degree will always have an edge over persons who do not have a degree. Hence, the reason why the Government continues to encourage persons to pursue higher education.
Mrs Fairclough in her article spoke to technical subjects as well as academics subjects being on a leveled playing field, since, the world is changing and education in no longer the only way out of poverty. She stressed the point of vocational training and the teaching of trades, which in her mind would have more benefits to the society and the individuals on a whole. I strongly agree with her on this and is pleased to say that technical and vocational skills are being taught in schools today. However, the problems we face as technical teachers in the schools are administrators who are set in their ways and who still believe that academics is the way forward. This is seen in the limited contact time that is allotted to these technical subjects, as well as the limited resources that are allocated to these areas. Even when it comes to internal examinations, where these subjects are placed on the timetable is an indicator of the lack of value that is placed on them.
As learners we all are gifted for something. We all have different talent and should be given the opportunity to see where our talent lies and develop it. Hence, all subjects, academics as well as technical and vocational subjects should be accorded the same importance. This will give persons an opportunity to excel at what they are good at. I stand firm to the Heart Trust’s motto which states “Skill is power”, because when you have a skill you have the power to change your life and the lives of those who you come in contact with. So students should be given an opportunity to find their passion because some students’ passion is not academics but is skills.
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Is obtaining a degree still necessary.? As I reflect on 10 years ago while pursuing my first degree there were a number of managers in my class and their reason for doing the degree was just to secure their jobs. These individual were in my age group which met they weren’t near retirement. So it simply meant that if I wanted the get a job in the private sector at the time it would have been very hard. So, in my opinion obtaining a degree is still necessary however candidiate must be properly advised as was mentioned in the blog because the demand is there for some degrees but for others there is none. A prime example is my younger brother. He attended a prominent high school in St. Elizabeth where he also did A levels.He had a passion for Geography and so he pursued a degree in Geography about 5 years ago and to this day he is unable to gain employment in that field where he will be able to utilize the knowledge gained. His current job has nothing to do with Geography and you can hear the disappointment in his voice every time he speaks about his first degree. He is now very afraid or should I say cautious about what to pursue a masters in because he doesn’t want to make the same mistake.
There is however a down side to pursuing a degree because in this day and age there are so many other options that are available to individual as means of making money. We have to understand that if individual don’ t value education then they are not going to see the relevance of it once the are making money. Most of us have friends who are not as qualified as us but they are making more money then us and some don’t even have to word as hard as we do. Therefore in the end obtaining a first degree is still necessary and relevant but the government and stakeholders within the higher education system needs to partner to ensure that the programme offered at the universities are relevant to the market needs, since there are still people in the society that values the attainment of education at the highest level.
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I strongly agree that obtaining a degree is necessary. It is important for persons to be qualified in an
area of their choice so that they can be in a position to acquire jobs and be meaningfully employed
at the end of their study. More needs to be done at the high school level to guide the students in choosing the right course at the university that will guarantee them jobs at the end of their study. The relevant authorities should implement more technical and vocational subjects in all the high schools so that more students can be exposed to these areas. This will encourage entrepreneurship and students will be able to hone their skills and use it to earn money. The Universities then, on close examination of the different market needs should create courses that reflects these needs so as to attract more students..
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IS OBTAINING A DEGREE STILL NECESSARY?
Yes, obtaining a degree is still necessary; just think about it for a moment, if you did not obtain your degree what would you be doing now? Or better yet, what is the value of your degree to you? The degree, although as common as a diploma still have currency. It will be even more common in years to come. This will be the result of massification of higher education.
The problem that we face in Jamaica is a “structural one”, the market is just too small. Until we develop our economy to the extent that it will absorb all degree holders in the country, then we will forever question the necessity of a degree. Our industries need to be revolutionized, our universities need a change in paradigm; they must ensure that they graduate more “game changers”, more “change agents”, more entrepreneurs and more leaders. Until then, we continue to graduate degree holders and export those who desire to leave and frustrate those who remain in a clogged system.
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When the abovementioned article written by Barrister Sashakay Fairclough, my high school classmate surfaced on social media, I instantaneously concurred with her expose’ on “Degrees failing Jamaicans”. Not thinking comprehensively or critically through the issue and just agreeing on the issues pointed out in the expose’ was based on my emotions and social realities. However a obtaining Degree is still important. The focus should not only be on obtaining a degree but also obtaining a skills that can be used to develop individuals as multi- tasked or skilled individuals. The Jamaican Education system should try to promote skills, technical and academic development of students at the Secondary level by making skills training compulsory along side academic training.
One should also be strategic in obtaining a degrees because not all degrees have the same ranking, are marketable and can provide value for money. Many of us have had to learn the hard way.
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When the abovementioned article written by Barrister Sashakay Fairclough, my high school classmate surfaced on social media, I instantaneously concurred with her expose’ on “Degrees failing Jamaicans”. Not thinking comprehensively or critically through the issue and just agreeing on the issues pointed out in the expose’ was based on my emotions and social realities. However obtaining a Degree is still important. The focus should not only be on obtaining a degree but also obtaining a skill that can be used to develop individuals as multi- tasked or skilled individuals. The Jamaican Education system should try to promote skills, technical and academic development of students at the Secondary level by making skills training compulsory along side academic training.
One should also be strategic in obtaining a degrees because not all degrees have the same ranking, are marketable and can provide value for money. Many of us have had to learn the hard way.
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Yes, obtaining a degree is necessary. At least it makes you employable. I do agree that universities needs conduct more research in order to discover the needs of industry and therefore plan and create courses that will fit these demands. It is also important that tertiary institutions offer more courses that with entrepreneurship. It is definitely not new information that we have a problem with unemployment in Jamaica. Universities needs to teach students how to survive. My grandfather often said “Give a man a fish you feed him for a life time, Teach a man how to fish he will be able to feed himself”. Students must also use the skills acquired through higher education to create innovative means to create employment for themselves and others. However a degree is an achievement and it is therefore important that all attains one. A more educated workforce may means new skills, inventions and developments.
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Yes, obtaining a degree, is necessary. What is even more important is the type of degree obtained, as it relates to one’s career path, the marketability of the degree and the accreditation of the degree programme pursued.
A university degree enables you, to not only, to acquire a job but also to maintain a position, as qualification is seen as an important aset to the potential employer.
An educated populace has a tremendous amount of knowledge skills and attitude that is vital in today’s world. Governments will always encourage its populace to attain higher education because according research done by the World Bank, there is growing evidence that university education, through its role in empowering domestic constituencies, building institutions, and nurturing favourable regulatory frameworks and governance structures, is vital to a country’s efforts to increase social capital and to promote social cohesion, which is proving to be an important determinant of economic growth and development.
An educated population, should make a difference in a country.
University students should therefore be guided to acquire degrees that are viable, as it makes no sense in completing a degree programme and then being unable to find suitable job that requires the knowledge and skills acquired. It is a waste of both time and money.
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Getting a higher education certainly have benefits even though sometimes it does not seem to be applicable in every area of employment. At times, however, one needs to look beyond the monetary value that is placed on the degree and focus on how much you are self actualized, how marketable you have become in the event of a promotion and to expand on the knowledge gained for the future. Knowledge makes a man and so proper knowledge of career choices definitely would help an individual acquire the necessary skills required in obtaining a degree.
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I believe that obtaining a higher education degree very important as it speaks to what your aspirations are as a person. However one can weigh the pros and cons of such decision as you may find that it may affect employment opportunities (good or bad) especially in the field chosen. However, as one colleague mentioned it makes you more marketable and expanding your knowledge will yield benefits.
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