Disgrace of illiteracy rates

Sixty-seven per cent of our high-school students graduate with an average of three subjects and, therefore, are not fit for any college. Most of them would be unable to calculate Millard McLeod's age, and those who wish to enhance their chances for a college education must now, at tremendous hardship - financial and otherwise, attend extra classes for the next three years.

Many of these classes are run by fly-by-night institutions whose only interest is the students' money and only a small percentage of these students will make it.

Yes, there is a handful of students who are exemplary, and all praise to them, but a handful is not enough. Our illiteracy rate is a national disgrace. With all these glaring discrepancies, McLeod, the principal of deCarteret College, believes that our educational system is 'oneof the most efficient, probably in the world' (The Gleaner, February 24 ).

With such views coming from leaders in the school system, it is no surprise that our education system is probably the most inefficient in the world. How about some good educational result? The bottom line is what counts.

- Gerald A. Hedmann

PO Box 207

Morant Bay

St Thomas

Rescue the sugar industry

The sugar industry has been in Jamaica for more than 300 years and Jamaica was one of the leading sugar-producing countries in the world. Our ancestors and foreparents were enslaved on the sugar plantation. Their hard work, sweat, tears, blood and even death caused the sugar industry to be our inheritance today.

But successful governments have paid little or no attention to the industry, while corruption and mismanagement have contributed to the present state and dying days of the industry. We are crying out to all the parties concerned for their participation to rescue this vital sugar industry, because thousands of our people depend on it for their existence in one way or another.

The sugar industry is the birth- place of the trade union movement and foundation and cornerstone of the two major political parties in Jamaica. Government and Opposition must join hands and heart together and rescue this vital industry.

- Cassidy MeghooBurnt Savannah

Frome PO

Westmoreland