Jamaica: Residential camps and other programs for out-of-school youth

Abstract

This case study describes various youth programmes in Jamaica and analyses their particular constraints and the causes of their modest impact on the educational needs of out-of-school youth. The general education system remains inadequate, with a high dropout rate and poor achievements of school leavers. Lifelong education is offered through evening courses and correspondence courses. Nonformal education programmes comprise literacy programmes, vocational training, agricultural training, and home economics. The youth camps, an original approach, are studied in terms of educational objectives, enrolment, physical settings, and curriculum, with an association of learning and production periods. Youth centres and youth clubs offer similar programmes. The effectiveness of these efforts is assessed