Education and Workforce: “We are failing our children in families, schools, and society” – Dr Terrence Campbell

Guyana’s education system is failing its youth, creating a workforce ill-equipped to meet the demands of a modern economy. Dr. Terrence Campbell delivered a scathing critique during the Hindsight podcast, calling the current situation “a recipe for disaster.”

Dr. Campbell highlighted alarming statistics: 50% of students drop out of secondary school, and only 16% achieve proper matriculation. “We are failing our children in families, schools, and society,” he lamented. This uneducated workforce, coupled with rising wage demands, is driving labor-intensive industries like sugar and call centers to the brink.

The government’s response, including the much-lauded GOAL program, was also criticized. “Remote education is not new, but we need institutions with standards to ensure our workforce is fit for purpose,” Dr. Campbell said, advocating for a review of the program to align it with global best practices.

The broader implications of this failure are dire. “We are not preparing our workforce for the higher-order jobs that will soon be the norm,” Dr. Campbell warned. As the oil sector inflates the cost of living, Guyana’s most vulnerable citizens will be left further behind, widening the economic inequality gap.