Up to 70 per cent of Jamaica's workforce does not have a high school education, according to Edward Shakes, executive director of the Jamaica Foundation for Lifelong Learning (JFLL). The JFLL is partnering with the Jamaica Bauxite Institute to address adult illiteracy in areas affected by mining.

The two organisations met at the JFLL central Kingston offices to sign the memorandum of understanding yesterday. In sealing the partnership, Shakes said the initiative would facilitate remedial training in improving the literacy and numeracy of citizens in mining areas over the next five years.

Pilot programmes

He also emphasised the impact of literacy has on national development and stressed that it was imperative to increasing human capital labour productivity and therefore economic growth.

"This partnership fits in with our strategic plan," he said. "We must increase the number of adults who go through our programme to increase adult literacy, which is way too high in comparison to our neighbouring Caribbean society."

Communities from St Elizabeth, Manchester, St Catherine, Clarendon and St Ann will be represented by 17 selected persons from the joint bauxite community councils, in addition to other organisations.

Sixty participants are expected to benefit from the two pilot programmes due to get under way in St Elizabeth and St Ann.