In St. Lucia, it’s the norm for everyone to obtain a secondary education, gain their CXCs and then enter the working world. It is also customary after writing CXC exams for one to attend the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. SALCC is seen as the foundation for advancing one’s education. It’s the stepping stone for an individual to truly “further their education” which in layman’s terms means obtaining a Bachelor’s degree, then a Masters, and even going all the way to a PhD. However, some individuals may only settle for a certificate or a diploma, depending on their financial capabilities. But why is it so important in today’s society to further your education? Let us explore some of the reasons.
In an increasingly globalised and competitive world, it is important to further one’s education to gain a good understanding of the complex world we live in, and to appreciate varied cultures and ideas. It is also important to raise the standards of your skills in your chosen field, or in a variety of fields, particularly if you want to make yourself competitive in the global labour market and handle the overwhelming technological innovations in today’s world.
Education is also an investment in oneself and in your career, as well as other aspects of life. By investing in education, you will improve your self esteem because of your hard work and the levels expertise that your field of study will require. You will also reap the benefits of a higher and more stable source of income, and easier access to personal wealth, including property and financial assets. In addition, you will be able to contribute to society via taxes, more comfortably.
“Furthering your education” does not guarantee that you’ll be “qualified” for a particular job. Some people who have gotten their degrees sometimes are unable to use the knowledge they have gained in their day-to-day jobs. This is why so many employers require that prospective employees have experience as well as degrees. You might find it quite interesting that someone who just left university with a degree, for example in Human Resource Management, but has no experience gets turned down for a job offer in favour of someone with the same degree and five years’ experience. This is how the world of today works. Not only is experience key, furthering your education is just as important.
Furthering your education can also be beneficial for those entrepreneurs out there in strengthening your business. You may have a brilliant idea that can generate lots of money for you. However, what some of us don’t realise is that having an idea and selling it does not necessarily mean that you’ll be able to generate money all the time. On the other hand, one can take management courses, for example to learn the components of keeping the business alive, what to do, and what not to do in certain industries and also learn about the theory of supply and demand. By furthering their education in their field, entrepreneurs can gain a wealth of knowledge that will enable them to be well-rounded business people and they will safeguard themselves when the tides get rough. Ignorance is no excuse.
If you are thinking to yourself, “I can’t afford to obtain a degree”, then you might just want to think of the number of flexible options available to us St. Lucians. There are a few universities and colleges at our fingertips. They offer a range of programs such as business management, banking and finance, hospitality courses, teacher education, accounting, graphic design, photography, web development, Information Technology and many vocational subjects, to name a few. They also offer flexible payment plans and options such as either learning in a classroom or strictly online.
The odds are in your favor. You have the option to select the school and program you’re interested in or what pertains to your particular area of work. This allows you to work and go to school at the same time so that you can continue to gain experience and education. There are also a number of medical universities located on island. All of these schools are accredited and certified so there is no need to worry about that. Most employers seek people with degrees from accredited and recognised universities so that they can be sure that your qualifications are of an acceptable standard.
Many of the educational institution offer a range of certificate and degree programs in collaboration with world-renowned accredited universities and they are affordable to the average St. Lucian. Some of these programs include cake decorating, mechanics, business, electrical installation, ASYCUDA World for those in the shipping industry, as well as Master’s degree programs.
To those of you who want to further your education overseas, that’s okay as well! In most cases the headache of a student loan is a reality that one must face. But it should not be thought of as a headache, rather as the pathway to a brighter future. Most of our banks offer student loans at low interest rates that suit those who qualify. Though student loans require collateral and you may not have the finance to support such commitments, once again, part time schooling might be your option. It will be much cheaper, for example, to further your education in management right here in St. Lucia part time rather than studying overseas.
In conclusion, furthering your education is an investment in your future. The certificate or degree that you will obtain, along with your experience, will make you more marketable and enhance your opportunities to gain employment.
