UCAS this week announced a dramatic turnaround in university application rates for Black 18 year olds . Application rates are up a staggering 70% since 2006. Black 18 year olds are now applying to university at a higher rate than Whites, though still at a lower rate than their Chinese and Indian counterparts.
This is a cause for celebration. Many feel that the future has never been so bright for Caribbean young people with the right qualifications and skills. The sad fact is, however, too few Caribbean young people are receiving the quality guidance and support they need to put them on track for well paid jobs.
Too many are being educated for jobs which are low paid or which are being wiped out altogether in our globalised, technologically advanced and rapidly changing world. Too many graduate into underemployment, frustration and disillusionment.
Photo courtesy www.thehabarinetwork.com
One reason is that Britain’s top graduate employers mainly recruit from the 24 universities known as the “Russell Group” . However Blacks are still entering these universities at very low rates (5%) – lower than any other ethnic group.
Another reason is that whilst science, technology, engineering and math open doors to a range of good career opportunities and well paid jobs, only 9% of Caribbean young people do one or more A levels in these subjects (according to Warwick University) compared with 39% of Chinese, 37% of Indian, 28% of African and 19% of Whites.
It need not be this way. Organisations like the Caribbean Diaspora for Science Technology and Innovation (www.cadsti.org) and Future Think Limited (www.futurethink.info) are on a drive to roll out practical solutions developed by the Caribbean Diaspora for the Caribbean Diaspora. They empower parents, grandparents, concerned adults and young people to turn things around by equipping them with the right information and know how.
Our children are capable and are pushing ahead. We must honour their hard work and ambition by getting them the quality guidance and support they need.
This is the first in a six part series brought to you by the CADSTI – Future Think Project, an initiative of the Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology and Innovation. For more information, please email [email protected].
©Future Think.
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July 26th 2013
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