I happen to take an interest in the NCB-sponsored Junior School's Challenge Quiz. It seems the perfect ground to instil some confidence within our young students and to give them a chance to have some friendly rivalry.

What dawned on me from watching these matches is that most of the boys when asked to introduce themselves say that what they want to be in the future is a pilot. I must admit that I have not done any statistical analysis as to what percentage of them has such aspirations, but it is fair to say that most of them do. This is of great concern to me.

Wider career choices

It seems that something is fundamentally wrong with how our youths are guided to career choices which lead to certain deficiencies in our labour pool in the long run. There is certainly a need to expose our youths to a wider choice of careers. They need to see successful entrepreneurs, farmers, lawyers, teachers, nurses, engineers, policemen, economists, artists, etc. At least there are more positions in these fields to accommodate them.

Jamaica owns no plane. We have only an airline by name so to speak. The way things look we might not even have that very soon. It behooves us, therefore, to make sure we broaden the horizons of our young children.

Pilots and doctors are not the only professions available. Our children need to aspire to achieve greatness, but must be taught that greatness or success can come through many different professions.

I am, etc.,

LENNOX DENTON

junior_24gong@yahoo.com

Bushy Park

Clarendon