These women police, who graduated from the academy last June, are among the lucky ones, as government data indicate that the rate of unemployment among women is twice for men. - File
It is an almost universal 'magic five' for Jamaican students wanting to get into teaching, nursing or the police force.
This refers to the minimum requirement of five passes in secondary school-leaving examinations demanded by most of the institutions offering training in teaching and nursing. The same obtains for entry to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
"Passes in five subjects, including mathematics and English, is a must and applicants will be asked to do a test, including maths, English and spelling," an official at the police training college told The Gleaner.
The police force accepts passes at the basic proficiency, but with more persons applying than can be accepted at any one intake, the better the grades, the better the chances of making it through the doors of the training school.
It is a similar story for persons wanting to get into Excelsior Community College or the University of Technology for a degree in nursing.
Five subjects, including maths, English and one science subject, are the minimum for the Bachelor of Science in nursing. There is a similar requirement for persons wishing to enter the Kingston School of Nursing for a course in midwifery.
Low-entry level
However, for persons interested in practical nursing, most of the schools around the island do not require passes.
"We usually ask persons to have passes in English and human and social biology, but that is not a requirement. We will give them a test and once they pay the $1,000 application fee, we will register them," one operator of a Corporate Area practical nursing school told The Gleaner.
It was a similar story at other practical nursing schools with the application fee ranging from $1,000 to $1,200.
Persons interested in a career in teaching can head to institutions such as The Mico University College, Moneague Teachers' College or G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sport. But again, there is the minimum of five Caribbean Examination Council passes, with some institutions also requiring passes in at least two subjects at CAPE level one.