The curtains came down on Saturday (night) March 23, 2024 on the 114th staging of ISSA Boys and Girls Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, and despite a few glitches, the event has to be seen as another successful staging for organizers ISSA and its sponsors GraceKennedy Limited.
The Vision of Kingston College Founder, Bishop Percival William Gibson For the record, I am a Kingston College Old Boy having attended from 1969-1974 (some would call the dark ages) well into the 14 year Champs reign by the Purples. During those years, KC was among the winningest of schools at almost every sport. This cemented the school's reputation as a "Champion school" and whetted the appetite of many an under-privileged young boy in the Corporate area to secure a place in one of their classrooms. After all, it was the vision of founder Percival William Gibson in 1925, to raise up a school for under-privileged boys as the issue of inequity in Jamaica's secondary education system stood like a gargoyle in the island's midst.
Mixed Feelings Today, we sit on the cusp of 100 years since Bishop Gibson swung open the doors of the now vaunted institution and the inequity still exists. As I sat in the grandstand the final afternoon watching the Boys 5000 meters Open Final, I had very mixed feelings. Kingston College was sailing away in the point standings towards an unprecedented 35th hold on the Mortimer Geddes Trophy. On the track, Ethan Gioko was running away with the Gold medal for the event having lapped the entire field to win in 15:09:11 seconds. Gioko is a foreign student at KC, and a native of Kenya. He has continued the points contribution by African imports for the school at Champs over the last five or more years. Points which while piling up for the school, results simply in "overkill." The observation provided an opportunity for reflection as I am yet to see how Kingston College and Jamaica benefits from importing such athletes?
One school of thought is that they help to raise the standard of distance running in Jamaica. I am yet to appreciate the value of that approach since I have seen no blueprint nor time-line in which such a development can and will be measured. It is not that any of these students are coaches and will be retained in the island when their two or three years are exhausted. It adds to the complexities within the Jamaican school system already dogged by various socioeconomic, cultural, and educational factors. In an environment rife with historical inequities including disparities in funding, resources, and opportunities between schools in different areas.
Argument of Straw I am told that it costs nearly Ja$235,000.00 per year to provide a child's education at the secondary level. Could we not as a country see that there must be greater value to the country by giving these places to our own Jamaican children, even if they only posses a modicum of the talent of these imported student athletes? Is it that it is more important to win (at any and all costs) even if the beneficiary will leave at the end of their time and never be heard from again, as opposed to a Jamaican youth that may be able to make a contribution to the country's development having benefitted from the investment in their education? I believe that the arguments being proffered about supporting the development of these external athletes are "straw arguments" as the real reason behind this is the circumvention of the "two year waiting period" ISSA imposes on inter-school transfers. It is about winning. It is about the points. To hell with Jamaica. It is the Points and the Points Alone
Let us be honest and admit that the practice of recruitment of student athletes from Africa and the Caribbean, is driven by the desire of schools to excel in sports competitions, particularly in track and field, which is a highly competitive and celebrated sport in Jamaica. Schools may recruit talented athletes from other countries to bolster their sports programs and improve their chances of success in competitions.
What is lost on those steeped in the practice is the fact that while it may provide opportunities for talented athletes, it can also raise concerns about fairness and equity within the school system. Importing athletes from other countries may prioritize athletic success over the educational needs and opportunities of local students. It is my view that practice also perpetuates a system where resources and attention are disproportionately allocated to sports programs at the expense of other areas of education.
Address the Inequalities in Schools
Ultimately, addressing inequities within the Jamaican school system requires comprehensive reforms that address the underlying causes of inequality, including issues related to funding, resources, and educational opportunities. It's essential to ensure that all students, regardless of their athletic abilities or background, have access to high-quality education and opportunities for success, and I believe that this practice runs against the grain of the reason Kingston College was formed- "To provide educational and developmental opportunities for underprivileged boys in Jamaica."