What do you think about raising children in Jamaica? Tropical Environment?

Question

I am thinking about finding a job, packing up and moving to a tropical place. I have two children who would have to re-locate too...

Do you think it would be a good pr bad experience to be raised and EDUCATED on an island or tropical place??

Answer 1

Tropical is cool, but Jamaica is kinda dangerous outside of the Hotel tourist area's. Try Florida or the Virgin Islands.

Answer 2

In times like these (winter), the fabulous tropical images of Jamaica may seem like an inviting place to live. The reality is that tourist Jamaica is different from living in Jamaica (unless you are filthy rich).

I suggest the following,

1) Only move to jamaica if you have a job already confirmed, that fits your financial and lifestyle needs, and is for a long enough term to cover the costs of moving.

2) Try to establish social contact with enough people before you move. You will need to have a suitable social network to guide you about living, spending and adjusting safely.

3) For people with decent incomes, the education system is excellent here. Career options for tertiary education are really limited, although the main universities are high in quality.

Try not to move your kids in the middle of the academic year. Also, get copies of their school records (including syllabus) to date. This will help to determine if you children could benefit from additional tutoring to adjust and go right back thier A++ level ASAP.

4) Be concerned about safety and security ESPECIALLY during your adjustment period. Its not that Jamaica is super violent. The real problem is that the tourist/foreigner is unfamiliar and will SEEM vulnerable to some unscrupulous locals. If you have friends who guide you away from dangerous areas and routines you will be fine.

Once you learn the rules about moving around safely you will find that jamaica is a really nice place to live.

5) Jamaica is definately a place where your kids will experience racial and cultural integration, at a superior level. Our society has some prejudices about socio-economic class (as many societies do), but these can easily be circumvented for someone coming to live here, once you have a decent job.

ROSE:

In jamaica today, corporal punishment is BANNED by the Ministry of Education policy. In schools that break this rule, it will not happen without the permission of the parent. Teachers could seriously face prosecution for assualt or similar charges.

The best thing to do is ASK each prospective school about its policy with regards to corporal punishment. Most 'private' schools (where most middle class people send thier kids) simply don't do this anymore.

You can also select a school with a teacher student ratio of anywhere between 1:40 and 1:20. You basically have to shop around. A ratio of 1:30 is fine.

Answer 3

jamaica is nice to live but ,depends on where. but for your kids to go to school there is very much different from in america ,so i dont think there is good for  your kids to educated .in a class room there are 50 or 50 kids in one class ,with one  teacher ,which she cannot put her attention on so much children  .and a next thing in most school in jamaica  ,when your kids do somethings bad or don't get a good grade  the kids them get lashing and whipping  for every little things even to move from you seat.

Answer 4

LOL @ the first three answers, it is quite obvious that they don't know much about Jamaica and like many Americans rely on stereotypes and hand-me-down information on which to base their opinions.

Jamaica is a great environment in which to raise children.  Your kids will not be "confused" (rolls eyes) instead they will grow up learning to look past skin color and focus more on character.  They will most certainly have a wider view of the world and thus be able to form well-informed opinions on topical issues.

They can have excellent edcuation up to high school ( I would recommend sending them back to the US for tertiary education.

As far as crime is concerned, it is a problem; however, I can assure you that it is not something that will keep you up at nights.  Most of the crimes are related to drug deals gone bad or some kind of money scam that went sour.

You guys will have experiences beyond your wildest dream.

I do have a few questions though if you don't mind....

How old are the kids?

Have you every been to Jamaica before?

Do you know any Jamaicans?

Is tropical the only criterion for the place you would like to relocate to?

If you would like more info, contact me at [e-mail].  I'd be happy to help you find information.

Answer 5

I was born and raised in Jamaica and I turned out pretty good.

Answer 6

I received a top quality education in Jamaica. The education system is meritocratic and is based on the British system, where you have to pass national exams etc. in order to move up. By the time you've finished your CAPE/A Levels, you're definitely well qualified for any university.  I finished high school and 6th form in Jamaica, and then went to the US for college, and although the work was challenging in college, I was very prepared for it.

Like all countries, there are good schools and bad schools, and even schools that offer a US curriculum, and there are also private schools, so there will be plenty of good options to educate your kids.

Also, like EVERY country, raising children will be different based on the parents economic status and whether or not they spoil their kids rotten like many foreigners do.

And you don't have to worry about Typhoid fever etc. the climate is akin to Southern Florida, and we actually have a fairly modern healthcare system and great doctors. It just depends on where you go-- the same way it does in the Us-- mmkay?

By the way, I think just packing up and moving to a "tropical place" is a dumb idea. You don't know where you are going, what the job market is like, and how you will settle in. Even though your kids are excited, they are probably just as ignorant about the situation as you are. You need to think carefully before you make such a decision. Coming to Jamaica for holidays is different from living and working here. you'll find that you wont have as much time to go to the beach and drink rum punch as you hope. Like any other country, you'll have to work and pay bills and make house payments, and all of that good stuff. So take your head out of the cloud (or the coconut tree) and think.

Answer 7

I think it's a bad idea, because the kid would be confuse about where he/she come from.

Answer 8

watch out Jamaica has a high crime rate, Move to Costa Rica its very safe and has many Americans there