Caribbean Studies Ia.docx

CARIBBEAN STUDIES INTERNAL ASSESSMENT

Candidate’s Name: Bibi Fareada Khan Candidate No: 090046 School: St. Rose’s High School School Code: 090046 Teacher’s Name: Miss Liverpool Territory: Guyana 1|Page

CONTENT PAGE

CONTENTS

PAGE

Acknowledgement

1

Introduction

2

Definition of technical terms

3

Literature Review

4

Data collection source

5

Presentation of data

6-12

Analysis of data

13

Discussion of findings

14

Conclusion

15

Limitation

16

Recommendation

17

Bibliography

18

Appendix

19-20

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The candidate would like to acknowledge the almighty for granting her the health, strength and courage to complete this project. She would also like to express special gratitude to her teacher, who guided her along in this internal assessment and her parents and friends who assisted her a lot in finalizing this project within the limited time frame.

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THEME: Brain Drain

THESIS STATEMENT Underemployment and the lack of opportunities of human development are the two leading contributors to the brain drain epidemic in Guyana

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INTRODUCTION The systematic attempt of this study is to introduce the theme “Brain Drain”. To fully understand the concept of what brain drain is, a definition is mandatory. According to David Hart (2006), who preferred to use the term “High Skill Migration” as opposed to “Brain Drain”, is the migration of persons with increased levels of skill and education. Who, if they stayed could contribute significantly to the development of the country. From mentioned before, the two leading contributors of brain drain are underemployment and lack of human resources. These two also need to be defined, in order for the reader to understand the content of this study fully. Tejvan Pettinger (2013) defined underemployment as a situation where people are working fewer hours than they wish and may also refer to the fact that workers accept jobs that don’t utilize their skills. While the 1990 Human development Report defined human development as the process of enlarging people’s choices. The reason for the researcher selecting this topic of Brain drain is because the country is being greatly affected by this problem currently. Thus, the information that will be presented in this study will be one that has immense educational values, in which the reader will be able to gain the knowledge about how underemployment and the lack of human development are contributing to brain drain and the impacts of this on the country. Also, this study will give insight to why underemployment, is becoming so widespread across the country and steps that should be taken by one facing this problem, in order to develop plans and strategies to eradicate this problem completely. The objectives of this study are to:  To determine the rate of underemployment in Guyana 5|Page

 To determine the causes of underemployment in Guyana,  To determine what opportunities can be made available for the development of human resources in Guyana,  To determine the impacts of brain drain in Guyana,  And lastly to find out a solution which would decrease the causes and impacts of brain drain in the country.

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LITERATURE REVIEW According to Kimberly Amadeo (2017) the causes of underemployment are; a recession and resultant cyclical unemployment which lead to underemployment. When workers outnumber jobs, they will take anything they can get to pay the bills. Technological change also causes unemployment. For example, ATM machines have replaced the need for many bank tellers. According to Kevin Hart (2009) Human development is also influenced by several factors, these include social, political, environmental and economic factors. Together, the factors that are affecting both underemployment and lack of human development which cause brain drain rates to rise in Guyana. According to Azefar Khan (2005) there are many ideas, theories and suggestions on the implications necessary on eradicating brain drain from Guyana. These possible solutions included; providing better job opportunities irrespective of caste, creed, race or nationality. Provide attractive salaries to highly qualified people based on their qualifications and experience. Improve quality of our universities and bring them at par with other universities in Europe and America. Provide adequate research facilities. These points that Khan put forward are of great value and can help to reduce the rate of brain drain in Guyana However, Khan failed to put forward solutions that would come under the human development that would also reduce the rate of brain drain. One solution that he could have mentioned in his article would be to have better health facilities that the general population can afford. This way person’s will be healthy and sane and can therefore perform better at their jobs and or be hired. Another solution would be to set up workshops and community centers where persons can go to learn a skill even if they are not completely literate and also have trained persons at the community Centre who can guide them into the correct path. 7|Page

DATA COLLECTION SOURCES The Research will be conducted using convenient sampling. This is a type of non-probability sampling technique in which individuals are selected because of their convenient accessibility, relevance to the study and proximity to the researcher (Jackson, 2012). When this investigation will be conducted, some limitations may want to be taken into consideration: ★ Individuals intellect may differ; thus the questions may not be answered to the standard in which the researcher expected for it to be answered. ★ Some of the individuals selected may not want to participate in the research, causing the researcher having to locate other participants. ★ Questionnaires may not be returned on time or they might have damaged, which will lead to the researcher having to spend a longer time than what was expected to analyze and tabulate the data to complete the project. To complete this research, the target population that will be used is participations who are available and are known to be experiencing this problem. Thus, the primary data collection instruments that will be used is known as a questionnaire. A questionnaire is a printed pre-set question devised for the purpose of a survey or statistical study. (Jupp 2006). The questionnaires will be distributed to twenty individuals on March 24, 2018. The researcher will then retrieve the questionnaires on the following day. The researcher will then analyze the data and save it on a computer as well as transfer the information onto a flash drive as a means of backup in the case the information is deleted or cannot be accessed easily. The questionnaire will be used by the researcher because:

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★ The instrument is confidential to both the respondent and the researcher, due to the respondent having not to put their name; this allows for more accurate answers. ★ The questionnaires can be completed at the convenience of the respondent. ★ The results of the questionnaires can usually be quickly and easily quantified by the researcher. ★ The questionnaire is fast, inexpensive, easy and the subjects are readily available.

However, for the researcher to obtain information to complete the project secondary data collection instruments were utilized. The secondary data collection instruments that were used included: textbooks and the internet. These sources were used by the researcher to research on the topic to gather appropriate information the researcher needed to complete the project.

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ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA

Presentation of Data: Figure 1: Percentage of respondents who are currently underemployed

Sales

77%

23%

23%

Currently Undermeployed Not Underemployed

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Figure 2: The reasons for why respondents are underemployed

Percentage of respondents

Reasons For Underemployment 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

Reasons For Underemployment

Underpai d

Skills not being used

Not employed for more than a year

Part time

other

44%

13%

25%

10%

8%

The bar graph illustrates that the main reason that respondents were underemployed was because they were unpaid in their current job/s with 44% of choosing this response. This was followed by 25% of respondents not being employed for more than a year due to the country economic crisis.

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Figure 3: Ways in which work places can improve human development

Ways Employers Can Improve Human development 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% the Use of technology

Awarding employees who are dedicated to their job

have social events where employees can interact

other

Ways Employers Can Improve Human development

The main way in which employees can improve human development in the workplace with the use of incentives would be awarding and showing appreciation for the employees who are dedicated to their job.

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Figure 4: the percentage of respondents who believe incentives could encourage persons from migrating

Percentage of respondents who Believe incentives would encorage persons from migrating 4%

96%

yes

No

Not surprisingly 96% of the respondents chose yes, that incentives can encourage persons from migrating. A reason for this could be that most persons migrate from the country due to low wages and lack of employment in Guyana.

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Figure 5: How Brain drain affects the country

Effects of Brain Drain 4% Stunts development

18%

Families are separated

15%

63%

Knowledge is not being passed down to future generations other

The most common way in which brain drain affects the country was that it stunts human development growth as well as economic growth with more than 50% of respondents choosing this as the major affect. The second most popular choice with 18%, was that knowledge that is gained currently will not be passed down to future generations since the current generation is not there to share it with them.

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Figure 6: ways in which to reduce brain drain in Guyana

70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

67%

11%

SCHOOLS IMPLEMENTING MORE AND VARYING STUDIES

11%

GOVERNMENT LOWERING THE COST OF LIVING

9%

LOWERING OF TUTITION FEES

IMPLEMENTING TECHNOLOGY IN WORK PLACES

Ways in which to reduce Brain 2% Drain OTHER

Ways in which to reduce Brain Drain

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INTERPRETATION OF DATA ANALYSIS

Based on the data collected and tabulated from the research done, the objectives of this study were able to be answered. One of the objectives was determining the rate of underemployment in Guyana and the data in figure 1 shows that out of the thirty-five (35) working respondents of the survey 77% of them were currently underemployed at their jobs. This shows the severity of the under-employment in the country and how popular in the country. The remaining 23% of the respondents were not currently being under-employed. The 77% of respondents who are currently underemployed where questioned on how they were under-employed. Figure 2 of the study shows that the most popular response was being unpaid with 44% of respondents choosing this answer. The reason for this may be the employer may not be able to afford to pay their employees well due to an economic crisis in the country or a standstill of the job. The second most popular response with 25% of respondents choosing this as the reason for under-employment, was ‘not being employed for more than a year’. The least popular choice was other. When respondents were asked what the reason was all responded with working overtime and being paid for working the extra hours. Respondents were then questioned on ways employees can improve human development in the workplace without the use of incentives. From data from figure 3, 46% said that workers should be rewarded when showing dedication to the job they are doing. This response was the most popular among the respondents. The second most popular response, 36% of respondents, chose that the implementation of technology devices can improve human development within the work place. A reason for this maybe that, the use of technology can make the job more easy and the work can be done at a faster pace and hence improving the productivity of the workplace. The improvement of productivity within workplaces can lead to more money being made and employees being paid better. The least popular choice among respondents, 5% of respondents, was other. This included promoting hard working employees and also placing employees in work areas that uses the skill they were trained for. From the data tabulated in figure 4 it showed that 96% of respondents believed that receiving an incentive would boast human development of the workplace. Respondents may believe this to be true because with more money they would be able to afford the human necessities and live a more finically comfortable life and not have to worry as much about mortgages, bills being paid and etc. Figure 5 of this study shows the effects of brain drain on the country. Sixty-three percent of respondents chose that brain drain stunts development in the country. When respondents were asked what forms of development are being stunted many replied with economic development, human development and social development. Fifteen percent of respondents said that brain drain is one of the leading factors of families being separated in the country. The reason for why brain drain could be causing separation in families is that many persons leave their families in turn for a better paying job they currently had in Guyana, more educational opportunities and for a cheaper cost (such as studying in Europe where tuition cost is low or there is no tuition cost). The least chosen choice, 4% of respondents, was other and these responses were not listed. 16 | P a g e

One of the main questions respondents were asked was ways in which brain drain can be reduced or stopped completely. Figure 6 of this study shows the data collected and was tabulated to illustrate that 67% of respondents chose that lowering the tuition fees of colleges in Guyana can help to reduce brain drain in Guyana. This maybe the most popular response seeing as Guyana is the second poorest country in CARICOM and with over 33% of Guyanese living in slums or are homeless. Eleven percent of respondents chose that schools have a diversity of studies seeing as most of the options in universities are limiting and quite mundane. Another 11% of respondents chose that the government should reduce the cost of living in Guyana.

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DISCUSSION OF DATA

From the research done the data collected from this study shows that how both underemployment and the lack of development of opportunities for human development are leading to Guyana becoming brain drained at an alarming rate with more than 76% of persons employed in Guyana, seeking to the leave the country in chance of finding a job that pays better, has more benefits and is within the range of interest or uses the skills they were trained for. As stated by Tevjvan Pettinger (2013), underemployment is a situation in which persons are working fewer hours than they would prefer and having to accept jobs which do not utilize their skills. From my research done 69% of the respondents who are working are currently underemployed, 45% of whom are currently being unpaid for the services they are doing, 12% of whom are working in jobs which do not utilize the skills they are trained in and 8% of whom currently cannot afford a decent standard of living which leaves them to be living below the poverty line. This data collected aligns with Tevjvan’s definition of what underemployment is excluding that Tevjvan did not mention that underemployment could be a person’s income not being able to support them and their family. One the major issues that underemployment is factor for is brain drain caused by persons migrating in hopes of finding jobs that pay well and are in their area of expertise. Underemployment can also cause person to turn to a life of crime since they cannot meet ends meet and are struggling to survive, underemployment can also cause persons to be suicidal because they feel as if they have failed in life since they are not successful. From data collection a few ways in which underemployment can be overcome would be that workplaces offering higher incentives, with 96% of the working respondents stating they would remain in the country if their job offered higher incentives, raise minimum wage, the government investing in jobs that are high demand and also implementing programs which allows persons who are seeking employment assistance The 1990 Human development report defined human development as the process of enlarging people’s choices. The most critical ones are to lead a long and healthy life, to be educated and to enjoy a decent standard of living. From the data collected from this study, all working respondents put forth different suggestions in which the workplace can improve and develop Human Resources in the work place. Majority of the respondents suggested that if they were awarded for their hard work and dedication to their jobs, (49% stating this). This shows that workers need to feel appreciated and wanted for the work that they do and should be rewarded when doing an outstanding job at work. This can boast their self-confidence and over all wellbeing and would result in better productivity at work. These results align with the human development report that persons need to be healthy in order to perform well. Ten percent (10%)of respondents stated that workplaces should host social events where workers can interact and share ideas. Social exposure is important part of being a healthy functioning human being and again this goes along the 1990 human development report. When people are not treated with the deserved respect at their workplace they may quit and look for a better job and most persons today are seeking better jobs abroad and thus contributing to the brain drain in Guyana. 18 | P a g e

Brain Drain as defined by David Hart (2006) is the migration of persons with increased levels of skill and education who, if they stayed could contribute significantly to the development of the country. When respondents were asked if brain drain is becoming an epidemic in Guyana all 35 respondents responded yes. The reason for this is because of underemployment and the lack of human resources. From previous discussion underemployment is causing skilled workers of Guyana to migrate because Guyana lacks the opportunities in human development that these persons are seeking. From the data collected it showed that both institutions that were used for this experiment had problems with not having sufficient facilities, not a wide array of programs that persons may be interested in and lack of technological development. For these reasons many of our skilled students are leaving the country and are migrating overseas to find other institutions which provide options for what they are interested in and also can provide a stable job for these persons to use the skills they have obtained. This is thus leading to Guyana’s brain drain epidemic. This data is aligned with Hart’s definition of brain drain. Journalist Azefar A Khan put forward many solutions in which he thinks can reduce the rate of brain drain, these are; provide better job opportunities, provide suitable salaries, improve quality of educational institutions and provide adequate research facilities. From my data collected when respondents were asked how brain drain can be eradicated in Guyana they aligned with Khan’s recommendations. An example of this being, him stating ‘that providing attractive salaries’ can improve human development and from the research showing that 96% of respondents believe incentives could improve human development and hence reduce the rate of persons migrating from the country in search for better jobs.

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CONCLUSION

The aim of this study was “underemployment and the lack of opportunities oh Human development are the two leading contributors to the brain drain epidemic in Guyana”. This study was carried out by collecting data and information from two different educational institutions of different levels (tertiary and secondary). The data collected showed that majority of the respondents are planning on leaving the country sometime either in search of better job opportunities or for a better education in terms of being able to further their education in programs that they are interested in. The data also showed that both educational institutions were lacking in the necessary facilities and equipment that they needed in order to help their students as majority of the respondents for secondary stated that their school was lacking in sufficient facilities. The data results also showed that both underemployment and lack of human development are the reasons that persons are migrating the country, persons are not being treated or awarded for their hard work at their jobs which can cause them to feel as if they are not good enough and also they are not getting paid enough for the work in which they are doing. These problems are causing more and more persons to leave the country and seek better paying and rewarding jobs and thus leaving the country brain drained.

LIMITATIONS The limitations of this study was one, that the sample size used for this experiment was too small to get a fully accurate result on how persons truly view the brain drain epidemic in Guyana and also to see the full extent of how underemployment and lack of opportunities for human development is actually leading to brain drain in Guyana. The data collection was limited to questionnaires, which made it possible to only collect a limited observation on the matter of brain drain in Guyana. Another limitation of this study was that only two educational institutions were used in acquiring the data for the study. Guyana has over 100 different secondary schools and over 20 different tertiary schools, so the results of this study could be inaccurate since there wasn’t a larger number of schools who participated in the study. Lastly, another limitation that could’ve caused inaccurate data collection was that respondents were not being truthful in their responses to the questions being asked. Some respondents might of felt it best to not fully address the topic of brain drain or they were not interested.

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RECOMMENDATIONS:

Recommendations that can be made in reducing the overall rate of the brain drain epidemic in Guyana are: 1. The Government should invest more in all schools of Guyana for better facilities, and technology equipment so that students are able to learn with the best environment and equipment they can possibly have. This will increase the student’s interest in school and help to boast their attention and help with the ease learning the things being taught. Also the technological equipment will prepare them for the future jobs they are seeking in which ever area making them qualified in the area. If this is implemented students will no longer feel the need to migrate overseas for further training and thus they will remain in Guyana. 2. Schools should seek in broadening the variety of programs to help capture the interest of all students in the country. One of the main reason students are leaving the country to study abroad is because, the schools in Guyana does not offer the programs in which these students are interested in and hence they migrate. By implementing a different variety of programs at schools persons may be more inclined to stay and study in the country. 3. The government should invest in creating jobs that are of high demand in the country and also jobs which utilize the skills and training a person may have received. This would cause less persons to leave the country looking for better job opportunities because the job in which they are seeking are already here. 4. Workplaces should reward, have benefits for their employees and seek to have the best technological updates so that the workers job become easier and hence a boast in productivity. When persons work in a more comfortable atmosphere they are able to work their best and feel appreciated. When they feel appreciated and needed they will not go seeking jobs where they can find that comfortable atmosphere which would most likely be overseas. 5. The government should implement programs that would provide assistance to persons who have a hard time getting a job which suits their skills and is well-paid. 6. The government should raise the minimum wage so that persons would be able to live above the poverty line and have a decent standard of living.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

The following are sources of information which provided data for this project:  Nadja Johnson, Analysis and Assessment of the “Brain Drain” Phenomenon and its Effects on Caribbean Countries – FLORIDA ATLANTIC COMPARATIVE STUDIES JOURNAL Vol. 11, 2008-2009  Kasey Kissick, The “Brain Drain”: Migration of Healthcare Workers out of sub-Saharan Africa  Kimberly Amadeo, Underemployment with its causes, effects and rates, (updated in 2018, March 22nd), at 3305519

https://www.thebalance.com/underemployment-definition-causes-effects-rate-

 Azefar A Khan, How to stop brain drain, at https://www.dawn.com/news/866601  https://www.stabroeknews.com/2013/news/stories/12/30/basis-per-capita-incomeworldbank-ranks-guyana-second-poorest-caricom/  https://tradingeconomics.com/guyana/poverty-headcount-ratio-at-national-poverty-linepercent-of-population-wb-data.html  Jeniffer Mohammad, Caribbean Studies for CAPE Examinations – second edition

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QUESTIONNAIRE

Dear Respondent, This questionnaire is for a Caribbean Advanced Proficiency (CAPE) internal assessment. The information given will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. The researcher is grateful for the time you would have taken to complete this questionnaire. Thank you for your participation.

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Instructions: Please read all instructions carefully before proceeding Place a x in the brackets [e.g. (x)] next to an option of your choice. If you wish to change your option circle the new option chosen. You can choose more than one option where applicable. Bio data: Age: ( ) 16-20

( ) 21-25

Gender: ( ) Male

( ) 26-30

( ) female

Ethnicity: ( ) African ( ) Chinese ( ) Amerindian ( ) East-Indian ( ) Portuguese ( ) Other

1. Are you currently employed? ( ) Yes

( ) No

2. What is your level of qualification? ( ) CSEC ( ) CAPE ( ) Diploma ( )Bachelor's Degree ( ) Master’s Degree ( ) Doctorate ( )Degree ( ) Other If other, please specify. ___________________________________________________________________________

3. Do you work in the private of public sector? ( ) Private

( ) Public

4. Do you consider yourself underemployed? ( ) Yes

( ) No

If so why? ( ) I am Underpaid ( ) My job isn't suitable for the training or education I received ( ) I am employed for no more than a year ( ) Part-time worker ( ) Other If other, state why. _____________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________

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5. How many hours are you employed for? ()1

()2

()3

()4

()5

()6

()7

()8

()9

( ) 10

( )11

( ) 12

6. Do you get paid overtime? ( ) Yes

( ) No

7. How has underemployment affected you? ______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________

8. Have you ever considered or are you migrating to look for a better job opportunity? ( ) I have considered migrating ( ) I am migrating ( ) No, I will stay

9. If no, why? ___________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

10. What role do you think communities can play in decreasing underemployment rates? ( ) Attract jobs that are high in demand ( ) Open centers where you can find jobs suitable for your training ( ) Open centers which train person in technical and vocational jobs ( ) Other If other please specify ___________________________________________________________________________

11. What role do you think the government can play in decreasing underemployment rates? ( ) Raise minimum wage ( ) Invest in jobs that are highly demanded ( ) Implement programs that would provide assistance to persons who have a hard time getting a job ( ) Other If other, please specify. _____________________________________________________________________________

12. Have you ever received a scholarship from your employer to continue your studies in a particular field or start your studies in a different field? ( ) Yes ( ) No

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13. If so, did this scholarship aid you in your job? ( ) Yes ( ) No

14. Do you think if incentives, like the one mentioned in question 12, were implemented in workplaces across the country it may persuade persons to remain in Guyana and work? ( ) Yes ( ) No

15. What other ideas do you think can be implemented in the workplace that can help develop our human resource? ( ) They can award workers who showed the most dedication to the job ( ) Have social events so that the staff may interact with each other ( ) Try as much as possible to make the job easier by using the technology available ( ) Other If other please specify _____________________________________________________________________________

16. Do you think brain drain is a problem in Guyana? ( ) Yes ( ) No

17. How do you think it affects the nation? ( ) It stunts development ( ) Knowledge isn't passed down from generation to generation ( ) Families are separated ( ) Culture is loss ( ) Other If other, please state. ______________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

18. What do you think can be done to reduce the rate of brain drain? ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

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