Brain drain is the process by which one country, an
individual’s homeland, loses intelligent and technically skilled
labour through emigration to another country, where the economic,
geographic or professional environment is more favourable.
Jamaica has experienced this brain drain phenomenon for
decades, as many college graduates and professionals alike go to
other countries in order to obtain better opportunities as a result
of finding limited resources in their homeland – referred to as
‘brain drain’.
If the educated or the potentially promising individuals of a
population continue to migrate to other countries permanently, then
there will be observable differences between the two countries,
since one loses its ability to foster growth and development while
the other strive in the contribution of those said individuals.
This is one of the reasons why countries are developed and
underdeveloped.
Logically, developed countries have more offerings and job
opportunities available to its citizens and with the increased ease
of access to gain citizenship in these developed countries, small
island residents find it more appealing to migrate.
With higher wages, better working environment, health care
systems, and living conditions, immigrants are more susceptible to
permanently residing in their new country of residence.
These persons no longer desiring to return to their homeland
cause their home country to suffer economically and socially
—because their homeland also loses potential professionals. The
Caribbean countries with the largest migration rate to the United
States were Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
The incapability to provide jobs for tertiary-level graduates
is one of the biggest contributing factors in the brain drain
phenomena to date. Caribbean countries are unable to provide proper
jobs for the new working class, becuse of which people are
migrating.
Education is another factor in caribbean country which is
causing brain drain and underdevelopment of the
countries.Immigrants find residence in other countries because they
seek higher education which is not offered in their home country.
For example, the Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology is not offered
in Jamaica at this time, so many persons choose to migrate in order
to fulfill the requirement to practice as a professional
psychologist.
There are certain push factors causing brain drain, to leave
the Caribbean countries to developed countries as listed
below:
Substandard living conditions, dearth of conveyance,
accommodation
Under-utilization of skilled and semi- skilled personnel; lack
of adequate working conditions; low panorama of specialized
development
Low and corroding wages
Discrimination in recruitments and promotions
Social unrest, Political instability, conflicts and wars
Lack of research facilities, including support staff;
meagreness of research funds, lack of professional apparatus and
tools
Lack of freedom and autonomy
Deteriorating excellence of educational system,
As a result of brain drain, valuable human capital is lost and
that is one of the reasons developing countries like the Caribbean
ones remain developing and developed countries remain as is.
Caribbean society thrives on the knowledge and expertise of its
citizens and their contribution to the countries’ positive growth
and development and if these developing countries want to evolve,
they must create local ways to balance brain drain.
The caribbean countries can improve the situation by:-
Reformation of the national education system and the
infrastructure of schools, colleges and universities.
High budget allocated for the higher education and use of funds
purely for the education projects.
Sufficient facilities for research projects in universities and
establish the research cells.
Encourage the distant learning and education for all.
Pure democracy, encourage human rights and enforce the
legislation, strictly keep an eye on the law and order situation to
stable and regulate the factors like corruption, crime etc.
On governmental level, the allocation of budgets to the science
and technology organizations and from the health sector to control
the infectious diseases.
Introduce new policies and laws to reduce the conflict and war
at the national and international level.
Role of government should be the key role to avoid the issue of
human capital flight.
Government should spend heavy fund for the infrastructure,
avoid load shedding like issues and provide the demanded power
supply and drinking water and the efficient communication.
Facilitate the education system through training, research, and
education
Government should advertised job opportunities on merit &
provide specific allowance and salary for the scientists,
engineers, doctors and highly intellectuals