My

School Based Assessment

On
Unemployment

Name of Candidate: Candece Nicholson

Name of School: Mona High School

Centre No:

Candidate No:

Teacher: Mrs. Williams

 Table of Contents

Chapters Pages
Introduction i

Acknowledgement ii

Statement of Problem 1

Research Questions 1

Reason for Selecting Area of Research 2

Method of Investigation 3-4

Procedures for Data Collection 5

Presentation of Data

 Pie Chart 6
 Histogram 7
 Bar Graph 8
 Line Graph 9
 Frequency Table 10

Analysis and Interpretation of Data 11-12

Statement of Findings 13

Recommendation & Implementation Strategy 14

Appendices 15-17

Reference 18
 Introduction

This study seeks to investigate about unemployment in the Grants Pen community. It entails the
factors, causes and contribution to unemployment along with the consequences that are
associated with unemployment in the chosen community of Grants Pen. It also contains
information on how unemployed persons living in this community survive in an economy that is
collapsing. It also contains ways that respondents believe the government can use to reduce this
social issue. I hope after you’ve concluded reading this S.B.A you will learn something new that
will be long lasting and of good use.

I
 Acknowledgement
I would like to thank God for giving me the strength, knowledge and competence to finish this
School Based Assessment in order to complete my studies. I would also like to acknowledge my
hardworking teacher Ms. Williams for giving me this School Based Assessment (S.B.A) which
helps to widen my knowledge in this subject area and for guiding me throughout. Last but surely
not least, I would like to express a warm thank you to my very motivating and dedicated mother
Ms.Sherifa Walters for supplying me with the equipment and adequate funds needed to complete
this assignment.

II
 Statement of Problem
What are the causes of unemployment in the Grants Pen community; how can the occurrence of
this social issue be reduced?

Research Questions
1. What are some of the causes of unemployment in the Grants Pen community?
2. How are the members affected?
3. How can the occurrence of this issue be reduced?

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 Reason for Selecting Area of Research
The researcher has been a resident of the Grants Pen community for over 14 years. During the
last five years, it has been observed that there is an alarming number of unemployed persons
within the community. This community is known for its large number of crime and violence that
have been habitual. Majority of the persons involved in these types of act happens to do so
because they are unemployed. As a result of these observations, the researcher decided to
conduct this research to unearth the contributing factors to this growing and worrying issue.

2
 Method of Investigation
The researcher decided to use questionnaire as a mean of carrying out this investigation. The
researcher chose questionnaires because a lot of information can be collected in a short period of
time,it also facilitate easy data analysis, through the use of structured questions.

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 59B Grants Pen Road,

Kingston 8.

Jamaica.

May 31, 2016

Dear Respondents,

My name is Candece Nicholson. I am currently a fourth form student at the Mona High School.
The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) Social Studies syllabus requires that students
complete a School Based Assessment (S.B.A). The topic for my S.B.A is “What are the causes
of unemployment in the Grants Pen community; how can the occurrence of this social issue be
reduced?” I am soliciting your assistance towards the completion of my S.B.A. Please complete
the following questions honestly and truthfully. All information gathered will be kept
confidentially. I am looking forward for your kind cooperation.
Thank you.

Your Respectfully,

____________________

Candece Nicholson

4
 Procedures for Data Collection
On May 31, 2016 the researcher issued 10 questionnaires to 10 residents of the Grants Pen
community between the hours of 1pm to 4pm, 6 of which were males and the other 4 were
females. Age rates ranges from 18-55 years old. Respondents were specifically selected. All the
questionnaires were completed and returned. The experience was a very hectic, yet, good one
because the respondents willingly responded to the questionnaires and shared their individual
views on the topic which was not mentioned.

5
Pie Chart showing results for question #3, “What do you think is the cause of unemployment in
the Grants Pen community?”

Pie Chart

30%

Lack of Education
Lack of Experience
50%
Poverty
No Skill

20%

Figure 1

50% of the respondents believed that lack of education is the main cause of unemployment in the
Grants Pen community, 30% said no skill, 20% said poverty and 0% said lack of experience.

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Histogram showing results for question #7, “Being unemployed, how does this impact you at home?”

histogram

Neigbours talk negatively

about them
Borrow money and
1 cannot repay
cant send child/children
to school
Unpaid utiltiy bills

0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Figure 2

30% of the respondents believed that borrowing money and cannot repay was the main impact
being unemployed has on them at home, another 30% said can’t send child/children to school to
school was another major impact unemployment has on them at home, 20% said unpaid utility
bills and another 20% said neighbors talk negatively about them.

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Bar Graph showing results for question #8, ”How are you affected being unemployed?”

bar graph
45%
40%
35%
30% Feel worthless
25%
Feel frustrated
20%
Feel hopless
15%
Not bothered
10%
5%
0%
1

Figure 3

40% of the respondents feels worthless being unemployed, 30% feels frustrated, 20% feels
hopeless and 10% said they were not bothered by this issue.

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Line Graph showing results for question #6, “How do you survive on a daily basis?”

70%
line graph
60%

50%
Family and love ones
40%
Illegal activities
30% Governement

20% I do without

10%

0%
1

Figure 4

60% of the respondents survive on a daily basis by depending on loved ones for support, 20%
engage in illegal activities, 20% depend on the government and 0% do without.

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Frequency Table showing results for question #10, “What can the government do to reduce
unemployment in the Grants Pen community?”

Response Frequency
Build factories which will provide jobs 30%

Open free educational institution to improve education 30%

Provide hands on skills training centers for job placements 20%

Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation as a way of creating new product which 20%
generate new employment opportunities

Table 1

30% of the respondents believed that the government can reduce unemployment by building
factories which will provide jobs, while another 30% believed that opening free educational
institutions to improve education which will help, 20% said provide hands on skills training
center for job placements and the other 20% demanded that encouraging entrepreneurship and
innovation as a way of creating new products which will generate new employment
opportunities.

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 Analysis and Interpretation of Data
According to figure 1, the respondents were asked “What do you think is the cause of
unemployment in the Grants Pen community? ”Majority of the respondents said “Lack of
education”, reason been the parents of these individuals could not afford to send them to school
entirely. No skill was the other major contribution for being unemployed. These individuals are
uneducated and along side has no skill as a back up which could be use as a positive method for
providing for the family. Poverty adds to the unemployment title; cant afford to send your
child/children to school, pay school fees and all the other assistance a child wants to get a good
and healthy education. The least of all the respondents chose “Lack of Experience” as a reason
for being unemployed. The researcher believes this is so because if the respondents have no
education, no skill and is suffering from this both absolute and relative social issue known to
most as poverty; how will they have an experience without the qualifications.

According to figure 2, uttermost of the respondents believed that not being able to send their
child/children to school is a dominant situation which impacts the respondents at home, if the
parents or guardian can’t find the necessities to send their child/children to school it is probable
that the child will end up in a tantamount situation as the parent. It was a commensurate amount
for borrowing money and cannot repay. Other persons work hard for their money and lending it
to an unemployed individual who does not know where they are going to get it from to repay can
get the borrower into profound profound trouble. Others thought unpaid utility bills and
neighbors talk bad about them are the minor ways in which they are affected, this is so because
the respondents do not pay utility bills. As for neighbors talking bad this situation is very
common in most, if not every community and can easily be avoided.

According to figure 3,the respondents in the Grants Pen community are affected because of the
rising melancholy fact that they are unemployed. The residents feel worthless because of the
stigma behind being unemployed, the residents of the Grants Pen community displays. Others
feel frustrated because they cant cooperate with the financial status our society is rising to. They
feel like giving up on life because of the struggle they face. Hopelessness is another
disappointing feeling they expressed. Not knowing where tomorrow’s lunch money is coming
from causes the unemployed to wonder and ponder into useless thoughts. A few of the
respondents are not bothered because they are fortunate to have loved ones who will provide or
other means.

According to figure 4, a large quantity of respondents depends on their family and loved one’s
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for support to survive on a daily basis. Family and loved one’s helps the unemployed persons so

they wont engage in illegal activities or anything forbided by the law . Some respondents get
engage in illegal activities to satisfy their needs and wants which is a must, but being
unemployed illegalities are their only options. Few depends on the government, the researcher
believes this is so because the help the government offer is not sufficient and does not occur on a
regular basis.

According to table 5, an equal amount of respondents thinks that if the government build
factories and open free educational institutions it will help to provide more jobs which will keep
these unemployed individuals positively occupied. Working in a factory, the respondents will be
able to meet and work with new people who can assist or give an helping hand where necessary.
Another equal amount of the respondents that the government should provide hands on skills
training centers for job placements and encourage entrepreneurship and innovation as a way of
creating new product which will generate new employment . By providing skills training centers
will learn new trade that can help in their future when necessary and at the same time offer each
participant a job, but not all the participants will like the job given or the place the job is being
offered. The researcher believes that very few chose entrepreneurship as an option because not
everyone has a business mind and the courage and diligence to open or carry out a business
which might be successful.

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 Statement of Findings
Based on the data collected, the researcher found out that:

1. The major cause of unemployment in the Grants Pen community results in Lack of
education, see figure 1.

2. Being unemployed, parents are unable to send their child/children to school, see figure 2.

3. The unemployed persons who reside in the Grants Pen community are more dependent
on loved ones and friends for support to survive on a daily basis, see figure 4.

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 Recommendation and Implementation Strategy
The following are recommendations that the researcher thinks will eradicate unemployment in
the Grants Pen community:

1. Educating and encouraging entrepreneurship.

Open free educational institutions to improve education.

Implementation Strategy
The researcher recommends that the government educate and encourage the residents to do
entrepreneurship. This program will be held in the Grants Pen community twice per week
between the hours of 1pm- 5pm. An amount of 50 persons per term will be granted the
opportunity to take part in this class per year. Every five persons will have a professional tutor
which will guide them throughout the syllabus. Each participant will sign a contract of fifty
thousand dollars ($50,000) which will be given to them as a loan to start their own business and
must be repaid during a two year period after it is given. With the aid of this program it will
develop successful entrepreneurs with the objective of providing job for other unemployed
residents.

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 Appendices

Map of Grants Pen

Angry residents of the Grants Pen community protesting for jobs.

15
Government agency helping an unemployed resident with her daughter’s tuition fee.

An unemployed resident in prison because of being engage in illegal activities to provide for his
family.

16
Members of the J.C.F enforcing law and order in the Grants Pen community.

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 Reference
 Rampersad Ramsawak, Rulph Umraw. Modules in Social Studies with SBA Guide &
CXC questions.
Caribbean Educational Publishers, 2005

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