The National Service Scheme: A Policy Framework for Advancing Equity in the Caribbean

Abstract

The Caribbean region continues to face persistent levels of inequality, evident across multiple dimensions. This has generated interest in developing policy alternatives to address these challenges. In response, this study proposes implementing a National Service Scheme (NSS). This will aim at reducing disparities by strategically deploying tertiary education graduates to under-resourced sectors, underserved regions and gender-biased occupations. The programme can be further strengthened by integrating skill development and participant-led community initiatives, thereby amplifying its overall impact. The study found substantial contributions of National Service Schemes to socio-economic equity and development in Chile, the United States of America, Ghana and Nigeria, drawing on models from these countries. In the Caribbean context, the proposed NSS is expected to promote equity through two main mechanisms: the strategic-deployment pathway and the employment-driven pathway. Moreover, empirical evidence indicates that the NSS can significantly reduce youth unemployment through the employment-driven pathway. It also has the potential to improve regional labour market balance and reduce income inequality across the region.