The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) says the country’s declining fertility rate will have implications for schools and child care services, but opportunities will arise from such challenges.

Director of the Population and Health Unit at the PIOJ, Mareca Brown Bailey, raised the issue at the organisation’s Dialogue for Development Distinguished Lecture Series at the AC Hotel in Kingston this morning.

Brown Bailey noted that while the desired fertility rate is 2.1, Jamaica is only at 1.9.

She pointed out that eventually the decline will lead to a reduced need for schools and child care services.

However, Brown Bailey said, not withstanding the challenges, there are opportunities which can be harnessed from the declining fertility rate.