The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

In recent times differentiated instruction has become the poster child in educational circles. Differentiated instruction is a teaching approach that tailors curriculum, teaching methods, and learning activities to individual student needs. While the learning objective remains the same for the entire class, students are given multiple options regarding how they access content, process information, and demonstrate their mastery. This ‘waggonist’ approach to pedagogic discourse runs counter to the culture of standardized testing a common feature of global education systems. As educators, we recognize and give credit to differentiation but let it not be said that differentiation is a panacea to all the short-comings of the education system. In an attempt to over simplify lessons for struggling learners, educators may unintentionally lower academic standards and even abandoned those students who are over-achievers. Unfortunately, the abandonment of over-achievers in our education system ...

For many of us the ocean is distant and far-removed from our daily realities. For too long this narrative has been normalized and we have treated the ocean as separate from us. However, the ocean is a major part of us, in the air we breathe, the food we eat and the climate that makes our lives possible. Oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming. World Ocean Day is an annual global celebration held on June 8th that highlights the vital role the oceans play in sustaining life on Earth and promotes collective action to protect marine environments. Established by the United Nations (UN), the day unites millions of people in over 180 countries to advocate for a healthy ocean and stable climate. The ocean covers over 70% of the planet. It is our life source, supporting humanity’s sustenance and that of every other organism on earth. The ocean produces at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen, it is home to most of earth’s biodiversit...

Too often, the right to a healthy environment and the duty to protect our ecological heritage is betrayed. World Environment Day is perhaps the biggest international day for the environment. The day is observed annually on June 5. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1973, it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach. The Earth is already speaking to us through record-breaking temperatures, more intense wildfires, extreme storms and glaciers disappearing before our eyes. The United Nations is correct, for years, we have said that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is essential to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. Today, that threshold is dangerously close to being exceeded and every fraction of a degree matters. Climate change is no longer a future threat: it is reshaping life across the planet. Yet another force is also gaining momentum: collective action. Communities are restoring ecosystems. Young ...

The transformative impact of the bicycle is frequently overlooked. The bicycle is often referred to as the “people's nag.” The bicycle earned the nickname “the people’s nag” because it democratized transportation. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries it liberated the working class from relying on expensive horses known colloquially as "nags," providing an affordable, lightweight, and accessible way for ordinary people to travel freely under their own power. The technology that ushered in the bicycle over two hundred years ago was hugely disruptive. There are some who will argue that the advent of the bicycle is equivalent to that of artificial intelligence (AI) in today’s world. The Englishman John Kemp Starley is generally credited with inventing the modern bicycle. In 1885 the 30-year-old inventor began experimenting in his Coventry workshop with a chain-driven bicycle featuring two much smaller wheels. After testing several prototypes, he came up with the Rover ...

“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honours.”- Tia Walker. Caring for loved ones often comes at a high price. The caregiver’s voice is frequently muted and this is problematic. Society can be harsh regarding how caregivers are viewed. Regrettably, the insensitivity directed at caregivers serves to devalue the important work we do. This culture of disrespect connects to broader issues of social justice, where undervaluing caregiver’s worth mirrors how marginalized forms of work are historically overlooked. Traditionally, women have been the dominant ones who are caregivers, however, increasingly; males have entered this realm of unpaid work. The disrespect shown to caregivers is not gender specific. People in almost all countries are living longer. Globally, babies born in 2022 are expected to live 71.7 years on average, 25 years longer than those born in 1950. Rapidly ageing populations have increasing health and long-term care needs. Caregivers also tend...

“Obstetric fistula is not only a health problem, it is a condition that can isolate women and girls from their families, education, and other opportunities.- Ms. Nélida Rodrigues, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Mozambique. The poor and marginalized in every situation suffer the most. Accessing affordable medical care continues to be a serious issue. Global income inequalities are ever- increasing. Medical care is much different in the Global North as against that which exists in the Global South. Undoubtedly, women and girls bear the brunt concerning global inequalities. A global culture lacking in equity serves as a reminder of gross disparities, that health and social systems are failing to protect the health, human rights and dignity of the poorest and most vulnerable women and girls. Obstetric Fistula is the silent crisis impacting thousands of women. Obstetric fistula is one of the most serious and tragic childbirth injuries. Obstetric fistula is cau...

Are you a lover of tea? Brewing a cup of tea is a simple act that happens multiple times every second all over the world. You place a teabag containing dried leaves into a cup and add hot water. A few minutes later, the tea, full of healthy ingredients, is ready to drink. Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world and holds deep cultural, economic, and social significance across continents. The origins of tea stretch back more than 5 000 years. Yet, its contributions to health, culture and socioeconomic development are still as relevant today. Tea is currently grown in every localized area. Additionally, tea supports over 13 million people, including smallholder farmers and their households, who depend on the tea sector for their livelihoods. Tea is more than a daily habit. For many people, it is comfort, culture, conversation, and a small pause in a busy day. International Tea Day is a good reminder for all of us to enjoy our tea thoroughly; tea has many health be...