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

"There are two emerging schools of thought that have been forwarded with regards to boys' underachievement. Firstly, there are those who claim that boys' underachievement is a direct result of the emphasis that has been placed on girls and women. Secondly, there are those who locate the problem in relation to wider social changes and how this impacts males, particularly adolescent males with regards to their view of masculinity and schooling"-Wayne Campbell

"We spend too much time analyzing and dissecting our problems and too little time trying to find solutions to our problems"-Wayne Campbell

The freedom of the 27 Christian Sudanese woman over the weekend from a pending death sentence is welcome news. Many in the international community were sent into a state of shock to   learn that apostasy was a crime punishable by death. Apostasy is the abandonment of one's religion. Apostasy can also be defined as the   total rejection of Christianity by a baptized person who, having at one time professed the Christian faith publicly rejects it. It is distinguished from heresy, which is limited to the rejection of one or more Christian doctrines by one who maintains an overall adherence to Jesus Christ. Sudan introduced Islamic Shariah law in the early 1980s under the rule of autocrat Jaafar Nimeiri, contributing to the resumption of an insurgency in the mostly animist and Christian south of Sudan. The s outh seceded in 2011 to become the world's newest nation, South Sudan. The condemnation from the international community was swift

"The primary responsibility of the present generation is to fully equip the next generation with the necessary and requisite skills set and knowledge to take over the reins of leadership in the society"-Wayne Campbell

The script has become quite familiar and rather expected. It would be an understatement to say all is not well with Jamaica’s education system.   This notion was recently reinforced by the analysis and findings of the 2013 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results by Educate Jamaica.   According to Educate Jamaica, a leading think thank organization, seventy five (75) per cent of all the secondary schools in Jamaica are under performing. Correspondingly, only twenty five (25) per cent of all post primary schools in Jamaica are producing graduates capable of passing five or more subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level inclusive of English Language and Mathematics.   A minimum of five CSEC subjects are required by Jamaican students in order to matriculate into tertiary level studies and or to enter the world of work. Disturbingly, three quarters of our secondary schools are not able to meet this minimum target. This is nothing new and has bee

Approximately four years ago Jamaica experienced an onion shortage. At the time of the shortage there was an effort made to encourage and increase the local production of onion to offset any such shortage in the future. However, we are back to square one as was evident this past weekend as there was another shortage of onions on the local market. As a result the price of onions was artificially higher than usual as the market adjusted to the economics of demand and supply. A pound of onions usually cost about $80-$100 per pound, however, over the weekend the price doubled reaching as much as $200 per pound. As a country we are too dependent on foreign imports to satisfy local food consumption. In 2010 it was reported that Jamaica imported approximately $US4Million worth of onions annually. There is a very high demand for onions locally as the average Jamaican household apparent has had a love affair with this popular seasoning. Jamaicans consume about 12,000 tonnes of onions each

The true measure of a good father is not in monetary terms, instead this measurement is rooted in the sacrifices made and the quality time spent with one's children. There is much more to fatherhood than a biological fact. Happy father,s day!

The Heroes Journey © Sitting in the front row, Attentively looking, trying to mask the truth Why he is wasting his time and gambling his future away? Well groomed and soft spoken, no one could tell Uninterested! Do some work, the teacher yelled. Nothing stirs his emotionless face A million and one excuses Masculinity being interrogated! Awaken from his slumber he must I expect him to succeed Along the Heroes Journey

In a major shift, Jamaica has announced that the country’s Cabinet has approved a proposal that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The proposed amendment to the country’s Dangerous Drugs Act ((which has been approved by Cabinet but still needs to go be introduced and approved by Parliament)) would mean that the possession of small quantities of marijuana for personal use would be a ticketable infraction and not a criminal offence. Possession of two ounces or less would become a non-arrestable infraction “attracting a monetary penalty which shall be payable outside the court system and which does not give rise to a criminal record,” Justice Minister Mark Golding said Thursday. Failure to pay the ticket within 30 days will be a minor offence punishable in the Petty Sessions Court by an order of community service. Additionally, if the person found in possession of marijuana in such quantities is a minor, he or she will be referred to the National Council

Do you think there is justification for Brazil spending over $11 billion dollars to host the World Cup Finals, while at the same time, their education and health care systems are in need of funding and reform? Additionally, Brazil's public transportation system is in dire need of upgrading.  So while millions of people are being entertained by the spectacle of the "greatest show on earth", many Brazilians are suffering and are being tear gas for speaking out and letting their anger and dissatisfaction known.  

There are many categories of unsung heroes in the Jamaican society. The tendency is for us to ignore them. However, the greatness of any society is measured in terms of how the least among the populace is treated. The time has come for us as a people to pause to pay tribute to, and formally recognized the sterling contribution of the numerous individuals who work as pedestrians crossers across the island. These categories of workers are mainly found in front of our schools where they assist our children in crossing the busy thorough fare daily.   They are always smartly clad in their white coats with their wooden “Stop Children Crossing Sign”. These unassuming Jamaicans have for the most part been forgotten by the society. However, their invaluable contribution to the nation’s children and to the development of our human resources should not go without recognition. Sadly, many of these persons of both sexes have died without being formally recognized. Yet, many are now ret

Atmosphere One moment sunshine smiling through puffy balls of cotton clouds Floating on angels’ wings Then in the blink of an eye The afternoon sky pulls down her dark grey curtains Tall dark columns fill the summer sky Shattering lightning The clanking, loud, outburst of thunder roaring across the sky Mother Nature at her worst That strange, familiar, earthy aroma permeates the air Raindrops tickling my nostrils It’s almost here!

The upcoming Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) election for president- elect has not generated as much buzz as in former years. There have been whispers in education circles as to a possible reason/s for this rather dull and uninspiring campaign among the candidates vying to become leader of the 20,000 plus teachers in the public education system. Two possibilities have emerged to explain the lack of interest generated thus far in the election which is less than two weeks away. Is it possible that the 2014 candidates are not as imposing as in former years? Secondly, is it that voter apathy which affects the general voting population has now caught up with the eligible voters in the upcoming JTA election? Regardless of the answer there has not been a clear favourite among the candidates vying to win this most coveted position. This occurrence is rather strange and disappointing especially since the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) is celebrating its fiftieth year’s anniversary.   

Recently, a fourth form male student at Kingston Technical High School was prevented from doing his Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination because the school authorities were of the opinion that his hair was too “high”. While I am support the notion that students should obey the rules of their respective educational institutions I strongly believe that in this instance the punishment outweighs the crime. I am very much aware of the challenges many of our schools undergo daily in trying to get students to adhere to the regulations, however, there comes a time when good sense and one’s initiative should prevail when dealing with youngsters. It is most unacceptable that a few minutes before this young man was to sit his examination he was told by senior managers at the school that his hair was too and that he had the option to go and get a haircut and return to sit the examination. We all have been through examinations and we all know how nervous and tense