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

It is rather unfortunate that when we speak about literacy and all its variations we tend to overlook health literacy.   Health literacy is defined in the Institute of Medicine Report, Health Literacy: A Prescription to End Confusion as the degree to which individuals have the capability to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. Regrettably, in spite of numerous interventions over the years Jamaica still has not reached 100 per cent literacy. This sad reality can and does have long term and devastating consequences, especially on our elderly population, the subset often inflicted and impacted by lifestyle diseases. The inability to read oftentimes can put one’s health in jeopardy since the individual will not have the necessary literacy and numeracy skills to, for example, to understand nutrition labels and read doctor’s instructions regarding how to administer medication. Additionally, the measurement of me...

On February 11, 2017, the global community paused to commemorate the United Nations Internationally Day of Women and Girls in Science. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) estimate that only 28 per cent of researchers are females. Historically, women and girls have been restricted from achieving their human rights to an education. Many jurisdictions in an attempt to increase the participation of women and girls in the fields of science have been placing more emphasis and resources on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Jamaica’s new National Standard Curriculum (NSC) is pivotal in addressing the disconnect between the participation of both sexes regarding equal access to education.       It bears thought that governments all across the globe need to be more responsive to the needs of women and girls in achieving gender equality.   Sadly, the breaking of the class ceiling is still a dream for many wom...

Standing in the hallowed hallway of the college of my choice Beaming with pride and joy Anxious and somewhat frightened, what was I thinking? Is a college degree worth the sacrifice, I repeatedly asked myself Indoctrinated! I took the bait, hook line and sinker To this fallacy, created by the movers and shakers of this cruel world To keep us in line! Maintaining the status quo in order to stifle our creativity Why didn’t I see this coming? To be counted among the vocational areas was to be considered Intellectually challenged, dull! Dunce! If only I knew then what I know now. Fast forward! Downtrodden, a grave sense of despair and hopeless Trapped!   Rocked by the insecurities of this world Governments held to ransom By multinational lending agencies Structural Adjustment Programmes designed to keep us dependent, while the rich wallow in ill- gotten gains Neo- Colonialism! Oppression! Capitalism! Our humanity have been stripped bare Exposing our backsides fo...