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

“Too often, customary practices and discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, race, religion, social status, or class are the root sources of pervasive inequality in many countries.”- Said Musa Political campaigns are often brutish, fierce and personal.   In some jurisdictions political campaigns can get downright nasty. Some will argue that there is no depth to which those who seek political power will descend. However, in a bygone era there was a spirit of decency and fair play where one’s family and one’s sexual orientation were off limits on the election campaign trail.   On the eve of the elections in Barbados, the current political campaigning has reached fever pitch. Barbados, like all democracies elect their leaders through the holding of national elections. The population of this Caribbean island is just over 285,000. Barbados is located in the Lesser Antilles.   Barbadians go to the polls on Thursday, May 24, 2018 to elect their next government.   ...

Private education is usually one of the most sought after services in any society; however, the legislation which governs private education differs according to country.   In Denmark, a country of 5.7 million people private education has a long tradition and this service comes with a substantial government subsidy.   The first “free school” private independent school for children was founded in 1852. These schools were established to serve rural population. In Denmark, all children must receive nine years education; however, parents have the choice where the child is educated. The choice for Danes regarding education is either publicly provided municipal primary and lower secondary school, in a private school or at home. It is estimated that about 13% of all children at basic school level attend private schools. In 2006, approximately, 91,000 children attend 491 private schools, while 690, 000 students attended the municipal school.    Private schools in Denmark are ...

“A nation’s greatest is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” Mahatma Ghandi My dad is an octogenarian. He has been working from the time he was a teenager growing up in Mount Angus in the parish of St. Mary. My dad, Fitzroy is fiercely independent.   He still drives his white 1991 Nissan Sunny to church every Sunday and continues to be active around the house. My dad has a passion for agriculture and with every opportunity he engages his enthusiasm whether it is planting banana suckers, yam, calaloo, tomatoes or some other food crop.   However, like men of his age he has problems with his prostate. Recently, my dad asked me to fill a prescription.   I found this request uncharacteristic of him nonetheless; I did as I was asked. My dad worked for himself his entire working career and as such he does not have private health insurance. On the other hand, the government of Jamaica has in place the Jamaica Drug for the Elderly Programme (JADEP) and the National Hea...

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”- Aristotle          St. Jude’s Primary School is located at 1 Norwich Avenue in Kingston. The school has been likened to a gemstone despite its geographical locale.   It is rather fitting that we associate the precious stone emerald with the school’s 55 th anniversary. This noble institution is rather precious and holds great memories for the many students who have been fortunate to have walked its prolific grounds.   Like most schools St. Jude’s Primary School has weathered many storms, yet the institution has remained committed to providing quality education to the nation’s children at the primary level.   On Sunday, April 22, 2018, this illustrious institution, now a school of choice through its...