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

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”- Nelson Mandela There is never a dull moment in Jamaica. It is that time of year again when hundreds of students make the transition from primary to secondary schools, as well as from secondary to tertiary institutions.   In recent weeks we have seen an increase in the number of School Leaving Exercises.   Graduation is synonymous with happiness, it’s that time when scores of students adorn their schools’ graduation gowns and caps and slow march to the beat of some popular lyrics in the afternoon sun to collect their certificates and to receive awards for academic excellence. The parents of the graduates are usually in the audience taking pictures of their loved one receiving awards. The rehearsals are done repeatedly in order to get it right as the graduating class participates in the numerous songs sang at these exercises. The long awaited Primary Exit Profile (PEP) results have been released by ...

“People of different religions and cultures live side-side in almost every part of the world, and most of us have overlapping identities which unite us in very different groups.”- Kofi Annan Since the death of former Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga a lot has been said and written about Revivalism. Mr Seaga was a staunch supporter of the revivalist movement having himself done much research in anthropology. Revivalism is often shrouded in myths, superstitions and secrecy. The supporters of revivalism are often the marginalized and the oppressed in the society. For many of those individuals solace and acceptance is rooted in this Afro- Centric spiritual movement called Revivalism.   Revivalism evolved from Myalism, which is another Afro-Centric religious movement which is practiced to ward off evil spirits and to heal those who are both physically and spiritually unwell.   Many of us as Jamaicans oftentimes view revivalism in negative terms. The prac...

“It doesn’t matter who my father was; it matters I remember who he was.”- Anne Sexton The conditionality of fatherhood is ever present in most if not all societies. Each year Father’s Day is celebrated globally on the third Sunday in June. It is quite noticeable that the buzz surrounding what is an important day continues to diminish yearly. One might argue that Father’s Day is one of the best kept secrets. There are those who are determined to broad-brush all fathers as dead beat dads? However, we all know that there are good fathers in our families, communities, and indeed the wider society. Perhaps, your dad is a great father, yes!   If this is so do not allow the section of the society which continues to place conditions on fatherhood to impact how you view your dad.   Do not allow others to determine your relationship with your father. Do not give in to the negative and toxic utterances of fatherhood. Celebrate your dad! On the other hand, motherhood is celebrated w...

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”- Thomas A. Edison We send messages daily to those around us whether consciously or unconsciously. In the workplace for example, the manner in which we dress also conveys to others our personality, mannerism and value system. Of course there are always those colleagues who for some reason do not care what message is sent or the interpretation that is derived from such messages. One does not have to break the bank to put oneself together in a professional way. In some business establishments there are dress codes as some employees have pushed the envelope just a bit too far. Dress codes emerge from social perceptions and norms and should be adhered to as much as possible. We must be mindful that in a public space, such as the workplace we share a common space; therefore there must be some ground rules in order for us to cope in such a shared environment. In some businesses the staff orders addr...

We are not insects, we are human beings. To travel by air is a privilege. Air travel is a costly adventure as well.   Those of us who have been fortunate to travel oftentimes experience some amount of excitement leading up to that moment. This heightened sense of emotion happens to almost all of us irrespective of whether we are a frequent flyer or a first timer. This buzz never goes away regardless of whether you travel economy or first class. However, for some folks there is a sense of nervousness during travel. There are numerous lessons we can learn whenever we travel. For example, our outlook on life is often altered due to the interaction with other peoples and cultures. Once the airplane takes off and you begin to ascend into the clouds, sometimes of altitude unbelievable to those without this experience, one can feel like someone who is imprisoned until your flight lands and you disembark. It is usually at those altitudes that the airline crew informs you that they are goin...

Weep not for our beloved, For she is only asleep.     Shed no tears for our beloved, For her spirit lives on, in and amongst us. Weep not for our beloved. She has moved on to a better place That mansion over yonder, beyond those pearly white gates.     Weep not for our beloved. Life is most precious. Oftentimes taken for granted. Life is so fragile Like the grass, one moment we stand tall blowing in the wind and the world is at our beck and call. The next minute we wither and perish. Weep not for our beloved. For this is her season. To be at rest, escaping all of life’s stress.     Instead, let’s celebrate the life of our beloved. Her life was a gift to us. A flower, a precious and delicate rose, from the Lord’s garden. What a life she lived! A life lived to its fullest. Soft-spoken and lady-like.    A life dedicated to the service of God. A life of servitude to church and humanity. She was most generou...