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

“The days of women going to work in pain are over.”- Spain’s Equality Minister Irene Montero In many European societies we have witnessed the influence of feminism in the drafting and passing of specific pieces of legislation which are aimed at making life a bit more manageable for women. Recently, Spain became the first country in Europe to pass a three days paid menstrual leave. This groundbreaking legislation is only available to a few countries; these countries are Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and Zambia. The Spanish Equality Minister Irene Montero, an outspoken feminist in the leftwing government, hailed "a historic day of progress for feminist rights". The law gives the right to a three-day “menstrual” leave of absence with the possibility of extending it to five days for those women with disabling periods, which can cause severe cramps, nausea, dizziness and even vomiting. The leave requires a doctor's note, and the public social security system will...

Oftentimes there are no safe spaces for men regarding their healthcare. Medical research has indicated that most men do not have perfectly straight erections. For most men however, a curvature of the penis is concerning. Peyronie’s Disease is a condition where scar tissue causes the penis to curve or lose length or girth. Peyronie’s Disease is usually a permanent condition. According to the online source Cleveland Clinic, most men may be able to feel the scar tissue (plaque) through the skin or you may have pain in a specific part of your penis as the scar tissue forms. During an erection, the penis can bend up, down, or to the side depending on the location of the scar. In most cases, the scar forms on the top of the penis, causing it to curve upwards when it becomes erect. Your penis will bend downward if the scar is on the bottom, and sideways if the scar is on the side. In some cases, the scar develops on both the top and bottom of the shaft, which can cause the penis to become “...

“Let’s reiterate this fundamental message: women need science, and science needs women. Only by tapping into all sources of knowledge, all sources of talent, can we unlock the full potential of science, and rise to the challenges of our time.”- Audrey Azoulay UNESCO Director-General. While women and girls have made tremendous strides in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) it is still very important to encourage our women to pursue careers in these areas which were traditionally viewed as domains of masculinity and manhood. The fact that the United Nations has sought it necessary to observe February 11 as The International Day for Women and Girls in Science speaks to the structural, legal and historical challenges many women and girls still experience in breaking through the proverbial class ceiling. Unfortunately, such barriers still exist despite the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically goal #4 which addresses inclusive and equit...

“A timetable is said to be the second clock. It shows the hours during which school work is done, what work is to be done during each period of the school day.”- Mohiyuddin. Timetabling is the objective coordination of human resources, courses and physical space, within a specific period of time. The primary objective of a timetable is the provision for suitable and varied learning experiences for all pupils regardless of their socio-economic backgrounds or any other social indicator. The construction of a school’s timetable is oftentimes contentious and viewed by some as a punitive measure toward selective teachers. Unfortunately, when the timetablers take such an approach the students invariably will suffer and by extension the school. Simply put school timetable is a plan or the navigational map in an educational institution showing the daily allotment of time among a myriad of subjects, activities and classes. A timetable can be viewed as a mirror that reflects an entire educat...

“Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible.”- Barack Obama. The power of reading is infectious. Once a student takes ownership of the keys to reading a total transformation begins. Unfortunately, there are millions of people globally who have yet to experience this human right. According to The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), only a third of 10-year-olds globally are estimated to be able to read and understand a simple written story. These statistics are extremely worrying and speaks to the dire state of affairs globally regarding reading skills. UNICEF adds that the rest around two-thirds (64%) are unable to cover this marker for minimum proficiency in reading comprehension. This is up from 52 percent pre-pandemic. UNICEF warns of the global education crisis and the need for urgent actions. World Read Aloud Day also raises awareness about the importance of access to books and education for children everywhere. According to United Nations Educationa...