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

“As we mark World Cities Day, let’s resolve to work together for urban areas that are not only engines of growth, but beacons of sustainability, resilience, and prosperity for all.”- António Guterres is the current Secretary-General of the United Nations. Kingston was founded in 1692 as a place for survivors of the earthquake that destroyed Port Royal. The city of Kingston is located on the southeastern coast of the island; it is both the capital and largest city of Jamaica. The city of Kingston is therefore over 300 years old. Kingston has been through a number of transformations over the centuries. Interestingly, Port Royal was originally separated from Kingston. Initially it was Port Royal and not Kingston that originally held the interest of the world as Port Royal was the headquarters of the English buccaneers or pirates; chief among them the famous Captain, Sir Henry Morgan. Port Royal became wealthy from the goods that were pillaged from the Spanish. The Birth of Kingston . Un...

Our good works do not generate righteousness; rather our righteousness in Christ generates good works. - Martin Luther. It has been over 500 years since Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation of the Church. Martin Luther, was a German teacher and a monk, who brought about the Protestant Reformation when he challenged the Roman Catholic Church's teachings starting in 1517. The Protestant Reformation was a religious reform movement that swept through Europe in the 1500s. The Protestant Reformation began in Wittenberg, Germany, on October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther, published a document he called Disputation on the Power of Indulgences , or 95 Theses . The document was a series of 95 ideas about Christianity that Luther invited people to debate with him. Luther's ground breaking ideas were controversial because they directly contradicted the Roman Catholic Church's teachings. One can argue that Martin Luther must have been truly inspired by God to have pushed against...

Literacy skills are all the skills needed for reading and writing. They include such things as awareness of the sounds of language, awareness of print and the relationship between letters and sounds. Other literacy skills include vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension (Bainbridge, 2015). Navigating and negotiating the educational space can be quite daunting for a student; more so for that student who has reading challenges. As human beings we are skilled in the art of manipulation and pretence. As a consequence more creative ways are required in addressing illiteracy. Undoubtedly, many of the disciplinary issues in our schools are as a result of those students who are challenged in literacy. Many such students, especially boys are embarrassed that they have not acquired the skills necessary to read. It is a complicated issue, as many of those same boys do not make themselves available to succeed. Herein is the problem of an educational system that lacks flexibility regarding how boy...

“Indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”- Psalm 121:4. It appears we have been hearing about the Arab/Israeli conflict from time immemorial. However, it is important that some historical and Biblical context be interjected into the narrative in order for a better understanding of this current war. In the Bible, the phrase ‘Promised Land’ refers to a specific region of land that God promised to his chosen people of Israel. God first gave this pledge of land to Abraham saying, “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River.” This pledge was reiterated to Abraham’s descendants until the time came for His people to claim their inheritance. Abraham knew that he would not see God’s Promised Land with his own eyes. In fact, God made it clear to him that the land would not be given until four generations had passed, and that his descendants would face the hardship of slavery in Egypt before the...

As consumers we have all had instances when we decry the lack of standards regarding goods and services. Adhering to standards is not only for the safety of the local market and citizenry, but is necessary in order to access international markets and clientele. In many societies there is perception that foreign made goods are of a superior quality and standards. The time has come for this view to be interrogated as we strive for a better world. Throughout the world, there is a set of standards that have been established that companies, organizations, and industries have all agreed to hold up. These standards have been established by mutual agreement between these organizations as part of their participation in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It was these categories of standards that helped drive the Industrial Revolution (1760-1840), The Industrial Revolution was the transition from creating goods by hand to using machines and today it drives the advancement ...

“We know that “girls don't live single-issue lives.” We also know that our best chance of scaling up sustainable programming to support girls’ well-being is building programmes around what already exists, and where girls are already finding support.”- Vanessa Nakate. The International Day of the Girl (IDG) observed annually on 11 October is a global platform to advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights. This year has been particularly harsh for girls. In recent times the news has reported a number of abductions, rape and murder of girls some as young as 8 years. The untimely passing of these girls has not only robbed their families of their potential but the society as a whole has been left shaken and broken. From maternal health care and parenting support for adolescent mothers, to digital and life skills training; from comprehensive sexuality education to survivor support services and violence prevention programmes; there is an urgent need for increased attention and res...

“Our ambition must be to transform mental health services, not just in their reach, but in their underlying values, so that they are truly responsive to the needs and dignity of the individual.” – Volker Turk- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It appears that the entire world is undergoing stress in one form or another. Perhaps, it is the signs of the times or the price we pay for modernity. There are wars and rumours of wars everywhere. Globally, we have seen the displacements of individuals as a result of wars. The lockdown associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have also impacted the mental health of many. The discussion surrounding mental health has become quite popular in recent times. Many of us have experienced mood swings; yet, access to mental health services continues to be problematic in many societies. Truth be told, we are all struggling or trying to cope with our own mental health issues. Recently, one of my grade 13 students purportedly committed suicide. I spoke wi...

“I am not hopeless nor have I lost my motivation. We cannot stop trying. I still hope and deeply believe that the tireless efforts of our civil society activists will eventually bear fruit.” - Narges Mohammadi. The Middle East is not known for human rights; more so women’s rights. Most governments of the Middle East are totalitarian and the voices of women are muted. However, occasionally, there is that one brave woman who risks it all and becomes both the face and voice of the unrepresented and disenfranchised. That brave woman in the desert is Narges Mohammadi. The international community has welcomed with open hearts the newest member to the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. No one is more deserving or has risked more than the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Narges Mohammadi. Narges Mohammadi, has been the face of resistance to the totalitarian and brutal regime of Iran for years. This win must be bitter sweet for many reasons. Firstly, for Mohammadi’s staunch and unwavering advoca...

I am the ears, eyes, feet and hands for my parents. There are no weekends off. I am always on call. I am the caregiver for Fitzroy and Vinette Campbell both of whom are octogenarians and have multiple health conditions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that caregiving is a public health concern because it can lead to physical, emotional, psychological, and financial strain. Providing personal care and helping with behavioural and cognitive issues can be stressful for caregivers and result in depression and anxiety. The journey has been a challenging one with bouts of depression, and insomnia. Caring for one’s parents is a honour but comes with a price. The privilege of being a caregiver must never be taken for granted. One has to navigate the changing roles of responsibilities that are associated with caring for the aged. It can be a roller coaster experience especially if parents are outspoken and frank. There will be moments of disagreement. Such moments ...