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

Our education system is akin to a roller coaster ride. There are moments of turbulence countered by pockets of harmonious teaching and learning. This topsy turvy reality is not conducive to teaching and learning. Disturbingly, what remains constant is the fact that our students at the primary and secondary levels are not reading as they should. Reading for many students has become a task and this is problematic. Many students view reading as punitive. Our methods of socialization both in the home and at school have greatly contributed to this negative perception of reading. Students’ unenthusiastic opinions of reading have been amplified in this digital age where the physical book has almost been rendered obsolete, as technological gadgets such as smart phones and tablets have become commonplace in most societies. Many of us can recall in our childhood being told to go and take up our books after engaging in some inappropriate behaviour. Unfortunately, this practice concerning readi...

“Biased algorithms, outright lies, and hate speech are landmines on the information superhighway. Accurate, verifiable, fact-based information is the best tool to defuse them.”- UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Journalism as a profession continues to be the bedrock of democracy. Yet, in some societies governments have placed obstacles in the path of members of the Fourth Estate. Unsurprisingly, in such societies press freedom is handicapped and the pursuit of the truth is dangerous. Undoubtedly, an atmosphere of transparency and fairness are critical pillars for journalism to thrive. Unfortunately, in a growing number of countries, the media landscape is characterized in fear and intimidation. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence has also added another complex layer for journalists to navigate. The rapid growth and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the media landscape and press freedom in multiple ways. Whereas the principles of free, independent, and plura...

“Jazz has always been about bringing people together, breaking barriers, and inspiring creativity across cultures. International Jazz Day reminds us that music has the power to transcend borders, foster dialogue, and spark joy and hope.”- Herbie Hancock. Although the history of Jazz music is complex and often debated, historians for the most part agree on the geography of Jazz origins. Jazz started as an uniquely American sound, forged in the melting pot of cultures in the South, particularly in New Orleans in Louisiana. The port city was a blend of Creole culture and African traditions, peppered with European influences. Geographical and Cultural Origins According to Suemedha Sood, jazz started around 1819 in Congo Square, an outdoor space in New Orleans where slaves would congregate on Sundays when they did not have to work. According to the Ken Burns documentary Jazz, the slaves would sing, play music and dance, swaying back and forth to the songs of their home countries. Meanwh...

“Veterinarians are typically looked at by the public as caretakers of their beloved pets, but the reality is, we are so much more than that,” Dr. de Jong. Animals have always played a positive and encouraging role in our lives. The interactions between humans and animals have evolved over the years. In recent times many businesses have emerged that provide grooming and animal care services. Of course, such services are separate and apart from the essential service the veterinarian provides. Animals do get sick and as such they will require specialized care. Owning an animal is a long term commitment both in terms of financial resources as well as your time. World Veterinary Day is celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April to honour the indispensable role veterinarians play in protecting animal health, public health, and the environment. Established by the World Veterinary Association, this day recognizes the dedication of veterinary professionals in improving animal welfar...

"Giving women equal opportunities in STEM careers helps reduce the gender wage gap, improves women's economic security, ensures a diverse and talented workforce, and prevents bias. Not only do women need the opportunities, but their communities and countries urgently require their contribution to find new solutions to the problems we face as a society.”- Maria Noel Vaeza, UN Women's Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean. Patriarchy and male privileging are oftentimes the overarching barriers regarding girls achieving their full potential. The International Day of Girls in Information and Communication Technologies is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in April to highlight the importance of girls in I.C.T. as well as to encourage more girls and young women to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Undoubtedly, there is a disconnect between reality and what ought to happen. Sadly, in many quarters of the world, such as Afgha...

“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.”- Maya Angelou. World Book and Copyright Day observed annually on April 23 is celebrated in more than 100 countries and serves as a meaningful reminder of the value of books and the written word. The day encourages young people to explore the world of literature, nurtures the creativity of future writers and promotes the importance of reading in personal and academic spheres. On this day, the three major stakeholders in the book industry, publishers, booksellers and libraries unite to organize various events to promote book reading. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world reading a book can be considered a dying activity. With the advent of the digital age many books are now in electronic forms, however, a significant number of our children do not read. As a result, the significance of this day is not as potent as it should be. April 23 is significant be...

"The Earth is God's gift to us, full of beauty and wonder, where the fruits of the Earth belong to everyone." – Pope Francis. One of the most disquieting issues associated with international days is their inability to galvanize support beyond their niche audience. The same is also true for Earth Day which is commemorated annually on April 22. Of course, there will always be the official functions, where the media is invited and the speeches are on target. However, in some instances after the media returns to their respective media houses the passion and work also fades. Regrettably, matter concerning the environment is not give the same attention as non-environmental matters. Oftentimes, some of the biggest abusers of the environment are state agencies. Unfortunately, in circumstances like these the sanctions are often lukewarm and this message reverberates within and outside environmental circles. In other words the sanctions do not serve as a deterrent. In many quarte...

The heaviness of the occasion weighted me down. The betrayal by so close. Painful! And for what: 30 pieces of silver. This cross I bear alone. Undoubtedly chosen, I must do that which I was sent. Not swayed by emotions. The duties entrusted were indeed enormous. Dripping sweat turned to blood. Gaping wound in need of dressing. Mocked, jeered and made a public spectacle. Focused on Calvary’s Cross. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. Woman behold your son; in aguish and agony. My destiny continues. For all humanity, though weary and ridiculed. Pierced side. While I thirst. Yet no mercy. It is finished. ©

Over the years masculinity has been weaponized as a tool of discord and separation. The perennial question, what does it mean to be a real man keeps ringing in our ears as we try to arrive at an answer that is suitable to our socialization and upbringing. Undoubtedly, most societies have a template for hegemonic masculinity which is the standard by which men are judged. The hegemonic template defining a real man may read like this. A real man is one who is physically strong or one who does not show weakness. The male who displays weakness of any form is not viewed as a real man in many Western societies that ascribe to a particular and rather toxic notion of masculinity and manhood. We all wear a mask; in fact some of us have multiple masks. Men wear a mask of masculinity. Based on our connections and environment we are not allowed to be vulnerable. As a result men are forced to conceal their true selves. This masked masculinity is often destructive as it is problematic. The disrupt...

“Maternal mortality is a serious public health problem rooted in social inequities. It has enormous health and economic implications for families and communities. We must urgently act together to eradicate preventable maternal deaths once and for all.”- Dr Edgar Iván Ortiz Lizcano. Alarmingly, close to 300 000 women lose their lives due to pregnancy or childbirth annually, while over 2 million babies die in their first month of life and around 2 million more are stillborn. That is roughly 1 preventable death every 7 seconds. Around 8,400 women die each year in Latin America and the Caribbean from complications in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. High blood pressure, severe bleeding and unsafe abortion practices are the most common causes. However, nine out of ten of these deaths are preventable through access to quality care and contraception. Jamaica experienced its highest rate of women dying from complications with pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. In fact, th...

“Education will be profoundly transformed by AI,” “Teaching tools, ways of learning, access to knowledge, and teacher training will be revolutionized.”- UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. Many boys are turned off from the formal education system. Many boys have identified less stressful and more lucrative pathways to provide for themselves and their families than to engage the education system. The truth is the education system is not appealing to boys. This disconnect is rooted in many variables. Unfortunately, policy makers continue to push an education system which by default caters more to girls. This gendered divide concentrated in the formal education system has antecedents in the patriarchal framework that has been in place since the period of enslavement. Boys by design are more tactile learners while girls are more auditory or visual-based learning often a result from their overall socialization and specifically gender socialization. The sit, talk and chalk approach that...

“It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a child with autism to raise the consciousness of that village.” – Elaine Hall. Globally, it's estimated that approximately 1 in 100 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism is significantly more common in boys than in girls. This skewed sex ratio has been recognized since the first cases of autism were described in the 1940s. One of the most comprehensive analyses of autism’s sex ratio, published in 2017, drew on data from 54 prevalence studies worldwide. That analysis estimated about 4.2 boys with autism for every girl. Each story regarding autism is unique. While we must accept the similarities concerning autism, equally important are the uniqueness within this community. Many individuals with autism are misunderstood. This lack of understanding results from an overload of information, much of which contains myths and misconceptions surrounding this behavioural condition. Raising a child with autism requir...

“These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.”- Isaiah 29:13. Have you ever critically examined the meaning of worship? Worship occurs when we give our deepest affection and highest praise to something or someone. True worship is a valuing or a treasuring of God above all things. Are you a true worshipper? Sadly, there are those who worship their possessions. There are many gods of this world both tangible and intangible. What is the face of multiple gods? There are those for whom their career, a prized title or education is their god. For others it could be their car, or a home, or any object that they value and give their overwhelming attention. As followers of Christ worship should begin with and end in true worship. However, some of us tend to negotiate with God regarding our worship. Our worship experience should never be boring. We shoul...

“The theme of this year’s World Water Day reminds us of a cold, hard truth: glacier preservation is essential for security, prosperity, and justice. Glaciers are nature’s vaults, holding a precious resource: nearly 70 per cent of all freshwater on Earth.”- António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations. Nearly 2 billion people rely on water from glaciers, snowmelt and mountain run-off for drinking, agriculture, and energy production. The World Meteorological Organization states that in 2023, glaciers lost more than 600 gigatons of water, the largest mass loss registered in 50 years. Glaciers are melting faster than ever. As the planet gets hotter, our frozen world is shrinking, making the water cycle more unpredictable. For billions of people, melt water flows are changing, causing floods, droughts, landslides and sea level rise. Countless communities and ecosystems are at risk of devastation. As we work together to mitigate and adapt to climate change, glacier preservati...

“I'm special like everyone else. I do not let people judge me for having Down syndrome. The important thing is how I feel about myself. On the inside, I feel beautiful.” – Edward Barbanell. Down syndrome continues to be the most common chromosomal disorder among humans. People with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome. Statistics from Caribbean countries estimate that one child with Down syndrome is born for every 800 to 1,000 live births. In 2012, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared March 21st as World Down Syndrome Day . This year’s theme is “Improve Our Support Systems," which emphasizes the need for inclusive support that grants individuals with Down syndrome choice, control, and dignity. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has an extra partial (or whole) copy of chromosome 21. Down syndrome exists in all regions across the globe. Down syndrome commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics and health. A...