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

Too many of our students are operating at the frustration level regarding reading and the acquisition of techniques needed to decipher words into meaning. A significant number of these students are enrolled in schools, yet they continue to struggle with literacy. Additionally, too many untrained teachers are coerced to give instruction in literacy and this is worrying. Each year on International Literacy Day the global attention turns to literacy. However, after the excitement and ceremonies associated with the day those who are non-readers remain in their state of despair and frustration. International Literacy Day is observed on September 8. This year’s theme is “Promoting literacy in the digital era.” History of International Literacy Day . International Literacy Day was first conceived at the “World Conference of Ministers of Education on the Eradication of Illiteracy” held in Tehran, Iran in 1965. The following year UNESCO took the lead and declared September 8 as International ...

“Acquiring literacy is an empowering process, enabling millions to enjoy access to knowledge and information that broadens horizons, increases opportunities and creates alternatives for building a better life.”- Kofi Annan. As the society navigates the infancy of the 2025/2026 academic year a number of issues have been carried forward which require urgent attention. Over the years policy makers have been intentional concerning singing the praises regarding pockets of excellence throughout the education system. Yet, the elephant in the room has been ignored. From its earliest inception Jamaica’s education system has not had a level playing field. The learning gaps have worsened since COVID-19 both at the primary and secondary levels. Additionally, the learning gaps are to a large extent aligned to the socio-economic class of the students. Yet, what have remained constant despite changes in governments are the high levels of illiteracy across the primary and secondary levels. All acr...

“In the Sahel, where the world’s gravest concerns converge, women and girls bear the brunt.”- Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women. The world is becoming increasingly hostile towards women and girls. Sadly, by now each one of us may know of someone who has been targeted on the basis of gender-based violence. What is equally disturbing is the fact that the public opposition regarding gender-based violence is increasingly deafening. One area of the world where the spotlight dims regarding the rights of women and girls is the Sahel region of Africa. The Sahel, meaning “the shore” in Arabic, is a vast area crossing 6,000 kilometres from East to West Africa. It covers many geographic and agro-ecological systems, 12 countries and is home to 400 million people. The political region of the Sahel, as defined by the United Nations strategy (UNISS), covers 10 countries (Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria). The region faces many cha...

"A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”- Marcus Garvey. The political atmosphere is getting tense. In fact, in some political spaces the tension in the air is palpable. Posters have been defaced or torn down. There have been warnings on the political platforms warning voters not to sell their votes. As in any market place, wherever sellers are buyers are present. One could therefore theorize that democracy is transactional. Does the voter have the right to maximize the leverage of his or her vote? In many instances, after the elections are done and normalcy returns the voters are left on their own to navigate their concerns until another election cycle. Political parties have been pulling in large crowds at various rallies across the country. The governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been touting their achievements since they wrestled political power, while the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has been making...

“Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain." - Matt Haig. The youth mental health crisis endures, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data released in August. In 2023, 40% of all students, and 53% of girls, experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. Nearly 1 in 5 students reported being bullied at school, while 13% missed school because of safety concerns. We oftentimes discount the impact that mental health can have on our students. This misconception frequently leads to policy decisions that are flawed and are counterproductive to teaching and learning. We have all seen, some of us have shared the videos of students acting out due to stress and depression. Yet, mental health is still not openly discussed because of the stigma associated with mental health that we have all contributed to. Our mental wellness is just as imp...

“We can all agree that the quality of teaching is vital, but smaller classes can help teachers provide a more effective education.”-Peter Blatchford- Professor in Psychology and Education. The narrative surrounding education is never short of insights and counter arguments. In a number of instances the views expressed by “experts” are done solely to assuage a particular interest group and not necessarily to fix the broken education system. We must be discerning and interrogate wisely positions concerning educational policies. The current discourse is rooted in literacy and what can be done to increase reading levels of our students. Unfortunately, not much is being said about the impact of class size on students’ outcome. Class size is problematic at both the primary and secondary levels. The more students are in a class the less effective the teacher is. The research is there to support this position. Yet, our classrooms are overcrowded and extremely hot. Poor Indoor Air Quality a...

"Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."- St. Matthew 5:4. A funeral is a structured ceremony, with a beginning, middle and an end. Many of those who attend funerals are not mourning. A significant number of the so called mourners are there for the food. Of course they will give the customary greeting ‘I am sorry for your loss’. The reality is they are being polite. Very few are truly sorry and will grieve with you. In fact, even some family members put on a performance worthy of an Academy Award. However, such is life. We each grieve in separate ways. There are no manuals which say there is one size fit all regarding grief. Some will bawl while others mourn silently. Oftentimes, we use our biases and prejudices regarding how one should mourn to cast judgment. Each time we attend a funeral we become or should become more conscious of our own mortality. Performance . We are always performing. One just has to examine our use and misuse of social media; ev...

“When a child learns to read, they don’t just decode letters on a page, they begin to dream bigger, think more critically, and imagine a future beyond what they can see.”- Marshall Tuck, CEO of Ed Voice. The fact that a significant number of first formers are reading below their grade level is cause for national concern. However, despite all the talk regarding literacy intervention programmes there is the feeling that there is no national consensus concerning how to adequately address the reading crisis we face as a nation. A related issue on display is an exclusive education system. The reading crisis is multi layered and therefore the solutions must adhere to similar principles. Undoubtedly, our schools must be the primary vehicle for achieving reading readiness for all students. Phonics should be compulsory at the primary level from grades 1- 4. The Primary Exit Profile (PEP) should be only for grade 5 and 6. Many students are ill-equipped by the time they reach high school to dec...

Dumb is problematic. There was a time when intelligence was highly sought after. It appears gone are those days. Relationships are difficult. Those who are in relationships and those who seek to have relationships should always be mindful of being unequally yoked. Some men prefer their women to play dumb or to dumb down. Dumb down occurs when someone pretends to be dumb at the bequest of another person. This is a sign of disrespect. This often happens in relationships where men suggest or frankly tell their significant others to dumb down. Once this enters a relationship it is time to seek help. Such a relationship will become toxic especially for the party who has had to lower his or her intellectual capacity. Toxicity in any relationship is unhealthy and oftentimes lead to signs of anxiety and or depression. It is always better to walk away from such situations than to subject yourself to such humiliation and disregard. The idea of marrying down is not that appealing. Human sexuality...

“Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime.”- Herbert Ward. The summer has just started, well officially. We have neither autumn nor winter; instead we have summer like conditions all year round. In spite of the normalcy of the hotter nights and sweltering heat of this Caribbean paradise, some of the news emerging in recent times makes you sick to the stomach. There is no denying that we live in a hypersexualized society and indeed world. Sex is everywhere even in cartoons; there is always a sublime sexually suggested message as bait for children. Childhood should be fun and free from the stresses of adult situations. Our children are not being given the chance to be children. Child abuse is rampant; one only has to look at the statistics. Unfortunately, many of our children have had their innocence ripped out from their souls. Sadly, at times, the abuser is a family member who lives under the same roof. In many instances when students display maladaptive behaviour this...

“There is no one way to recover and heal from any trauma. Each survivor chooses their own path or stumbles across it.”- Laurie Matthew. Very often, we associate trauma with physical pain. Sadly, many of us walk around daily with mountains of trauma from various manifestations within our lives. Trauma can happen at any age. In fact, trauma can affect us at any time, including a long time after the event had happened. Outside of personal trauma, there are also collective and generational traumas. Generational or intergenerational trauma is a type of trauma that is experienced across generations of a family, culture or group. On the other hand, secondary trauma occurs when you witness trauma or you are closely connected to it. It is sometimes called vicarious trauma. Many of us as Afro Caribbean people are still traumatized when we watch slavery-inspired movies or films, such as ‘Roots’ and “12 Years A Slave". The movie 12 Years a Slave is a 2013 biographical historical drama...

“Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog, it merely expands the heart. If you have loved many dogs your heart is very big.”- Erica Jong. He was lifted one last time. After an agonizing consultation with my mother and brother a decision was arrived at. I knew this day was coming. Rover was no pup; he was ten years old with a growing number of health issues. He was no longer the frisky Rover, had became lethargic. In recent times Rover’s abdomen became extended. Upon examination the vet, ordered her assistant to draw fluid from his abdomen. The drawn fluid had traces of blood. Rover was not going to get better. His condition was one of management that would require him to be on a particular drug until death. I braced myself for Rover’s prognosis. In the last few weeks he had lost his aggressive and adventurous personality. Yes, dogs do have personalities. The panting almost gasping was more frequent. He h...