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

“Languages connect us and break down barriers when we unite to nurture the best in us and help each other succeed.”- Widad Akreyi. No one should be made to feel lesser than because they speak their Mother Language. Globally, 40 per cent of the population does not have access to an education in a language they speak or understand. Nevertheless, progress is being made in multilingual education with a growing understanding of its importance, particularly in early schooling, and more commitment to its development in public life. Languages are essential to education and sustainable development, serving as the primary means through which knowledge is transferred and cultures are preserved. With approximately 8,324 languages in the world today, many are at risk of disappearing due to globalization and societal changes. When languages fade, so does the world's rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Additionally, opportunities, traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking, expression and v...

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”- Dr. Martin Luther King. In recent years, the term "social justice" has become a significant part of public discourse. However, many of us are unaware of its meaning and are far removed from its significance. In a world riffled with strife and chaos, the shouts of justice reverberate through the web of disarray. The powerfully connected takes advantage of the weak and mild-mannered. The employer who lacks integrity exploits his/her employee. The rights of the average person are breached constantly. Undoubtedly, the education system is responsible for the perpetuation of the ideologies and views of those who rule while excluding marginalized opinions. Historically, the purpose of schooling was to reproduce the dominant culture in the society. Most of us have experienced some form of injustice. Unfortunately, the world has normalized injustice through State institutions and personal actions. The United Nations (UN) defi...

“Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. “-Ludwig Wittgenstein. Men and women perceive language and language acquisition differently. Within the education system, there are certain subjects that have been traditionally viewed as feminine; among these are English Language and Literature. In fact, those subjects which have a heavy concentration of reading and writing are disowned by boys. The refusal of boys to connect with such subjects needs to be interrogated more so as to decisively speak about how language impacts both sexes in differ ways. Boys oftentimes feel restricted regarding the usage of language especially in formal settings such as that of a classroom. While the classroom should be a safe space, the reality runs counter. Our schools and indeed classrooms are frequently sites of conflicts, bullyism and unresolved disputes. Boys are more likely to refuse to answer questions in situations of co-educational settings due to the likelihood that girls may laugh at th...

“The power of radio is not that it speaks to millions, but that it speaks intimately and privately to each one of those millions.”- Hallie Flanagan. World Radio Day is observed annually on February 13. Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity. Radio is one of the most accessible and trusted ways to reach people, particularly in remote or underserved areas. Of particular importance is the fact that radio transcends the barriers of literacy and therefore this medium is all-inclusive. As an audio- only medium; radio is interactive given the range in its programming and offerings to the audience. As a result, radio provides a platform for democratic discourse. At the global level, radio remains the most widely consumed medium. This unique ability to reach the widest audience means radio can shape a society’s experience of diversity, stand as an arena for all voices to speak out, be represented and heard. Radio is uniquely positioned to bring communities toge...

“In many places in the world, though still imperfect, conditions for women entering academia have improved markedly in the last half-century. Importantly, however, we should not forget that this is far from true for many countries and societies, and especially in many places in the world, though still imperfect, conditions for women entering academia have improved markedly in the last half-century. Importantly, however, we should not forget that this is far from true for many countries and societies, and especially women of colour, women from poor or marginalized communities and sexual minorities and disabled women are still facing immense hurdles even in superficially egalitarian environments.”- Katarína Juríková. Globally, 122 million girls are out of school, according to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Of those, 2.5 million are banned from education in Afghanistan. Despite progress across all disciplines in science, technology, engineering and ma...

“The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished” - Nahum 1:3. Have you ever read the book of Nahum in the Old Testament? Yes, there is some bewilderment regarding the question. There are those who will strongly agree that Nahum is one of those forgotten books in the Bible. In fact, many of us might be hearing the name Nahum for the first time. According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, very little is known about Nahum’s background or personal life. There are different theories about where he was from, but the book says that he lived in Elkosh. Again, there is little known about Elkosh’s location, but one possibility is that Elkosh was in the area of Capernaum in Northern Israel, which may have been posthumously named after him (as “Capernaum” means “Village of Nahum”). The 12 Minor Prophets in the Bible may not be referenced as often as Major Prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah, but the words they brought to the people ...

Global School Play Day was created in 2015 by a group of six educators: Scott Bedley, Tim Bedley, Eric Saibel, Misty Higgins, Oliver Schinkten, and Bethany Chaffin. These educators were concerned that children were getting less and less time to play due to technology and adult interference. This galvanized the educators to initiate this play day campaign. During its first observance on February 4, 2015, over 65,000 children participated. However, in 2020, during the sixth anniversary of the event, this number increased exponentially, with over almost 600,000 children participating across 75 countries. The organization believes the campaign has been so successful because initially, children had started forgetting how to play. Thankfully, parents and educators are beginning to see the positive impacts. Global School Play Day is observed annually every first Wednesday in February and this year it will be held on February 5. Benefits of Play . Play is an activity that is spontaneous, fun...

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not by works, so that no one can boast.”- Ephesians 2:8-9. There is always some controversy in the society. There are always those who believe that they have a higher moral authority and look down with disdain on others. Given that culture is not static we should indeed expect more disagreements in and across the cultural landscape. The most recent controversy surrounds dancehall superstar Spice whose given name is Grace Hamilton. Without a doubt the youth are faced with many problems. The social ills are too many to mention in this a pluralistic society. Spice’s 'Ohhhh No School Tour' was aimed at educating and empowering the island’s youth on the importance of standing firm on their beliefs and values. The school tour commenced on Monday January 28 with visits to Waterford and Cumberland High Schools. The tour continued Tuesday with stops at Spanish Town High an...