Safeguarding the Future of Education: Adapting to the Changing Landscape

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 reading as a disciplinary means has been transmitted throughout generations. Sadly, our society has normalized this behavior. And here we are at another Read Across Jamaica Day where corrective measures are being put in place. The solution however relating to this societal problem will require a broad- based consultative approach. Read Across Jamaica Day 2025 will be observed on May 6th. This year’s theme is "Safeguarding the Future of Education: Adapting to the Changing Landscape". The day aims to promote literacy and encourage students to develop a love for reading. Volunteers are encouraged to read to students throughout the day especially at the Early Childhood and primary levels. Over the years many corporate entities have embraced the spirit of the day by giving of their time and resources. What happens after Read Across Day when the media spotlight is off? Regrettably, in many instances, it is back to business as usual. Our schools for the most part lack resources and therefore it is rather easy to return to the roller coaster method, after all that is the zone of comfort and complacency. Reading is Multifaceted. The genesis of the nation’s reading crisis is at the Early Childhood level. Too many students transition to the primary level with rather weak phonetic awareness skills. This cycle oftentimes continue to the secondary level where students struggle with phonetic awareness and syllabication skills. It bears thought that much more resources are required at the Early Childhood level; yet this level is often characterized by the” cinderella syndrome”. The corrective measures surrounding literacy must begin at the genesis. At the core of reading is motivation. Unfortunately, a significant number of students are not motivated. Reading is a multifaceted process involving word recognition, comprehension, fluency, and motivation. Reading requires the following: Identify the words in print, a process called word recognition. Construct an understanding from them, a process called comprehension. Coordinate identifying words and making meaning so that reading is automatic and accurate, an achievement called fluency. Our non-reading culture should be interrogated along gender neutral lines to make reading fun once again. There is a need to separate toxic masculinity from the school culture in order to better prepare our boys to appreciate reading. There needs to be reading competitions in schools as well as parish competitions also among schools within the Quality Education Circles (QEC’s). We need to turn on our thinking caps. In Pursuit of Stronger Reading and Writing Skills. The reading crisis also shows up in multiple subjects as students struggle to write. The interconnectedness between reading and writing has long been established. Findings from a study published by the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology to analyze the effects of manual and keyboard training on children's skills revealed that children develop stronger reading and writing skills when they learn and practice handwriting. The study co-author Joana Acha, said, “as children write less and less by hand their ability to learn letters and to assimilate and remember word structure develops differently through manual training or the use of keyboards. Joana Acha, states what is most clear is the need to prioritize manual practice in the learning processes. Children learn best from hand movements and so technological devices should only be used in a complementary way. Caribbean Realities. The Report of the Jamaica Education Transformation Commission (JETC) chaired by Professor Orlando Patterson stated that most students at the primary level were barely literate. According to the JETC, the 2019 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) exam revealed that 33 per cent of students cannot read or can barely do so; 56 per cent of students cannot, or can barely, write; and 58 per cent of students cannot, or can barely, find information on a topic. Evidently, the nation is faced with a reading crisis. Representation in texts is also important and should reflect Caribbean realities. Disturbingly, boys who display school smarts are often ridiculed as effeminate by peers and even adults in areas where academic excellence by males is typically devalued. Our schools need to engender a reading culture where students appreciate reading for pleasure and fun. Our students should become comfortable with a variety of different written forms and genres; however, this will not happen by chance and must be intentional. Students should feel safe to read in their classes without fear of being ridiculed. Sadly, too many of our classrooms are toxic and not reading ready and this needs to be corrected. Let us be intentional this Read Across Jamaica Day. Intentional requires follow up after the cameras are switched off. Intentional requires transformational and instructional leadership. Undoubtedly, the reservoir of knowledge to address the reading crisis is not confined to any one group. Intentional means creating partnerships and sustaining these partnerships. A culture of reading has the ability to transform any society and improve student learning outcomes. In the words of Barack Obama, reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #ReadAcrossJamaicaDay #ReadingIsFun #Literacy