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

“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”- Ezekiel 18:4. Soul ties are formed any time and every time there is intimacy in a relationship. Soul ties are a form of spiritual bondage that both Believers and Nonbelievers fall prey to. The concept of a "soul tie" from certain religious and spiritual perspectives suggests a powerful, lasting spiritual bond created through sexual intimacy, which is seen as a covenant. In this view, engaging in sexual activity with multiple partners (a "high body count") is believed to weaken these soul ties with each encounter, leaving fragments of each partner's "soul" with the individual. This can result in a feeling of spiritual or emotional damage, as the person's spiritual "resource" is distributed among many partners. The conversations surrounding soul ties have been ongoing. Each person has a different understanding...

Bullying is the intentional act to belittle and dehumanize an individual. Bullying takes on various forms from cyber bullying to bullying in schools. Bullying inflicts deep-seated emotional and psychological harm that can last a lifetime resulting in low self-esteem, decreased academic performance and social isolation. Sadly, there is a permissive culture of bullying where bullying behaviours are tolerated, normalized and even rewarded. As a result, many turn a blind eye to this crippling and debilitating social issue. The historical and systemic inequalities in the education system lend themselves to anxiety and depression for stakeholders. Therefore, it should come as no surprises that there is an uptick in deaths by suicide among Jamaican students. Many students feel unsupported and overwhelmed. In 2022, 64 suicides were recorded, moving up from 51 in 2021. Males continue to outnumber females regarding suicides. We oftentimes discount the psychological well being of our students. ...

“One of the penalties of refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”- Plato. The general elections are over. The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been returned to government with a reduced number of seats in the Lower House of Parliament at 35. The People’s National Party (PNP) however doubled their seats to 28. The Dr.Andrew Holness led Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been re-elected to form the Government for a record third consecutive term in the party’s history, following victory in the General Election held on Wednesday (September 3), while, the Mark Golding led People’s National Party will once again be in opposition for a third consecutive term. Both political parties engaged in a robust and spirited campaign. Both political parties were able to bring out hundreds of supporters to their various rallies across the length and breadth of Jamaica. Importantly, the size at a political rally is not a true indicator regarding which party wi...

“It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a child with autism to raise the consciousness of the village.”- Coach Elaine Hall. There remain a lot of unknown elements to autism. As a result, autism continues to be surrounded in a culture of myths, superstition and misconceptions. Regrettably, since the start of this year we have had the deaths of a number of autistic children, one boy was found in a pit in the back of his yard and another discovered in a locked car. Unfortunately, there is also much stigma and discrimination regarding those who are in the autistic community. Many parents of autistic children are frustrated. Among the reasons for such frustration are access and affordability to get autistic children enrolled in schools. Evidently, there are not adequate spaces within the public education system to accommodate autistic children. The cost associated for private tuition for autistic children can be prohibitive. Additionally, the situation in the rural areas is worse...

Alarmingly, it is estimated that 720,000 suicides occur per year worldwide. Suicide remains a devastating global and public health issue. More Jamaicans are committing suicide. In 2022, 64 suicides were recorded, moving up from 51 in 2021. Males continue to outnumber females regarding suicides. World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is observed annually on September 10. The day is set aside to raise global awareness and spur action to prevent suicides. Importantly, the day was established by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2003. This year’s theme is “Changing the narrative on suicide.” Is there a need to change the narrative? Changing the narrative is critical in fostering a culture of empathy and compassion for those who are struggling with their mental health. In a culture that is quick to judge, changing the narrative means listening and guiding individuals where possible towards help. There exists a myriad of...

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...