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

“Indigenous Peoples around the world continue to face overwhelming marginalization, discrimination and exclusion. Rooted in colonialism and patriarchy, these profound disparities are sustained by a deeply held resistance to recognizing and respecting the rights, dignity, and freedoms of indigenous peoples. Throughout modern history, indigenous peoples have been robbed of their lands and territories, of their political and economic autonomy, and even of their own children. Their cultures and languages have been denigrated and extinguished.” – United Nations Secretary General António Guterres. Did you know Indigenous Peoples make up less than 6% of the global population, but they represent at least 15% of the extremely poor? Indigenous Peoples' territories encompass 28% of the surface of the globe and contain 11% of the world’s forests. They are guardians of most of the world’s remaining biodiversity. Indigenous Peoples have always been marginalized. The United Nations (UN) estimat...

The term Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the technological world by storm in the last few years. The technology, though not necessarily ‘new’, can organize meeting agendas, design both buildings and vehicles, produce illustrations, manage calendars, and formulate work schedules. Additionally, AI is able to make businesses, educational entities, justice systems and even churches more efficient in their day- to- day functions. Though these functionalities have been around for many years, the advancement in the technology is now being sold to the public as a game-changing tool that will revolutionize how we learn, create and carry out tasks. Importantly, with every new technological phenomenon, there are moral and ethical concerns regarding how it will be used especially in nefarious ways that can be harmful to people. The overreliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a cause for concern. While we acknowledge the benefits of artificial intelligence in our daily lives there are al...

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”- Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela is a global icon. Although many of us have never met this man it feels as if we have known him all our lives. Mandela was not haughty nor was he caught up with power. He could have easily held on to power once he became president of South Africa. But, he did not, he walked away. Mandela lived his life in the public’s view. Whether it was his unjust imprisonment, or his family life he was always in the public’s domain for all to see. Mandela was a statesman with a strong spirit of forgiveness. His eloquence and decorum placed him in a category above all others. His voice was not course, but his presence was monumental...

“Unlocking the full potential of younger generations requires massive investment in inclusive quality education and training. Closing the skills gap can help create decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods at scale. ”- UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Alarmingly, 273 million children and young people are out of school. In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day , to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. This year’s theme is "Skills for a Shared Future." The global observance focuses on empowering young people with the technical, AI, digital, green, and social-emotional skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing labor market and drive sustainable development. This global observance highlights the role of youth as change makers in building inclusive and resilient societies. The United Nations (UN) states, the world of work is changing rapidl...

Many demographers argue that the world is entering a global population crisis. The challenge is more complex because different regions face opposite problems at the same time. In 2025, falling fertility rates are making global headlines, with some governments warning of a “population collapse” and introducing drastic policies to boost births. Since 1990, World Population Day has been observed on July 11. This year's World Population Day theme is "Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people today and for the future. " This year’s theme highlights how young people's decisions about education, employment, housing, relationships, and family life are increasingly influenced by the cities they inhabit. Two-thirds of the global population now lives in areas where fertility rates are below 2.1 children per woman the threshold needed to keep population size stable. In the early 1970s, women had on average 4.5 children each; by 2015, total fertility for the world h...

"Milima haikutani, lakini binadamu hukutana." Translation: Mountains do not meet, but humans do. Meaning: You never know who you will meet again in life. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), there are approximately 8,324 known languages globally, but only around 7,000 are still in use today. Kiswahili is more than a language; it is a vessel of African identity, unity, and culture. Kiswahili is one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa and the world, with over 200 million speakers. Kiswahili is a vital tool of communication and integration across East, Central, and Southern Africa, and serves as an official language of the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the East African Community (EAC). World Kiswahili Language Day is observed annually on July 7. This year’s theme is “Kiswahili for Peace, Solidarity and Global Economic Diplomacy. ” This theme focuses on how Kiswahili...

Graduation exercises are rooted in a culture where students become props in a performance meant to validate a flawed education system rather than to celebrate the achievements of students. Let us not fool ourselves; graduation exercises at both the primary and secondary levels of the education system are not about the graduates. Graduations are special events. What happens after the flash of the cameras go quiet, the balloons burst and the crowd disperses? In many instances, graduations are viewed as rites of passage. Rites of passage are important indicators of transition culminating in adulthood. Graduations are often grounded in great expectations not only for the graduates but also for their parents, guardians and well wishers. Many graduates over the years of formal schooling develop strong connections to both their educational institutions and friends. Formal schooling is much more than academics and scholarships. Life-long friendships are often cemented in the hallowed avenu...

Did you know that nearly half of the world’s forests are located in the tropics? The Tropics have just over half of the world’s renewable water resources (54%), yet almost half their population is considered vulnerable to water stress. The Tropics are a region of the Earth, roughly defined as the area between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of Capricorn. As of mid 2026, the global population living in the tropics is estimated at around 3.3–3.5 billion people, representing roughly 40% of the world’s total population of 8.3 billion. This share is expected to keep rising as demographic growth in tropical regions (Asia, Africa, Latin America) outpaces that of temperate zones. Although topography and other factors contribute to climatic variation, tropical locations are typically warm and experience little seasonal change in day-to-day temperature. An important feature of the Tropics is the prevalence of rain in the moist inner regions near the equator, and that the seasonality of ...

Disability inclusion for the disabled community is often a myth than reality. Persons with deafblindness face unique and often overlooked barriers that have rendered them largely invisible in data, policies and the public discourse. These barriers limit access to education, healthcare, employment, and social participation. On Monday, 16 June 2025, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution titled “International Day of Deafblindness” officially proclaiming 27 June as the International Day of Deafblindness . The date was chosen to honour the birthday of Helen Keller (1880–1968), the pioneering American author, educator, and activist who was deafblind a figure whose legacy continues to inspire millions around the world. The International Day of Deafblindness serves as a global movement to recognize deafblindness as a distinct, unique disability rather than a simple combination of vision and hearing loss. The theme for the International Day of Deafblindness is ...

Historically, women were largely excluded from formal diplomatic roles and international decision-making processes. However, the narrative has changed over time. Women have broken barriers and expanded their presence across diplomatic services, international organizations, peace processes, and multilateral negotiations. Their contributions have strengthened efforts to promote peace, security, development, and human rights around the world. Interestingly, women were key contributors who played essential parts in shaping the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) for the first time in human history spells out basic civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that all human beings men and women alike should enjoy. Despite this progress, women remain underrepresented in many diplomatic and political leadership positions, highlighting the need for continued action to achieve equal participation and representation. The United Nations (UN) states that women remain underrep...

"Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women and men who leave or who are forced to leave their homes for various reasons."- Pope Francis. The world is witnessing the highest levels of displacement on record. At the end of 2018, an unprecedented 70.8 million people around the world were forced from their homes by conflict and persecution. Among them are nearly 30 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18. There are also millions of stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement. Refugees are among the most vulnerable people in the world. The 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol help protect them. They are the only global legal instruments explicitly covering the most important aspects of a refugee’s life. According to their provisions, refugees deserve, as a minimum, the same standards of treatment enjoy...

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder. That means it is passed down from a parent’s genes. It causes the body to make abnormal hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to all parts of your body. When you have SCD, your body’s tissues and organs do not get enough oxygen. Sickle cell disease is a lifelong condition. Healthy red blood cells are round and move easily all over the body. With SCD, the red blood cells are hard and sticky. They are shaped like the letter C (and like a farm tool called a sickle). These damaged red blood cells (sickle cells) clump together. Sickle Cell Traits versus Disease . People who have sickle cell trait inherited a hemoglobin S gene from only one parent. They inherited a normal gene from their other parent. People with sickle cell trait typically do not have any symptoms of sickle cell disease. However, ongoing research may show that these people may have symptoms. Importantly, they can pass on the ab...

In recent times differentiated instruction has become the poster child in educational circles. Differentiated instruction is a teaching approach that tailors curriculum, teaching methods, and learning activities to individual student needs. While the learning objective remains the same for the entire class, students are given multiple options regarding how they access content, process information, and demonstrate their mastery. This ‘waggonist’ approach to pedagogic discourse runs counter to the culture of standardized testing, a common feature of global education systems. As educators, we recognize and give credit to differentiation but let it not be said that differentiation is a panacea to all the short-comings of the education system. In an attempt to over simplify lessons for struggling learners, educators may unintentionally lower academic standards and even abandon those students who are over-achievers. Unfortunately, the abandonment of over-achievers in our education system i...

For many of us the ocean is distant and far-removed from our daily realities. For too long this narrative has been normalized and we have treated the ocean as separate from us. However, the ocean is a major part of us, in the air we breathe, the food we eat and the climate that makes our lives possible. Oceans absorb about 30% of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the impacts of global warming. World Ocean Day is an annual global celebration held on June 8th that highlights the vital role the oceans play in sustaining life on Earth and promotes collective action to protect marine environments. Established by the United Nations (UN), the day unites millions of people in over 180 countries to advocate for a healthy ocean and stable climate. The ocean covers over 70% of the planet. It is our life source, supporting humanity’s sustenance and that of every other organism on earth. The ocean produces at least 50% of the planet’s oxygen, it is home to most of earth’s biodiversit...

Too often, the right to a healthy environment and the duty to protect our ecological heritage is betrayed. World Environment Day is perhaps the biggest international day for the environment. The day is observed annually on June 5. Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and held annually since 1973, it has grown to be the largest global platform for environmental outreach. The Earth is already speaking to us through record-breaking temperatures, more intense wildfires, extreme storms and glaciers disappearing before our eyes. The United Nations is correct, for years, we have said that limiting global warming to 1.5°C is essential to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. Today, that threshold is dangerously close to being exceeded and every fraction of a degree matters. Climate change is no longer a future threat: it is reshaping life across the planet. Yet another force is also gaining momentum: collective action. Communities are restoring ecosystems. Young ...

The transformative impact of the bicycle is frequently overlooked. The bicycle is often referred to as the “people's nag.” The bicycle earned the nickname “the people’s nag” because it democratized transportation. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries it liberated the working class from relying on expensive horses known colloquially as "nags," providing an affordable, lightweight, and accessible way for ordinary people to travel freely under their own power. The technology that ushered in the bicycle over two hundred years ago was hugely disruptive. There are some who will argue that the advent of the bicycle is equivalent to that of artificial intelligence (AI) in today’s world. The Englishman John Kemp Starley is generally credited with inventing the modern bicycle. In 1885 the 30-year-old inventor began experimenting in his Coventry workshop with a chain-driven bicycle featuring two much smaller wheels. After testing several prototypes, he came up with the Rover ...