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

The word ‘dunce’ has always had a fixed address in our local lexicon. The summer holidays are almost over, yet the narrative associated with the ‘dunce’ culture will be carried over into the new academic year, especially since the most recent release of both the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) as well as the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination results. The word “dunce” itself was imported during colonial education systems, used to debase Africans who struggled with imposed European languages and cultural norms. Unfortunately, in post colonial societies, the word ‘dunce’ is still be used to divide, segregate, devalue the citizenry. The glorification of “dunce culture” is not unique to Jamaica but resonates in the broader Caribbean region where education, class and cultural identity intersect. Undoubtedly, Jamaica’s global cultural influence amplifies the culture of dunce. We often underestimate the power and force of our popular culture to our detriment. Gone ar...

“Education is the medium by which a people are prepared for the creation of their own particular civilization, and the advancement and glory of their own race.”- Marcus Garvey. We often talk about education as a right; however, there are many barriers to access and this is problematic. The result is quality education is often linked to one’s wealth. August 17 is the 139th anniversary of the birth of National Hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Each year a number of events are held to commemorate Garvey’s birth. One of the most noticeable events is that of the annual lecture. This year’s lecture was given by Professor Donna Hope of the University of the West Indies and held at Liberty Hall in Kingston. Even while we sat and listened attentively to the professor, there are a number of questions we must ask ourselves, such as, what is the impact of the structural inequalities of the current education system which provides different outcomes to different students based on social indicators. Anoth...

Cronyism in education circles is palpable. Cronyism in education is not a localized problem; it is a widespread systemic issue across diverse political, economic and cultural landscapes. There are numerous intersectionalities regarding education. One of the least visible is that of cronyism. Cronyism in education is pervasive in global education systems. Unfortunately, as a society we have normalized this social ill to the detriment of our students. The interrogation of this societal issue should not be divorced from the configuration of society which is structured along hierarchical indicators, such as social class, sex and religious affiliations. Cronyism in education refers to the manner in which educational opportunities, resources, positions and advantages are distributed through personal connections, favoritism, family ties, political influence, or social status rather than through merit and fairness. Cronyism occurs at all levels of the education system. Many qualified teacher...

“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...