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

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty- Psalm 91:1 Do you agree that the times are changing? Perhaps it is better to say the times have changed. The world is at a crossroads; it is a defining moment. Prior to #COVID19 the previous defining moment was "9/11". The world has never been the same since the horrors of September 11, 2001. Those of us privileged to have travelled before "9/11" can compare the before and after.   Our world as we know it has once again changed forever; nothing will ever be the same again after the novel coronavirus pandemic. We now live in a dispensation characterized by social and physical distancing. Staying at home is driving many folks up the proverbial wall. Many people are on edge given the directives and in some instances mandatory commands for us to remain at home for the collective good of the wider society and for ourselves. It is a most challenging time for so many folks ...

“Autism is not a disability, it’s a different ability.”- Stuart Duncan World Autism Awareness Day is observed globally each year on April 2. The day is sanctioned by United Nations to highlight the struggles and achievements of those living with autism. The theme of World Autism Awareness Day is The Transition to Adulthood . It is estimated that worldwide one in 68 children has autism. According to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, “people with autism have a right to education and employment on an equal basis with others. We must ensure that a long disruption caused by the #COVID19 crisis does not result in rollbacks of the rights they have worked so hard to advance.” According to the World Health Organization, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to a range of conditions characterized by some degree of impaired social behaviour, communication and language, and a narrow range of interests and activities that are both unique to the individual and carried...

Ever since my colleague and friend shared his news I have had knots in my stomach. Our friendship can be traced to our university days on the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies.   We formally met while doing the University course: The Making of Ideas in the Americas (UC25X). Anton, (not his real name) is a father of two. He lives in Pennsylvania, United States of America along with his wife.   At age 58 he does not have any underlying health conditions. This diagnosis does not come as a surprise since Anton’s full time job is that of a nursing assistant in a nursing home. He also works part time caring for an elderly HIV positive and dialysis patient. As a health care worker, Anton’s job places him on the frontline against the battle of COVID19. Anton shared that his symptoms began Saturday, March 21. He revealed that he had a temperature of 101:5 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, he had a headache, was coughing and had the chills. Realizing that something was wr...

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14 The world is going through a pandemic the likes of which we have never seen before.   Many of us are searching for answers. In some areas of the globe there is a shortage of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), food, medical equipment, such as ventilators and basic grocery items, yet our Redeemer Lives. More than 500,000 individuals across the globe have been infected by the coronavirus or #COVID19; and more than 22,000 deaths have been recorded worldwide. Italy, with a population of 60 million people has recorded more deaths due to COVID19 than all of China with a population of 1.3 billion.   An Italian doctor treating patients at the center of the worst coronavirus outbreak in Europe has issued a stark warning to other countries yet ...

The roof comes alive at night Staring at the white ceiling, sleep interrupted. Someone, something is there, Walking, prancing on the zinc roof. Unnerving! Extremely eerie! Helpless! Afraid?   No! The roof is speaking but the language is unknown, Unknown but understood. Something strange is happening, for weeks and months. The roof party occurs at various hours, Without notice or regards for the occupants The roof speaks. The communication is weird Consecutive nights, early mornings too The stillness of the night, broken by tiny feet like movements across the ceiling Searching for answers; uninvited guests. The roof is alive. Loud marching movements, at times more subdued.   Listen for yourself, did you hear? The sounds are audible The frequency has increased. Unable to distinguish the reasons for these nocturnal movements I know you heard it too, listen to your roof tonight. The roof is alive! - Wayne Campbell © #WorldPoetryDay2020 #Jamaica...

“Teachers need to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum instead of viewing it as an add-on, an afterthought, or an event.”  -  Heidi-Hayes Jacobs The coronavirus continues to upend all aspects of our lives. We live and operate in a globalized context and as such what happens in one area of the world has implications for all of us. This interdependency is clearly seen in the escalation of the coronavirus around the globe. Our lives are intertwined in this digital age. Unfortunately, there is a significant subset of the population who are technologically disadvantaged; not everyone have internet access.   The Jamaican government recently announced the closure of the nation’s schools given the global pandemic of the coronavirus or COVID19. At a press conference at Jamaica House on Thursday, March 12, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that schools will be closed on March 13, 2020 for 14 days. The statement added that during that time, the situation will b...

“Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.”- Nelson Mandela Historically and culturally women’s voices have been muted. In many societies women are discriminated against and misogyny goes unchecked. It is for this very reason that we applaud those visionaries behind International Women’s Day, who have sought it fitting to create such a platform to advocate for women’s rights. It has been more than two decades since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, yet gender equality for women continue to be elusive. The truth is some women are better off on the continuum towards gender equality than are other women. Women in Europe, Canada, the United States of America and the Scandinavian countries have progressed much further than women in the Arab and African societies where women’s rights are seen as a threat to the power that men wield in such societies. This power is rooted in the ideology of patriarchy. Patriarchy is everywhere ...