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

“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...

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...