Since 2006, The Ministries of Education Technology through the e-Learning Project has been promoting the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in the classroom as tool to enhance the learning experience for students and improve their grades.
Through initiatives of the Government several Jamaicans now have access to a computer with internet facilities. Companies like Cable & Wireless and Flow has donated computers and/or given free internet access to schools, community clubs, organisations and cyber centres as well.
Obviously we have recognised the advantages the computer and Internet can have on the productivity of our society. More specifically, the Internet is a great tool to enhance our students learning through online communication and research. However, the Internet can be a very dangerous place for our children as they are vulnerable to identity theft and Internet fraud, cyberbullying, trojans and viruses, spywares, and spams.
Late in 2007 I conducted a non-scientific survey with some Jamaicans to glean how much they know about Internet safety and security. I was alarmed to glean that so many of us know little or nothing about these potential dangers that exist on the web.
Many Jamaicans are already victims of Internet fraud. In fact like many children, I have been conned by foreigners, Nigerians especially soliciting help to retrieve a lump sum of money that a dead relative left. Funny enough, I have even won the lotto on several occasions.
With each Jamaican owing US$7,920 I could have paid for my entire family more thank three times. Surely, we all could have relieved Jamaica’s debt burden if these were true.
It’s only a matter of time before we hear that several cases of rape and abduction have been made possible by social networking websites such as Hi5, Facebook and MySpace.
At present little or nothing is been done by the Government or Private Sector to raise awareness about the dangers which exist so young people can use the Internet more responsibly. I am delighted that the focus of the 2008/2009 budget is youth. However, the revitalisation of youth clubs, and uniformed groups is not the only thing needed to safeguard the future for youth. A cut of the budget must be used for proactive approaches, rather than continuing our reactive and shortsighted tendencies all the time.
In lieu of this, I recommend that out of the budget expenditure a new unit be established in either Ministries charged with the responsibility of developing promotional materials and planning seminars, conferences and other initiatives to sensitise Jamaicans (youth especially) about the dangers that exist and how they can protect themselves.
I am,
Jaevion Nelson
Chairman, Caribbean Youth Summit Association (CYSA)
Besides the fact that several of our teachers are far from computer literate, the e-Learning Jamaica Project which should have cost the Government millions of dollars is a year behind schedule. Late last year I made contact with a school which is a part of the thirty odd schools involved in the pilot project and learned they are still to receive their computers.
Seriously, how long should we continue to finance failed policies? How much longer can we embrace this sort of attitude from our political representatives? If we are to truly be that technologically efficient country that we hope to be, and certainly a criteria for entry into the realm of first world country then we ought to do much better. It is ripe time that politicians realise that they have an accountability to the people of Jamaica who have elected them. Then again, we love and embrace the falseness of their every move that we fail to see the trickster in them all.
I am so embarrassed when I must intercourse with my friends from Pakistan, India, Netherlands, Philippines and England in the technological arena. I am often times treated like a tech geek with my friends here, with them just a rookie.
We lack the level of science and technology education that will drive our industries and produce some growth in GDP. If we really hope to grow and be able to finance our debts and increase standard of living so that not everyone can be rich but certainly wont be poor - then it means for this budget debate we must see a heavy portion of expenditures dedicated to improving our technology.
Laugh, I am sure this was the remark of several members of the business and uptown community when they read a Letter to the Editor of The Gleaner written by Kerrian Douse of March Pen Road in Spanish Town, St. Catherine on March 24.
My dear Jamaican friend (whom I have never met) was like every concerned citizen giving her solution to the crime problem in Jamaica. By 2010 all Jamaicans will be expert strategist on the matter of solving crime. But unfortunately, Jamaica will be in a more serious situation if young people like Kerrian’s voice is given no attention.
I must agree with her, that sending boys and girls in a volatile community to play football or netball is no way to solve the problem of crime and violence. Yes, it teaches them to work together but who knows more about working together than people protecting their turf? Perhaps we should paint a mural in a community - how can this encourage people to desist from stealing or fighting. This is what I call absurd, not the idea of giving people from the ghetto scholarships.
I can’t recall who I had a discussion with that the solution is far deeper than many of our current practices realise. For one, I strongly believe that the entire Jamaican populace is angry. Teachers, nurses, students, parents, government, business men and women are nothing but just angry. The point of the matter is, persons from the garrisons are often times angry because they have no one to emulate, they see no hope - no future. All they see is a society that alienates, characterize and discriminate them.
Can these children be happy that their parents are no older than 25 and they can hardly afford to attend school? Can they in all that gloom beam from the juxtaposition of a sense of hopelessness and their abilities and/or willingness to achieve something good?
It is time we take some of the money that we spend to school middle and upper class children and dedicate it to a fund for garrison communities. Needless, to say there must be checks and balances to make sure that the program is working and achieving its said objectives of giving hope to a people that will turn the tables.
So, as concerned Jamaicans as we all want to portray ourselves let us commit to the cause of nation building. Give a dollar a day. (1 x 365 = 365 x 2million = $730,000,000)
Early sex is certianly not a new fad and children are fully aware of that. In fact many of us are products of teenage mothers or parents who were in a sexual relationship in high school.
Quite recently, a number of sex clips have been surfacing the internet. Every parent must be living in fear, wondering when they will hear or perhaps see their child on ‘de tape’. In fact I am sure my mother prays everyday that my little sister is not having sex and certinaly wont be one of the rising stars. I was far from shocked to learn that video of a girl performing oral sex at my alma mater surfaced or rather was leaked to the Principal.
Not too long ago Betty-Ann Blaine in discussion with a caller on her daytime programme ‘On the Agenda’ about this high school students hobby recording sexual scenes deemed these explicit acts abominable, unacceptable, and unjust in the sight of God.
But do teenagers really care what any of us think? Of course not! When I expressed my shock with one teenager from a school in Manchester who sent me some clips he was quick to let me know that the technology has only made these occurrences more blatant. He highlighted that we were all having sex and we must stop pretending.
Does this mean that if we begin to approach our high school problems with more ‘livity’ as we may call it - our policies and intervention programs might begin to have more purpose? Perhaps we will never know.
We are all so quick to attack these students for enjoying themselves to the point that we stigmatise them, but none of us have taken responsibility of lynching the media for sensationalising these incidences.
The media have a major role to play in society and a responsibility to the public. But we have all become so profit focussed that even the best of us with National Honours and respect have lost focus. Now can we really blame these children? Think about it.
In all the articles I have read sorrounding these happenings not once I have I seen a call for students to use a condom, talk to a responsible adult or peer about what they are doing or even to speak with a teenager and find out why all this really happens. And to make an even more bigger impact charge the relevant stakeholders to look into the issue differently.
Now who are we to blame? Let’s point fingers on the media, the education ministry, guidance counsellors, parents, churches, businesses, and schools. I say let’s blame the damn society! Who makes it up? All of us.
Why are we all so important to this process of so called communication and behaviour change modification? What should we really do? Sit and continue to curse students who hav sex? Tell them that sex is something that should be of value between two - when so much of us sleep around? Com’on let’s be real for once!
I agree that the issue of students having sex at school or at home is one that must be taken seriously, but certainly not the way in which we have been going about it over the years.
Let’s talk about sex now! And I say do it before it’s too late. Before we even try to educate children about all these fears we have why they shouldnt have sex - we must tell them about it. Young people need as much information about sex and sexuality from an early age so they can begin to make more informed decisions.
Really, why are Jamaicans so afraid to talk about sex and sexuality? Why cant we be open about it? Yes it is a private activity - so what? I am sure morals and the Bible permits discourse on the matter and even if it didnt you wouldnt automatically be banished to hell. So my friends, there is no need for us to go back to the days of telling our children that mommy has a tomato (instead of saying vagina) and daddy has a plantain (why not penis?).
Do you realise how silly we are? As Nadia Howe, CEO at the May Pen Hospital expressed to me in a conversation recently - it makes no sense for us to tell young people not to do this and that and not speak to them openly.
One student from a prominent all girls school in Montego Bay also shared with me that “it doesnt really matter how much abstinence is preached it all boils down to personal choice.”
So how can we influence personal choice? Tell them about sex or shove things under the carpet? According to Andrew Francis, Convenor of the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN) “thats the only way they (young people) can make informed choices about such when they are given the necessary information.”
Francis highlighted that information sharing is important to influencing personal choice because “curiousity and adventure may lead them to get involved in high risk sexuality activity even without information about sex, sexuality, benefits of delaying sexual activity or protecting one’s self in the case that you cannot abstain.”
Ahhh bwoy .. when are we seriously gonna get with it … abortion has been illegal since forever, and what has been the result of these hundreds of unwanted pregnancies that are unplanned for … a society that we are all so worried about and deem everything generation X does abominable, frightening … oh lord .. this is too much to bare. lol - for crying out loud .. let’s create a balance between the juxtaposition of moral (of the old time) and science non-fiction.
Seriously, from the first time I heard the abortion debate I was of one darn view .. allow it to be legal .. and might I add the policy changes had it quite down pact - so I don’t think we should have a problem. So the issue of unsafe abortion was well considered in the amendments proposed. And all the religious persons on Dione Jackson Miller’s ‘Beyond the Headlines’ that afternoon were so uninformed about what they were saying .. to purport arguments that a young person like myself should take them seriously.
I think what has become our problem though is that opposing an issue is a great way of fame … and as such what better one to jump on so we get featured in the media?
My friend Gordon - took my thought - he proposed that churches (who are the most vocal on the issue take responsibility for the children being born)…
The reality is we cant take care of all these kids and we dont want them … if YOUTH for LIFE (The Young People Movement spearheading this demonstration) will agree to adopting these kids whose parents couldn’t abort the pregnancy then they have my full support in making abortion illegal — I will personally go and march with them down to Gordon House the day when the law/policy is being tabled before parliament. But the sad reality is the church ain’t doing crap — those young people don’t even want to witness to soul which is their responsibility as a child of God to even consider taking up parenting - the worlds most time consuming career of all times … Moreover, many churches have been having problems sustaining their outreach programmes in communities
People its time for us all to get real .. or maybe i just wasn’t made for the damn backward third world thinking.
Why are we all so appalled when we hear stories of sex and violence at school .. I have completed high school a long time and its nothing new to me. Ever since 97 it was happening at my school- there was sex in the bushes, classroom, buses, teachers dorms, playfield and even in the tree.
So let’s really remove ourselves from this static position we are in when we hear of these things and face the harsh reality we must now live with. Thats why first world countries will forever be progressive … they face the harsh realities of time and they just roll with it… instead we talk about the stupid ‘good ole days’ when a parent from up the road could beat your child and he/she dare not tell you in the evening if he/she hopes to be spared from a second round!
How ridiculous! And let’s realise that we cant go back there … So time to move on into 2008.
Our problems at school and home are a multiplicity of factors and none of it will ever be dealt with if we continue to hide the truth from ourselves, fail to listen to those affected, continue take this top notch approach to bandaid everything … and - i wont continue to list all we have been doing wrong …
But seriously, school or rather education seems to be the hot topic for 2008 … textbooks removed a second time … condoms in school, school sex tapes, corporal punishment banned in schools at all levels, teachers and principals to get police training … lol (laugh out loud) - wow seems making high school tuition free was a good move! We have all taken special interest in it, put the minister under pressure (bwoy Maxine you must be happy) . . . I dont think I would want to be his assistant.
What’s next on the list of things to do for schools?
hmmm .. let’s see .. how about:
1) proper human resource strategies to motivate teachers (esp. the ones who just in the job to get a salary)
2) remove suspension and expulsion
3) remove teachers who continue year on year off to have even 50% passses
4) change the old guidance counsellors - who are guiding us on the sole basis of morals
5) allow all students take every subject at high school - its not the teachers decision to decide who is ready for cxc (at least thats our excuse) - stop protecting school image
6) introduce alternative learning in schools - skills, dj, music mixing, graphic design, cosmotology, etc
7) compulsory after school hours for studying performing arts programme in all schools
9) pump money into schools sports programmes
Last year, while watching ‘Digicel Rising Stars’ some friends and I got in a heated debate over the poor quality of television ads in Jamaica.
The bluntness of Anthony Miller’s comment was not sufficient enough to stop us from expressing our annoyance. Nor was the melody of any of the ‘rising stars’ a sufficient topic for debate.
How many local advertisements really motivate you to purchase the product?
It is the belief and perhaps a fact that the first department budget to be cut is the marketing department in most companies. Does less money, lessen the level of creativity in our marketers?
A friend held strong to that point. The rest of us believe, creativity is not restricted to money, which may only limit the quality in the production.
Television reaches large audiences, as majority of people spend more time watching TV. However, a commercial not only competes with other commercials but the audience environment.
When do you go to the bathroom, text or call a friend or get something to eat? While watching the movie or during commercial breaks?
Consumers are looking for quality commercials that affect their emotions. Therefore poorly produced ads will not appeal to the audience, thereby causing the advertisement to be ineffective.
Some companies because of their size have far more human and monetary resource than others. Is that reason enough to say the smaller entities cannot compete effectively with the ‘big wigs’?
Edmond Bruneau, Owner of Creative Consultants in Washington and author of the book, Prescription for Advertising outlined some advantages of television advertising:
1. A product or service can gain immediate validity and prominence
2. TV offers the greatest possibility for creative advertising. With a camera, you can take your audience anywhere and show them almost anything
3. TV allows you to reach a large audience
TV has proven its persuasive power in influencing human behavior time and time again.
However, viewers may never see it unless it is creative enough to capture their attention.
Television advertising can be the most effective advertising medium if they are well produced. Businesses therefore, must ensure that they understand those who will spend with them. (Edmond Bruneau, Marketing Series - http://www.sba.gov/library/pubs/mt-11.pdf)
Marketers it makes no sense we advertise and its not capturing our audience attention!
Now, I am not so old but I think local TV in my days, was far more fun to watch than it is now.
‘Lime Tree Lane’, ‘Claffy’, ‘Titus’, and ‘Oliver at Large’ were my favourite local programmes. They were a bellyful to sit and watch with your family. And if you didn’t have a TV home you wouldn’t miss it once your neighbour had a TV. Miss Upton, Titus, Mass Jasper, Bubbles, and of course Oliver Samuels were some good characters to watch.
Missing an episode of ‘Claffy’ was like committing high treason. It was at that time I started missing Sunday night service for no reason but to watch ‘Claffy’.
Although these programs were so seasoned with humour, they taught some important things. They sensitised the entire Jamaica public about our folk forms, dialect, and beliefs – so you could have an appreciation for true Jamaican culture.
I remember how Bubbles in an episode of ‘Lime Tree Lane’ told the people to smile and laugh at the ackees and they would open.
Bwoy, aren’t we a superstitious people?
But of course, her belief mysteriously worked and she got her ackee to sell.
Ms. Upton always behaves as if she is Queen Elizabeth’s sister but wouldn’t stop buying things on credit from Donald’s shop.
“Jamaica’s culture, in the words of former Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, is “the linchpin (key player) that bonds us as a people and is vital to our quality of life”, and like that of any other country, is reflected in everything that we do. Our culture influences and affects our belief systems and the goals we set for our future,” (www.jis.gov.jm)
Look at the difference in the young people today and those who left high school five years ago. To me there is a decline in the appreciation of what makes us Jamaican.
These programs must be aired on TV again, so that people can understand and remember where we are coming from. And most importantly, teach young children about the true Jamaican culture and spirit.
31 community development projects have received grants from the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ).
Representatives from the organizations whose applications have being approved met today (August 22) at the Chemistry Lecture Theatre at the University of the West Indies (UWI) for an orientation session.
Elecia Myers, Technical Support and Services Coordinator said the orientation is a new approach the EFJ has taken in granting organisations money to implement their projects.
The orientation was held to inform the organisations of the role EFJ plays in the implementation of the projects in monitoring and evaluating the success of the different projects and sensitise the organisation about what is required of them as grantees.
The grants are provided to these organisations “so they implement their projects, manage it and identifying other ways they can be funded to sustain the project,” said Karen McDonald Gayle, Programs Manager.
This also “helps in assisting the EFJ in furthering our commitment to the environment and child development,” she said.
Beverley Scott, Executive Director of the Family and Parenting Centre said she is “very hopeful that the Centre will be able to assist more children that we were not able to provide for before we got the grant from EFJ.”
The Family and Parenting Centre is located in Montego Bay and provides counselling, workshops and therapy for families and traumatised children, assists children with learning and behaviour problems, and provides computer skills training for people who are in need of jobs and are without a skill.
“The funding received from the EFJ will help a great deal to beautify the community and enhance the lives of the people in and around the surrounding communities of Lluidas Vale,” said Melton Edwards, President of the Lluidas Vale Community Development Committee who will use the grant to refurbish the community park to enhance its attractiveness.
A team of six coordinators from the EFJ have being appointed to monitor the progress of the projects that are being funded to ensure the objectives of each are achieved.
The next call for papers opens 2nd of March 2008. Watch the EFJ’s website for further information at www.efj.org.jm
I believe that policy makers, academics, analysts and the ‘who’s who’ of society should be silent as on societal issues as simple as condom distribution in schools if they continue to live in the past and fail to accept the paradigm shift.
While it is true that the case of children having sex is not reason enough to distribute condoms in our schools, it gives us no authority to judge a society as unethical, lacking in morals and unchristian-like.
The stories and sermons of an abstinence-only approach is a principle, those who are most vocal about not making condoms accessible in schools would have been taught from the time they were conceived. In those days abstinence talk went as far as driving fear in children that the opposite sex is bad company. Without realizing, we began to cultivate an unhealthy society which we must now come to terms with.
Simultaneously, while this was being taught, girls were still dropping out of school because of early and unintended pregnancy. Has abstinence-only education had any success to date? Of course not! Today, high school girls are still dropping out of school or are ‘lucky’ enough to graduate with a baby on the way. To make it worse, teenagers are now contracting sexually transmitted infections- including HIV which was the leading cause of death amongst Jamaicans 10-24 in 2004.
The manner in which we have all uttered our disgust of the idea and double standard is appalling. The persons who now speak so furiously are the same persons who have been granting access to foreigners into our schools to distribute condoms and dental dams, show us how to use them and educate us on HIV/AIDS and other STIs. Not one was so vocal on this. Is this not the same principle of the compromise of morals that we speak of?
How are we, as influencers and change makers to help, if we continue to confuse those we want to assist?
If we are so opposed to condoms being accessible in schools, let us first reduce open access to condoms. There is no advocacy by these people to prohibit the shop on the corner, or the big store in town from selling ‘early sexers’ packs of condoms. But, why should there be such advocacy when the sale is beneficial to us or them rather? Do we even realize that this is the same injection of compromise on the morals we were taught?
Let the change begin with you. Before you become so vocal on the issue commit yourself to dismiss children who purchase a condom from your store, even if it is for mommy and daddy that you know. Let us scold children who we see purchase condoms. Let us call upon the Broadcasting Commission to ban the showing of lewd sexual content on our local TV between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and, in the same breath reduce the advertising sales dollars that newspaper receive from publishing contact details on ‘massage parlors’.
The time for action is NOW. Whether we make condoms accessible in schools or not these adolescents and youth will continue to have high risk unprotected sex. The measurable outcome of this activity to date is an over populated country where large numbers of children are being born in poor living conditions and without proper parenting, a society riddled with socials ills and the face these HIV/AIDS continuing to be that of a young Jamaica 10 – 24 years.
It is better we give them the option to make the informed decision about abstaining, using a condom or any other relevant contraceptive method.
Make condoms accessible in schools!
**Many of you may be aware of the recent debates sorrounding the whole issue of condom distribution/accessibility and distribution in Jamaican high schools following a press release by Youth Advocate, Lawman Lynch.
performing arts programme in all schools
