Emotional intelligence is just as essential as academic knowledge, yet it often takes a back seat in our education system.

We’ve been focused on teaching students a wide range of subjects, preparing them to excel in exams and secure high-paying jobs. But what about equipping them to manage their emotions, cope with stress, or resolve conflicts? If we don’t prioritise emotional intelligence in schools, we risk setting up our children for failure — not in exams, but in life. The violence, bullying, and mental health struggles we see in Jamaica’s classrooms are not isolated incidents; they reflect a deeper issue — the critical gap in our education system when it comes to teaching emotional well-being, empathy, and effective communication.

The Crisis We Can’t Ignore

I am deeply disturbed by the relentless reports of schoolchildren resorting to violence against one another. It is beyond troubling that our educational spaces, which should be places of growth and learning, are marred by incidents of students wielding weapons and inflicting harm on their peers.

Recent news reports offer sobering reminders of the escalating violence among Jamaica’s youth. In April 2014, a tragic incident unfolded at Irwin High School in St James, where a 14-year-old was arrested for fatally stabbing a 15-year-old schoolmate following an altercation. Similarly, in May 2020, in Manchester, a 17-year-old boy was charged with the murder of a 20-year-old female student, Akeilia White. More recently, in October 2024, a 16-year-old student was hospitalised after being stabbed by a schoolmate during an altercation at Porus High School, allegedly during a dispute over $200.

These are not just one-off cases. A glance at recent history paints a troubling picture. In 2023, the Jamaica Observer reported a disturbing case involving a grade 8 student, Jahiem Colman, who was beaten unconscious by a grade 11 student. The altercation allegedly started after Jaheim accidentally stepped on the older student’s Clarks shoes. Moreover, in May 2024, Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams reported 55 violence-related incidents between January 2022 and 2023 at 50 schools — 15 primary schools and 35 high schools.

And what of those not reported? This pattern of escalating conflict in schools calls for urgent intervention.

In response to this crisis, Minister Williams has outlined several prevention efforts to combat escalating school violence. Her plans include a Safety and Security Policy that implements physical security measures, such as student bag searches and training programmes for staff to help them recognise warning signs.

The plan also emphasises counselling for at-risk students; developing crisis and emergency plans; and assigning roles for students, parents, and the community to resolve conflicts constructively. Additionally, school resource officers (SRO) will conduct searches upon request, perform regular school visits, patrol surrounding areas before and after school, and monitor transport town centres to deter loitering.

However, while these initiatives are steps in the right direction, they mainly address the symptoms of violence rather than its root causes. Security measures alone cannot equip students with the emotional skills needed to manage their feelings and resolve conflicts before they escalate. True change will only occur when we focus on building emotional intelligence and conflict resolution training.

As a leadership consultant I’ve seen first-hand how emotional intelligence shapes leaders’ success. Leaders with high emotional intelligence can handle conflicts more efficiently, manage stress effectively, and inspire their teams. Now, imagine if we equip students with these skills early on. The impact on their academic success and potential future leaders would be profound and set them up for excellence in school and life.

What is Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is not a buzzword — it’s a survival skill. The father of emotional intelligence, Daniel Goleman, defines it as the ability to recognise, understand, and manage our emotions and those of others.

Those with high emotional intelligence are better equipped to communicate, empathise, and resolve conflicts. Unfortunately, many adults struggle with these skills and often encounter misunderstandings and escalated tensions in their interactions. So how can we reasonably expect children and youth to develop these essential emotional competencies without structured guidance?

Emotional intelligence comprises four key abilities:

1) Self-awareness: This involves recognising and understanding one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and values. It enables individuals to comprehend how their feelings affect their thoughts and behaviour.

2)Self-management: This refers to regulating and managing one’s emotions, especially in stressful situations. It includes skills like impulse control, adaptability, and a positive outlook, allowing individuals to respond constructively to challenges.

3) Social awareness: This involves recognising and understanding the emotions of others. It includes empathy, which helps individuals tune into the feelings and needs of those around them to develop better interpersonal relationships.

4) Relationship management: This involves the skills required to build and maintain healthy relationships. It includes effective communication, conflict resolution, teamwork, and positively influencing others.

What Jamaica Needs to Do

We don’t have to reinvent the wheel. In the United States, United Kingdom, and the Netherlands, social and emotional learning (SEL) programmes are becoming the norm, and they’ve shown measurable success in reducing bullying and improving academic outcomes. Jamaica can and should follow suit.

A study revealed that students who participated in SEL programmes showed improved social and emotional skills, better attitudes, enhanced behaviour, and improved academic performance, with an average 11-percentile point gain in academic achievement compared to non-participants.

The first meta-analysis study involved 213 SEL programmes as well as 270,034 students from kindergarten through high school. The study also noted that teachers with strong social-emotional competencies contribute to a more positive learning environment, which enhances the effectiveness of SEL interventions. Consequently, ongoing professional development is recommended for teachers to build their capacity to teach emotional intelligence.

The Way Forward

It’s time for our education system to reflect the full scope of what it means to be prepared for life. We must develop programmes that explicitly teach students how to manage their emotions, engage in empathy, and resolve conflicts. These could be integrated into existing subjects or introduced as standalone modules.

Teacher training is also crucial. Our educators must be equipped to teach emotional intelligence and model and reinforce it in the classroom. They should be able to recognise when students are struggling emotionally and know how to support them. However, the ministry must provide the right resources for this to happen.

If we continue to ignore the emotional development of our youth, we’ll only see more violence, more mental health crises, and more disengaged students. The Ministry of Education must act now to make emotional intelligence a core part of the Jamaican school experience.

Dr Shalieka Burris is an academic literacy lecturer at the University of Technology, Jamaica. She is a leadership consultant specialising in teamwork development, emotional intelligence, and organisational growth. She is also a trained guidance counsellor. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or Shalieka.Burris@utech.edu.jm.