Dear Editor,

The Jamaican society is currently grappling with a wide array of social challenges, including rampant lawlessness on our roads, poor financial literacy, inadequate parenting skills, violence, and vulgarity. These social ills threaten our nation’s aspirations of becoming “the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business”.

While the primary responsibility for the socialisation of children lies within the home and the family, it is important to acknowledge that a significant number of Jamaicans originate from dysfunctional homes and families ill-equipped to provide the guidance necessary for societal progress.

Tragically, many such individuals carry antisocial tendencies into adulthood, perpetuating a vicious cycle that continues to hinder national development.

Despite this sobering reality, the Government has a powerful tool at its disposal to assist in addressing some of these pressing social issues — the nation’s education system.

For five days each week, from approximately 7:30 am to 2:00 pm, tens of thousands of children fill classrooms across Jamaica. This presents a unique opportunity to engage a large, captive audience of impressionable youth in ways that could intentionally and intelligently target some of our current challenges.

I propose that the Government, through the Ministry of Education, capitalises on this resource by introducing essential content such as financial literacy, parenting and sex education, driver’s education, civics, health and wellness, and conflict resolution and social skills into the high school curriculum. These subjects need not be tied to regional exams, as their inclusion is focused on shaping well-rounded, civic-minded and socially responsible citizens, rather than on standardised testing outcomes. In this regard they would complement rather than replace existing content. Importantly, too, introducing such content is unlikely to place an excessive burden on existing resources or training, as it could be designed to be concise and practical.

By leveraging the education system in this manner we can take a meaningful step toward addressing the root causes of our social decline while nurturing a generation better prepared to contribute positively to our nation’s growth and development.

H Emery

Liguanea, St Andrew

handelemery@gmail.com