CHAIRMAN of Marathon Insurance Brokers Richard Burgher is urging Jamaica to take immediate action to address the fact that fewer boys are making it through the formal school system.

Addressing the East Kingston and Port Royal Annual Scholarship Programme awards ceremony last Wednesday, Burgher argued that remedial support must be provided for struggling male students.

“Across the country we are seeing fewer boys than girls in our graduating classes — sometimes less than 40 per cent of the cohort. This is a challenge we must address together, for while we must continue to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our young women, we must also find ways to engage, inspire, and lift up our young men so they too can take their place as leaders in every field.”

The annual scholarship programme, the initiative of then East Kingston and Port Royal Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell, is sponsored by Marathon Insurance Brokers which provides laptop computers and full high school tuition coverage to the top-performing boys and girls from primary institutions in the constituency.

The programme recognises academic excellence in seven primary schools, including Rollington Town, Holy Rosary, Elletson, Windward Road, Norman Gardens, Rennock Lodge, and Port Royal.

Burgher told the gathering that Marathon is committed to planting seeds for a brighter future in Jamaica.

“We are committed to walking alongside this programme for the long term because the education of our children is one of the most important investments we can make,” said Burger.

He saluted the parents who continue to stand behind the students, and encouraged the awardees to remember that beyond the laptops and the paying of tuition fees, the real magic happens when opportunity is paired with determination.

In the meantime, Paulwell noted that for 2025 just one third of the scholarships were given to boys — but this represents an improvement.

“Normally it is a lot more lopsided than that, and we are hoping that eventually [we are going]…to see a 50/50 split for the boys and girls,” said Paulwell.

Top female performer Shana-Shaye Johnson of Elletson Primary School collecting her award from the chairman of Marathon Insurance Brokers, Richard Burgher, during the East Kingston and Port Royal Annual Scholarship Programme awards ceremony,