Dear Editor,

Yearly, November 19 is celebrated as International Men’s Day. This year’s theme was ‘Celebrating Men and Boys’.

As the world paused to celebrate International Men’s Day — though it did not come with the fanfare — Jamaica must confront a silent crisis that is shaping our future: the declining presence of men in higher education. While we use this day to honour the contributions of men to family, community, and nation-building, we must also acknowledge the systemic gaps that continue to hold many of our young men back. Their absence from our higher education institutions is not simply an educational issue, it is a national development concern with far-reaching social and economic consequences.

For more than a decade Jamaican women have outnumbered men in tertiary institutions by staggering margins. In some programmes, women make up more than 70 or even 80 per cent of the student body. Yet, despite its severity, this gender imbalance is often overlooked, normalised, or dismissed as a ‘natural’ pattern. It is not. It is a sign that too many of our young men are slipping through the cracks long before they reach university gates, as highlighted by University of Technology, Jamaica’s President Dr Kevin Brown in a video message to mark this year’s men’s day.

The reasons are complex. Many boys face economic hardships that push them into the workforce early. Others struggle with academic underperformance, negative peer pressure, or unstable home environments that undermine their confidence and aspirations. Traditional expectations of masculinity also play a role. For some young men, pursuing higher education is wrongly seen as unnecessary or incompatible with societal expectations to “hustle” or provide quickly. These cultural pressures quietly discourage academic ambition, shaping beliefs about what young men can or should strive for.

Another evident reality is that too many of our young men are engrafted into criminal organisations and activities at vulnerable ages. If we carefully assess the demography of those engaged in crime and violence, we will see that many of the participants are young men in their teens and 20s. And the consequence is that many of them end up meeting their maker instead of meeting a judge.

Furthermore, given the prevalence of social media and content creation, many young men do not see the need for formal education. They are busy on TikTok and other platforms entertaining others with sexually explicit and violent content from which they earn monetary rewards.

Others thrive on defrauding others, especially the elderly in North America. One can imagine how angry some of these scammers are now given that Hurricane Melissa has disrupted their unscrupulous activities.

Nevertheless, the reality is undeniable: Jamaica needs educated men just as urgently as it needs educated women. A strong and balanced workforce requires the talents, creativity, and leadership of both genders. When men fall behind educationally, the effects ripple across families, communities, and the nation’s social fabric.

Research consistently shows that higher education reduces crime, increases earning potential, and strengthens civic engagement. A society in which fewer men benefit from these advantages is one that struggles with instability and inequality.

International Men’s Day offers us a moment not only to celebrate Jamaican men but to confront the barriers that hinder their progress. We must redesign our education system and social structures to better support boys from early childhood straight through to tertiary pathways. Universities should strengthen outreach initiatives, mentorship programmes, and bridging courses to help young men transition into higher education successfully. Guidance counsellors, teachers, and community leaders must be equipped to identify struggling boys early and provide intervention long before dropout becomes inevitable.

We must also challenge outdated ideas about masculinity. Being educated, ambitious, and intellectually driven must be celebrated as markers of manhood — not exceptions to it. Young men need role models who show that academic success and strength of character go hand in hand.

As we honour men, let us do more than applaud their resilience; let us invest in their future. Jamaica cannot afford to lose another generation of young men to educational neglect. Moving on from this year’s International Men’s Day we should commit to building a society in which all men — regardless of background — can step confidently into the halls of higher learning and claim their rightful place in shaping Jamaica’s future.

Oneil Madden

Maddenoniel@yahoo.com