Jamaicans are among some of the most creative, innovative, talented, skilled, and well educated people in the world today.
On reading Jamaica's history, one will learn that education was once not equal for all Jamaicans. The colonial power of that era was of the view, that the same standard of education for all was not in its best interest. Simply put, the colonial ruling class of the day was not prepared to establish an education system which could place the 'masses' in a position to compete, and to challenge them.
It is interesting to note how history tends to repeat itself by acting out what has happened in the past, by taking on a new style and form.
For many years much has been said in the UK about the supposed low academic performance of West Indian born/British born West Indian children, particularly the boys. This assumption has been conveniently bandied about since the 1960's and 1970's, and supported by ethnocentric oriented research which gave no serious thought to West Indian cultural factors. Looking back in hindsight, it seems this negative preconception held by the powers that be in the British education system, helped to create an excuse to 'shelve' these children when problems arose that the educators and administrators did not understand, did not want to understand, and did not want to deal with.
Kudos to those parents within the UK Caribbean community back then who, through much persistence, were able to get a good understanding of the British education system and followed their children's education through to university. Unfortunately, not all parents were aware that they could take that route. It was assumed their children's teachers would take an active interest in their children's learning, and would inform them if anything was wrong that needed to be discussed. Generally, parents from the Caribbean then, saw the role of the teacher in the UK from their own cultural perspective. This different approach, inadvertently, gave the impression that West Indian parents were not concerned with the education of their children. I can say here that this was certainly not the case at all.
At this point, I would like to share some of my 'memories' of what I experienced as a British born Jamaican child in a British high school, which may give some insight into how 'equal' the British education system was, and how West Indian children, British born or not, were perceived:
I was never encouraged to fulfil my potential in whatever I sought to achieve.
Being a child of West Indian origin I was not expected to be ambitious.
I was placed in the last class of the weaker stream along with other children of the same origin as me. The real purpose behind this was 'cloaked' by placing indigenous children in the class too.
I saw boys of West Indian born/British born West Indian origin chosen for participation in sport, rather than to teach and prepare them well for examinations which would likely give them a good start in life.
Grace P. Pinnock
Copyright © 2012
So...fast forward to the twenty first century! What of education and the children from the Caribbean community in the UK today? Is there going to be a continuation of the rhetorical discourse merry-go-round which says a lot, but says nothing, and the status quo remains the same much to the pleasure of those whose intent it is to be so?
In 2006 an article by a prominent British newspaper revealed that the low academic performance of black boys is still an issue. Furthermore, an unpublished report at the time, suggested that black boys are more likely to be excluded from school.
In my day the word was - expelled. What a difference a word makes!!!
It gets better.
As recent as 2011, a renowned Caribbean newspaper reported on a Caribbean Community Question Time session in the UK. It indicated that there is still much concern regarding the level of educational achievement of black children in British schools.
Is this a case of déjà vu?
I say enough is enough.
The fact of the matter is there are those who do not wish for any change, be it educational or otherwise, to take place. Time and again discussions on the issue have been navigated into oblivion, thereby forcing the struggle back to square one.
My suggestion to the Caribbean community in the UK, particularly Jamaicans, is to make a universal decision to cease the reaction campaign and START PROACTION. TAKE THE INITIATIVE. The educational achievement of your children in British schools depends on YOU.
Blessings,
Grace
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