Social Impact with Emma » Ministry of Education : A Jamaica Gleaner Blog

Feeding Ourselves: Healthy Diets for a Zero Hunger World

October 19th, 2019

Are Jamaicans overfed and under-nourished? In Jamaica, World Food Day (October 16) was a rather low key affair. Agriculture Minister Audley Shaw attended an event in his own constituency of Christiana, Manchester, co-sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Jamaica, and there were photo-ops. According to the FAO, poor nutrition causes nearly half […]

JN Foundation’s Education Revolution: Joy and Rigor

August 22nd, 2016

If there was one overriding message to take away from the JN Foundation’s two-day School Leadership Summit 2016 last month, it was this: We can’t keep doing the same things in the same way. We are not just talking about teaching techniques, but about leadership. Are we running our schools properly? Are we inspiring and […]

Padmore Primary School: A Love Story

September 30th, 2015

“I was a likkle tomboy,” says Ms. Keisha Hayle, with a wry smile. “I gave a little talk.” Ms. Hayle is talking about her school days, on a warm September evening at the University of Technology (UTech). Now, Ms. Hayle’s tomboy days are long past, and she has taken on the responsibility of a school herself. […]

Literacy: More Than A Simple Sentence

September 11th, 2015

“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope,” said Kofi Annan. Mr. Annan is Chair of The Elders, a group of thoughtful statesmen and women who have had much to contribute to the global dialogue on key issues affecting the world. I recommend you listen to what they have to say. For many Jamaicans, learning […]

Christine Staple-Ebanks Brings a Message of Inclusion

April 29th, 2015

As I sat down at Christine Staple-Ebanks’ table, she was taking a big sip from a large cup of coffee. I ordered a drink of similar proportions. There was much to talk about, I realized, concerning the development and education of our children with disabilities. Christine is the mother of four (although she truly does […]