Letter of the Day | From slogans to substance: Grounding Jamaica’s education philosophy

THE EDITOR, Madam:

On March 7, 2024, the Ministry of Education approved a National Philosophy of Education that promises to “ embrace diverse learning capacities, nurture each learner’s full potential, blend academic and vocational pursuits with values-based teachings, and cultivate love for country”.

This is a commendable vision. But Jamaicans must ask: Will this philosophy transform our schools, or will it join the long list of empty slogans that litter our history?

For years, slogans such as ‘Every child can learn, every child must learn’ have echoed across classrooms. While inspiring, they have rarely been matched by structural reform. As social commentator Louis Moyston cautions, sloganeering too often substitutes for substance. We cannot afford this again.

The truth is, the 2024 philosophy rests on noble principles found in the work of John Dewey (education for democracy), Wilhelm von Humboldt ( Bildung – the formation of the whole person), Paulo Freire (liberation through critical consciousness), and Jamaica’s own Marcus Garvey, who taught that education must give us “a true knowledge of ourselves”. If rooted in practice, this philosophy could transform not just classrooms, but the nation.

But time is short, and action is urgent. To ground this philosophy in substance, I propose seven steps:

1. Equip teachers with philosophical training, so they are more than transmitters of content – they are agents of transformation.

2. Reform the curriculum to include Jamaican heritage, African history, and Caribbean knowledge, alongside global content.

3. Broaden assessment methods to measure civic responsibility, creativity, and values – not just exam scores.

4. Align education with cultural and environmental policy, ensuring schools prepare children to respect heritage and steward creation.

5. Make parents and communities partners, so schools become centres of communal growth and nation-building.

6. Legislate the philosophy, protecting it from political change and ensuring continuity across administrations.

7. Invest in ongoing research and accountability, so philosophy remains alive and relevant.

If Jamaica takes these steps, the 2024 philosophy will not be remembered as another aspirational document. It will mark the rebirth of the Jamaican education as a system that liberates, empowers, and prepares citizens to flourish in the 21st century.

Anything less, and history will judge this as another lost opportunity.

DUDLEY MCLEAN II