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Jamaican Education History

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The study of History is not a modern occurrence as it has been done throughout mankind’s road to the present day. We study the past to answer and understand many unknowns within human history from our origins to the possible construction of ancient monolithic sites such as the great pyramids. “A generation which ignores history has no past and no future”, prolifically stated by Robert A. Heinlein which cuts deep into the question introduced, “Is this being done in our education system?” This alludes to the importance of understanding one’s history to benefit not just one person but a nation and its people. Numerous research has been done to justify the point stated above as seen in Stearns (1998), Crabtree (1993) and Corfield (2008) studies …show more content…

The history of Jamaica’s education as written in the document article (“Education in Jamaica”, n.d.) states that education system was modeled after the British system. Through major historical moments, its further development changed based on the requirements needed from or for its people such as gaining Independence in 1962. Before this period, it is noted that formal education was offered to whites only whether they were taught within the colonial country or within their native country. Their curriculum was based similarly to curriculums within in Great Britain. It is also noted that slaves of the time were not offered a formal education. The colonist cared not for the slaves and their history as any information about their past flowed through word of mouth. With the progression of the country from being dependent to independent formal education evolved into the general state, it is now where race is not a major hindrance to formal education. Britain still had a strong hold on Jamaica meaning the education system and the progression of the country was not done purely for the benefits of its people but to further its imperial interest. Gradually their stronghold dwindled by creating self-sufficiency seen with the creation of the University of the West Indies (UWI) and reforms within Jamaican Constitution. “Every Child Must Learn”, became the vision onwards but in this noble effort, …show more content…

Not many persons within our modern day society analyze the implications of this origin story. The aim is not to forget this point in our history but to embrace it and the past before it. This origin story and its continuous teachings within Jamaica’s education system aid to produce a false sense of identity or the lack thereof, along with the inability to truly understand one’s self and the society. It can be questioned on whether the continuation of our origin is an intentional tool of mental oppression or just a product of years of societal

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