Teaching Literacy in Jamaica
- Autores: Ines Boumaiza
- Localización: Global Education Magazine, ISSN-e 2255-033X, Nº. 9, 2014
- Idioma: varios idiomas
- Enlaces
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Resumen
Jamaica is a country of extremes. On the one hand, wealthy Jamaicans enjoy a modern, Western lifestyle. On the other hand, the poorest people in society, that is to say about 16% of Jamaicans, live below the poverty line. Although the abolition of slavery and emancipation laws led to the start of education for all, the descendants of Black slaves are often amongst the poorest classes in Jamaica. Thus, approximately 21% of Jamaican adults are illiterate. Therefore, the government is currently aiming at improving the education system in the whole country and one of its main goals is to increase cultural awareness of its people. This article focuses on two attempts to improve the Jamaican literacy rate as well as the educational level of its people and aims to raise people awareness on the situation of the country which is too often considered through prejudices. To do so, I briefly look at the data of the country and I explain how the Government and other kinds of organizations try to remedy this situation. Moreover, a volunteer who taught literacy in Jamaica tells us of her experience in an interview. Despite all the efforts made in Jamaica, illiteracy is still at high level; indeed 21% of adults are illiterate.
