The Reintroduction of Civics Education to the Jamaican Curriculum, Why now?

I have always heard talks about Civics but honestly, I have never really understood what it was all about. However, having been exposed to the course Advanced Citizenship; I am now more knowledgeable on Civics Education. Based on research done, I have come to understand that Civics Education is learning about the Jamaican nation. The content covers many aspects which is inclusive of but not limited to the functioning of government, structure of social and political systems and rights and responsibilities as a Jamaican citizen. Civics Education aims to create well-thinking, informed and responsible citizens so that they can make worthwhile contributions to the country.

Civics Education has now been reintroduced to the Jamaican curriculum. Three reasons this re-introduction is justified are: students will learn about citizenship, through citizenship education, they will have a greater appreciation of self and others and students will also garner respect for Jamaica’s national symbols, national heroes and icons. With a combination of all three, students will develop cultural integrity, become worthwhile citizens and contribute to nation building. It is clearly evident that Civics Education is an essential subject area and with this new focus on it, it is being projected as such. One important question I want to ask is why is the re-introduction just happening now?

Citizenship education was once taught in Jamaican schools. It was however, pulled from the Jamaican school curriculum in the mid 1980s as it was believed the content of Civics overlapped with other subject areas. That is, the content of Civics was also taught in other subject areas; one such area was Social Studies. As a result of the overlapping, the decision was taken to remove Civics and have that time dedicated to the teaching of core subject areas.

‘The absence of Civics Education in schools is to blame for the country’s low morals, values and attitude as well as a lack of patriotism’. It is the belief of many older Jamaicans that if this younger generation were taught Civics, they would be better off in those areas. Those Jamaicans that have that belief can now breathe easier as citizenship education has been reintroduced into the Jamaican curriculum. The re-introduction was officially launched on August 17, 2012 at the Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St. Ann.

However, with all the benefits that Civics Education has to offer, it should have been reintroduced earlier. Is it that these benefits are only being seen now? Is it that core subject areas no longer needs that additional focus? Is it that there is no longer an overlapping of Civics and other subject areas such as Social Studies? Is it that this current generation needs Civics Education more than the one before? What is it?

Civics Education should have never been taken out of the curriculum in the first place. However, seen that it was; the Ministry of Education should not have taken such a long time to re-introduce it. In order to ensure that a similar mistake is not made in the future, the Ministry of Education should follow the footsteps of some developed countries and make it a law for Jamaican citizens to study and pass Civics Education. It is bad enough that the reintroduction is just happening. However, this is our country and if we do not value the importance of Civics Education, who will?

Contributor: Samantha Dwyer

                        Bachelors Degree in Education

                        History and Social Studies

                        Bethlehem Moravian College