Education Minister Eyes ‘Accelerated Programme’ To Increase Male Leadership

In an exchange with a local reporter at Monday’s pre-cabinet briefing, Education Minister Shawn Edward voiced concern about the underrepresentation of males in post-secondary educational and professional settings and leadership roles.

The minister highlighted the growing trend of women attaining professional qualifications at higher rates than men, stating, “I want to be very deliberate in looking at that particular dynamic as it relates to the education sector. For every 20 teachers we recruit in the school system, 18 of them are ladies. For every 10 principals appointed, nine of them are ladies.”

 Edward emphasised the importance of being cautious and proactive to minimise further future imbalances: “If we have to look down the road and we want to have a situation that is not lopsided, we have to make a greater pitch for gender parity as far as management roles in society are concerned.”

However, Edward expressed that his remarks were not intended to downplay the achievements of women, stating, “That is not in any way trying to diminish the achievement of women. The women have demonstrated that they have this desire to propel themselves forward. They’re the ones grabbing at the higher educational opportunities that the state makes available, and you can’t fault them for that, but there’s also a concern that we’re expressing as the government. We want to have a society where you have men stepping up to the plate, so our young boys can have role models whom they can emulate.”

The minister shared an anecdote which he says highlights the disparity between male and females seeking post-secondary school qualifications, noting that it is apparent even among students at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. As a result, he expressed interest in creating an accelerated programme to help young men step into leadership roles.

“You go to the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and you just walk the campus, or you peruse the attendance figures, and you will see that the boys are outnumbered,” Edward said, adding “For me, as minister for education, it’s a conversation I’ve started, that we have to find a way to identify the promising, bright, committed young men in the system and if it means that we have to embark on an accelerated programme to propel [them] into leadership positions, we are prepared to do so and, it is something I will be championing in the coming weeks and months.”