Basil Jarrett | Addressing educational inequality

LAST MONTH’S decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down affirmative action as part of the admission process for US universities and colleges, brought to a conclusion decades of mounting attacks on the measure, dating as far back as the 1970s, just a few years after it was introduced by President John F. Kennedy.

JFK’s vision was that affirmative action would equalise some of the inequalities and discrimination which accompanied hiring and admission procedures. It proved successful in driving integration and access for minorities in the wake of the civil rights movement and helped to greatly expand the black middle class. From the get-go, opponents labelled affirmative action as reverse racism and questioned the wisdom of forcing schools to set admission quotas based on race and gender.

And so, last month’s hammer blow should not have come as too much of a surprise – affirmative action was always an endangered species.

THE GREAT EQUALISER

Reasoning that race-conscious admissions plans violate the Constitution as well as laws that govern colleges that receive federal funding, opponents argued that the Constitution should be colour-blind. Supporters, on the other hand, felt that affirmative action was a critical tool in remedying historic race discrimination. As I watched and read and listened ultimately to the decision, it became clear to me that we have our own set of issues with discrimination and equal access to education as the Americans – we just call it something else.

You see, just like in the United States, education is the cornerstone of societal progress, empowering individuals to reach their full potential and to contribute meaningfully to their communities. In the US, affirmative action was devised to help rectify some of that country’s historical inequalities and ensure equal educational opportunities for all. Here in Jamaica, there is a similar need to equalise our high-school education system, where preferential access to the best schools disproportionately benefits the upper class. But how do you create that fair and inclusive educational environment that uplifts all students, especially when funds are low and competing priorities are numerous?

COLONIAL LEGACIES

For historical context, it is important to remember that Jamaica’s history has been similarly marred by social and economic inequalities that have shaped our entire country, not just the educational landscape. Despite years of progress, remnants of our colonial past continue to perpetuate those disparities in access to quality education. This is particularly evident in our school system, where children from privileged backgrounds are often the ones who enjoy preferential access to the best teaching and learning opportunities. Why is this so? Simple. To do well on the entrance exam pathways to high school, i.e., GSAT, now PEP, you need to have that oh-so-elusive thing that makes everything happen in this country – money.

Money buys you the extra classes, the extra books, the extra attention, and the extra connections needed to grab a spot in one of our premier high schools. And once you get in and become a part of the ‘family’, you then benefit from the legacy admission principle that locks others out, while creating generational access for those who are lucky enough to get in. If this sounds like exactly what happens in the US, that’s because it is. We’ve just substituted social class and privilege for race, but the effect is the same.

In devising a solution to the problem, it may be beneficial to look at the United States’ experience with affirmative action for some valuable insights. Affirmative action sought to counteract discrimination and level the playing field for marginalised groups, ensuring they have equal access to opportunities. Applying a similar principle in Jamaica’s high-school system could possibly promote fairness and social mobility, and foster a more just and inclusive society.

THE CASE FOR EQUALISING SCHOOLS

By equalising the school system, we could possibly ensure that every student, regardless of their socio-economic background, has an equal chance to attend the best schools and to break the cycle of poverty by uplifting themselves and their families. This, in turn, would contribute to reducing income inequality and promoting economic growth by allowing students to succeed based on their abilities and efforts, rather than their social background. Again, don’t misread my words. I’m not saying that our best schools are deliberately hand-picking kids from uptown communities. I’m saying that in order to do well on the exams that give you access to the best high schools, uptown kids have a distinct advantage, given their abilities to access the extra support needed to get the kind of scores required.

IMPLEMENTING EQUALISATION MEASURES

So how do you achieve this equalisation? Well, for one, we would first need to allocate educational resources based on need and support to underperforming schools. This would enhance the quality of education across schools, strengthen teaching, and create a more conducive learning environment. More private- and public-sector scholarships dedicated to low-income primary-school students may also be an option. Yes, all this is easier said than done. But if we could somehow achieve this, we would be a step closer to ensuring that every school has similar access to quality facilities, quality teaching materials, and qualified teachers. Perhaps the easiest and lowest-hanging fruit could be to implement policies that prioritise students from disadvantaged backgrounds, regardless of their PEP exam grades. Already, I see the pitchforks coming out from parents who quite rightly will claim that no one can dictate where they should send their children to school or discriminate against them because of their Norbrook address. Sounds familiar? Exactly. Any attempt to equalise education in such a manner here in Jamaica would likely suffer the same fate that just befell affirmative action up north.

Which leads me to conclude that at the end of the day, our individual and narrow self-interests will continue to be one of the biggest hurdles holding this country back.

Major Basil Jarrett is a communications strategist and CEO of Artemis Consulting, a communications consulting firm specialising in crisis communications and reputation management. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.