Caribbean Report 26-12-2000
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2000-12-26
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The British Broadcasting Corporation
Abstract
Description
Part 1 Series of Special Programme on Why Boys are Underachieving.
Table of Contents
1. The University of the West Indies began in 1948, and 52 years later, there were 12, 500 full time students and almost 10, 000 part-time students. However, 52 years later, 74.6% of the graduates were women! Chancellor Shridath Ramphal said he has noted the increasing decline in men’s enrolment and graduation and has been commenting on it at the graduation ceremonies on all campuses for the past 5 years. It was noted that females were graduating in top places in engineering and sciences. Even though females should be commended for seizing the educational opportunities, it was voiced that any situation in which one sex dominated the other was not considered to be healthy. Dr Jules felt that it was a global phenomenon, and the Caribbean needed to make adjustment. It was suggested by Angela King that men came into education to get god jobs, and to be respected in society, and probably the status was no longer there. Whereas, Anthony Lane argued that some boys have seen persons like Brian Lara, and other individuals in sports and entertainment as a source of getting rich without going to university. He further said that males do not see education as a vehicle for upward mobility. While the issue is complex, some countries in the region and the University of the West Indies, had commissioned research to ascertain the causes and remedies for underachievement in males. (00:00-15:33)