We must not overlook the importance of education in the social cohesion forum

Sep 15, 2015 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Permit me to further elucidate on the issue of Social Cohesion as it pertains to the present government’s  intention to establish a Ministry of Social Cohesion. . Never too little, too late!  Dick Stanley in his book: What Do We Know About Social Cohesion defines social cohesion as “ the willingness of members of a society to cooperate with each other in order to strive and prosper.
Willingness to cooperate means they freely choose to form partnerships and have a reasonable chance of realizing goals because others are willing to cooperate and share the fruits of their endeavours equitably.  Somehow or other I get the strange impression that this definition is not applicable to Guyana, (at least not presently) but to the mythical Shangri La described in Lost Horizon. .
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (O.E.C.D), a unique forum where the government of 34 democracies including, England, France, Germany and the U.S. A with market economies work with each other , in addition to 70 non-member economies to promote economic growth, prosperity and sustainable development, defines social cohesion thus: A cohesive society works towards the well-being of all its members, fights exclusion and marginalization, creates a sense of belonging, promotes trust, and offers its members the opportunity of upward mobility. There is an obvious disparity existing between what could be termed successful ingredients for effective Social Cohesion.
The notion of social cohesion has been the subject of diverse meanings and interpretation, nevertheless its constituent elements include concerns about social inclusion, social capital and social mobility.  Let us not forget that Guyana has recently concluded Social Cohesion Project II which began on March 1, 2015, and was aimed at strengthening public participation, trust and confidence in national governance institutions.  Has the public been made privy to the findings?
Could this project be hailed as a success?  Has anything been learnt from this venture, that can be applied to future ventures of such a nature? Mr. Lincoln Lewis of GTUC fame has clearly and meticulously outlined the requirements of the Government as well as the expectations of the citizens as regards this new Ministry, if success is to be achieved.  Perhaps it should be a case of Government fully informing the populace at large as to the impending role, goals and objectives of this new ministry, especially in the light of social inclusion and social mobility?  As a long standing member of the pedagogical profession permit me to add fuel to the fire already ignited by Mr. Lewis regarding education and its role in social cohesion.
We cannot and must not overlook the importance of education in the social cohesion forum.  There are in mathematical equations certain variables that must always be factored in if a correct answer is to be arrived at. Education is and remains a vital part of any social cohesion agenda, as educational outcomes affect all three dimensions of the social cohesion triangle.  Firstly the schooling experience in itself shapes and impacts social cohesion.
As it transmits common values. How the children are schooled is important for building their sense of belonging to a society.   Currently in Guyana this is in itself a problem and one which must be addressed at the urgent and priority level Opportunities for quality education must be made available all across Guyana even to disadvantaged groups such as hinterland residents, as schooling is the egalitarian or leveler of opportunities for upward mobility Still on the subject of school but viewing it from a health perspective, there remains other non-school inputs that must also be given consideration.  Pre-school programmes and early life nutrition would assure that no child falls short of his or her developmental potential due to nutritional deficiency.  In addition, maternal education has a positive impact on children’s health and future prospects.  Implementation of gender-sensitive school policies and facilities do foster social integration.
What was noticeably absent from the discussion was the mention of dissenting voices and the part they play in social cohesion. It is fundamentally important in the creation of a socially creative society that dissenting voices be given space. Both civic participation and political feedback should be controlled and made use of if growth processes are not to be derailed.  As the government prepares to establish its new ministry, let us embrace them with all that makes us truly Guyanese.
However, a timely reminder and a pit hole to be avoided is the fact that inclusive policy making is essential, one which brings in the views of all stakeholders- from those who will be implementing the policies right down to the final beneficiaries.  The policies that emerge from such a process benefit from having a greater sense of legitimacy and support factors that would determine their effectiveness in the long run.  In conclusion let it stand for the records that the establishment of this Ministry would be among the many Herculean tasks to be achieved by the present Government, as on display would be many facets of his administration.
The implementation of a social cohesion policy agenda requires effective administration and above all coordinated action across multiple policy domains.  As well, the involvement of multitudinous actors across different levels of government calls for negotiated roles to ensure accountability.
This may in some cases (especially given the current political climate) call for closure rather than exposure. Underpinning successful public action are strong institutions and a quality public service. While the current deliberation on social cohesion is afforded all the laudatory remarks it merits, on a cautionary note, it is my sincere desire that eventual effected implementation takes into consideration all stakeholders, to avert a Pyrrhic victory of sorts.
Yvonne Sam

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