PM Browne: Males Lagging in Education, Women Leading in Home Ownership
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has voiced concern over what he described as a growing disparity between men and women in education and economic empowerment, noting that women are outpacing men in both academic achievement and home ownership in Antigua and Barbuda.
Speaking on his Browne and Browne radio programme, the Prime Minister shared an anecdote involving foreign visitors who had noticed the absence of men in a training workshop at the Ministry of Finance.
“They asked me how is it that there are no males there,” Browne said. “They’re doing a two-week workshop with some software. I was kind of embarrassed.”
Browne said the observation highlights a broader societal trend. “Our females are outperforming our men in terms of acquiring tertiary education,” he said. “We have been losing a lot of our males through youth delinquency.”
He said this underrepresentation is visible across government programmes. “Even in the second-chance programme we started to help adults matriculate and qualify — we show more females than males,” he noted.
The Prime Minister also pointed to housing as another area where women have taken the lead.
“I have entire streets with 15, 20 houses — and they are all owned by females,” he said.
While praising women for their determination and independence, Browne stressed the need for targeted interventions to help young men re-engage with education and skills training.
“We have to increase the level of public education and share insights with our people,” he said. “We want Antiguans and Barbudans to be globally competitive, and that requires all of us — men and women — to be empowered.”
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I agree. The young men in Antigua are falling behind and it is our fault as a society. They have been left to their own devices to lag behind and we have failed to hold them accountable for this. Time to make a change.
The government plays a role but more importantly each of us has a responsibility to help guide the boys and young men around us to achieve their full potential. Young men also need to revisit the way they see themselves, you are more than a weed smoking street bum, you have something of value to offer because you have value. Time for them to recognise this. Seek god, so good, stop womanizing and wasting your years on triviality. The young women around you are also depending on you to see your value and to keep up with them, they want good brother, fathers and spouses who can add value to their lives.
PS: Stop embarrassing the PM and the nation, take full advantage of the opportunities for growth provided by the government!
It’s simply cause and effect. In many cases women are being handed positions because of quid quo pro if we are being truthful. Back in the day men were first choice for opportunities, which was wrong, but now society has done a full 180 and it seems that equlity is no longer the aim.
They’re too busy worrying about whether women are dressed modestly, are wife material to ask themselves about their own value.
J’ Truth won’t talk about this.
The young men the world over are falling behind and not just in Antigua. In the Caribbean the phenomenon of the marginalization of males has been observed many years ago. It is perhaps getting worse and society must find ways of addressing it. When one looks at the University of the West Indies, one would observe that faculties such as law and engineering that were once dominated by male students are now dominated by females. That is a most compelling example of the seriousness of the problem. It needs to be addressed now and not later.
I can recall a few years ago I listened to a lecture by Professor Beckles on the issue of male marginalization and he touched on some of the societal consequences of women not being able to find male partners who compatible in terms of education. In that regard, Professor Beckles indicated that he would tell his daughter that having a partner who is not compatible in terms of education does not mean the male would not make a great husband. The societal consequences that can arise from the marginalization of males underscores the need even more for the problem to be subjected to serious study in an effort to find solutions.
Gaston there was an issue already in the schools with drug (marijuana) etc. and what did you do but open the doors wide. I must say it starts at home when raising a child but some parents do their best and because the children a exposed to all forms of bad elements in schools plus society it makes it even harder to raise children. It’s not like we can segregate them because if we keep them home from school the police will come knocking at the door.
The other issue is foolish men allow woman to take from them and build, then drop them like a hot plate. If the men aren’t foolish the women are just wicked which makes them foolish also.
Choose wisely my kings
For thousands of years men were the head of society and will continue to be. Presently, men recognize the educational systems is outdated and is not aligned with the skill set that they need to survive.They are seeking real opportunities and what we are witnessing with males is a revolution that will disrupt the whole of society.
This is a very antiquated and misinformed statement. Men have “not” always been the head of society – please study your African history and obtain the facts. Women are now taking the opportunity to be educated in countries were it is permitted … but remember, in a large number of areas of the world women remain marginalised and are treated equally.
However, even though I am a very strong and self sufficient woman I do see the danger in replacing one type of dominated society with another as we are meant to operate in harmony with each other and not against each other.
Education brings choice and freedom – for both males and females and now that the majority of roles do not require physical strength alone but are based on education, knowledge and ability the world is changing.
Women no longer need to be dependent on a man for money and stability … but men are needed and should be valued for the importance they bring to demonstrating a healthy and faithful relationship and demonstrate that taking responsibility for your family and the children you create are the actions of a KING.
The actions of a QUEEN are demonstrated by having respect for yourself and choosing the father of your children wisely and investing in the emotional stability of your children.
I will be truthful and say that it can seem like a competition between the sexes and I will defend the right for my daughter to be educated and enter whatever profession she chooses … but I also want the best for my nephews.
To conclude … let’s all try and acknowledge differences and strengths and teach our children the power of equality and respect in relationships and in our interactions with each other.