Karibbean Vibez Radio Network (KVRN) 
Recently, Jamaica’s Education Minister, Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon, made a bold call — urging the Church to rally behind educators to help rescue our young people. She believes that many of our students are showing troubling behaviour because they’re growing up without strong religious values, often in broken homes.
It’s a statement that struck a chord — and stirred up debate. Do we really need God back in our schools to fix what’s broken in our society?
Let’s reason this out.
There is a case for Religion in Schools
Lets talk about it.
There’s no denying it — religion once played a powerful role in shaping Jamaica’s education system. Many of our top-performing schools were founded by churches, and generations of students grew up learning discipline, respect, and purpose within that moral framework.
Religious teachings often promote compassion, honesty, forgiveness, and a sense of service to others — values that can transform classrooms and communities. For some, it’s not just about faith, but about grounding children in something bigger than themselves.
When a student believes they’re accountable to God — or to a higher moral standard — they often behave differently. There’s a sense of order, belonging, and identity that can help guide them through life’s challenges.
But There is also The Case Against Religion.
Here’s the other side. Jamaica is a melting pot of faiths and beliefs — Christian, Muslim, Rastafarian, Hindu, and more. So when religion takes centre stage in public schools, it can unintentionally alienate students who see the world differently.
Moreover, not all of our social problems can be solved from the pulpit. Indiscipline, violence, and poor performance in schools often come from deeper roots — poverty, trauma, family instability, and a lack of positive role models. Religion alone won’t fix that.
There’s also the question of fairness: should a public classroom be a space of worship, or a space for open learning? Should we teach faith, or teach values that all faiths — and even non-believers — can agree on: respect, empathy, and responsibility?
And There is the Middle Ground.
The truth is, Jamaica doesn’t necessarily need to put religion back in schools — we need to put values back in schools.
Call it moral education, call it civic education, call it life skills — what matters is that we’re teaching our young people to care for each other, to respect themselves, to take responsibility, and to dream bigger than their circumstances.
If the Church wants to help, there’s plenty of room: mentorship, family support, after-school programs, guidance for parents — all of these can rebuild the moral fabric that’s fraying in our communities.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about bringing God into the classroom — it’s about bringing goodness back into everyday life.