Chapter 7: Reflection, Dialogue, and Transformation Through Participatory Action Research: Experiences of Jamaica’s Change From Within Programme

“Much of the culture of our schools, like much of the culture of our societies, needs to be transformed” (Down, 2015, p. 157). Speaking within the context of the global sustainability crisis, Down (2015) points to evidence that many schools in the Caribbean region are grappling with issues such as underperformance in regional examinations, drop-outs, alcohol and drug abuse, and high levels of violence. The reculturing of schools towards sustainability, therefore, is a necessary global and regional imperative which has implications for wider societal development. Similarly, it is an important issue in Jamaica, where issues such as school violence present a troubling phenomenon (Down, Lambert, & McPherson-Kerr, 2005; King, 2002; Pottinger, 2012; Ministry of Education, 2012).