Jamaica: Commission on Education Transformation Launched

A commission on education transformation is launched to assess Jamaica’s education system. The fourteen(14 )member- high-level Education Transformation Commission is set to conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of Jamaica’s education system. A timely move considering the challenges faced in Jamaica’s education sector highlighted by the crippling weight of the pandemic.

“COVID-19 has allowed us to rethink and reassess the public education system. We are now actively implementing strategies that would have been unthinkable even six months ago,” said Minister of Education, Youth, and Information, Karl Samuda. 

“As I speak we are finalizing preparation for the beginning of the 2020/2021 school year. We have adopted a blended approach so in September our students will receive instructions both face to face and via distance and online teaching…”, he added.

Samuda made a note to mention that to properly equip students for a changing society with what he calls ‘ real-world skills’, the local education system must evolve.

Samua continued, “We look forward to the recommendations that will come from the commission as we continue working to ensure that Jamaicans are empowered to achieve their fullest potential through world-class educational training.”

Shadow Minister of Education and Training, Peter Bunting says any review or redesign of the education system must begin with an outcome in mind.

“To guide the strategic path forward we need a vision statement of the desired product from the transformed education system,” he said.

The last major assessment of the education system was undertaken in 2004. The Commission is expected to provide a report with these recommendations by March next year. 

Members of the Commission:

• Professor Eleanor Brown, Professor of Law and International Affairs at Pennsylvania State University
• Professor Michael Taylor, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the West Indies, Mona
• Professor Maureen Samms-Vaughan, Professor of Child Health, Child Development and Behaviour, University of the West Indies, Mona
• Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President of the University of Technology, Jamaica
• Dr. Dana Morris-Dixon, Assistant General Manager, Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Jamaica National Group
• Erica Simmons, Executive Director of the Centre for Digital Innovation and Advanced Manufacturing at the Caribbean Maritime University
• Most Reverend Donald Reece, Archbishop Emeritus of Kingston and Chairman of the Ecumenical Education Committee
• Professor David Pennant, Professor of Development Finance, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona
• Dr. Jeffrey Hall, CEO, Jamaica Producers Group Limited
• Gordon Swaby, CEO, Edufocal Limited
• Dr. Garth Anderson, Principal, Church Teachers’ College
• Esther Tyson, Former Principal, Ardenne High School
• Floretta Plummer, Former Principal, Naggo Head Primary School