Publications and Tweets

Articles

Redefining the Role of Jamaican MPs – Part 2: Empower Local Government

John Wayne Warren In Part 1, we explored the “R” in R.E.P. — Restore Integrity — by arguing that Members of Parliament (MPs) must return to their constitutional function as lawmakers and representatives, not local welfare officers. This second step in the civic reset takes us to the “E” in his or...
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Culturally Responsive Leadership: A Necessity, Not a Luxury, in Caribbean Schools

Tasheika Watson In an era where global educational discourses are increasingly shaped by issues of equity, justice, and inclusion, culturally responsive leadership emerges not as an idealistic vision, but as a practical necessity. For schools in the Caribbean, especially Jamaica, where histories of colonialism, structural inequities, and cultural hybridity persist, education cannot...
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Redefining the Role of Jamaican MPs – Part 1: Restoring Integrity

John Wayne Warren On May 3, 2025, the Jamaican Parliament triumphantly passed a long-anticipated Green Paper outlining the job description and code of conduct for Members of Parliament (MPs). This milestone was positioned as a move toward greater accountability, but beneath the surface of this fanfare moment lurks a sinister truth:...
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On Apparent Bias and Governance 

Matondo Mukulu The President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is certainly not a person whose views can be easily ignored. After all he does represent an important grouping in our body politic. Therefore knowing that he appreciates the weight of his opinion in our society, I was startled...
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 FIGET THE SMOKESCREEN HONG KONG MODEL MINISTER!

Matondo Mukulu Just when I thought I had heard it all in the contemporary debate on the matter of Jamaica abolishing appeals to the London based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) I was thrown another shiny object by the Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs at a meeting...
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Time to Professionalise Political Leadership: A Call for a Licence to Practise

John Wayne Warren In a world of growing complexity, it is time to professionalise political leadership. This article proposes that candidates for elected office in Jamaica should first obtain a Licence to Practise - demonstrating competence in law, economics, governance, communication, and ethics. Based on global evidence, this approach would...
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Educational Priorities in Caribbean Society: Strengthening Literacy with the WATS-ON Strategy

Tasheika Watson In the warm hum of Caribbean classrooms, the true heartbeat of education lies not in the latest gadget or in exam scores, but in the simple, profound act of reading. Literacy, the gateway to all learning, remains one of the most pressing priorities for Caribbean societies, and Jamaica stands...
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Examining Re-imaginative Leadership through Sociological Lens

Dr Heather RIcketts Professor Canute Thompson invited to me to give remarks at the launch of his latest book: Re-imaginative Leadership: Concepts and Applications.  I hesitated. I tried to disabuse him of any notion that I am a management or leadership scholar, despite the fact that we do teach management and its...
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Public Discourse and the Quest for Leadership among Media Practitioners

Professor Canute Thompson It is often said that the ultimate measure of a person, and a society, is shown in how they treat the weak, especially the elderly and infant.  At the risk of appearing coarse, and I am not being coarse, even animals are expected to treat the elderly and...
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Creating Reimaginative Leaders for Business and Society

Mr Howard Mitchell I am privileged and honoured to be given the opportunity to comment on this literary work from the perspective of a businessman and as someone who has had the pleasure and pain of being associated with many of Jamaica’s leaders in the public and private sectors.  Professor...
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The Inefficiency of Jamaica’s Education System: Through the Lens of Economics

Amorkard T. Brown Should each student be viewed through the lens of a dollar sign, or solely as an individual deserving of quality education? In a system reliant on public funds, this question is not as simple as it appears. Money plays a crucial role, but where does the emphasis...
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Wage Slavery as a Caribbean Reality: Finding the Path to a Better Tomorrow – Part I

Professor Canute Thompson Ms Allison Montgomery   Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part article. Part I which is published below will establish the historical context of wage slavery in the Caribbean and Part II which will appear next Sunday, December 15 will offer solutions for combatting this ugly...
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Towards a Great Caribbean Century: A Reflection on Michael Manley’s Vision

Professor Canute Thompson Editor’s note: This article is an edited version of a speech which was given by Professor Canute Thompson to mark the 99th anniversary of the birth of Michael Manley in 2023 and is being presented here to mark the centenary of his birth.   I am dreaming...
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University Global Rankings: A look at The UWI’s story

Professor Canute Thompson In the landscape of higher education, university rankings have become a crucial metric of quality and reputation. The recently published Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings highlight this fact.   In The UWI's 2017 - 2022 five-year strategic plan, The UWI established as one of its strategic...
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Generative Artificial Intelligence: Reviewing developments

Professor Canute Thompson In an article published in the June 2023 issue of the newsletter of the Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning, titled " Chat GPT – Incremental or Exponential Revolution in Artificial Intelligence” I incipiently argue that the seeming awe with which Chat GPT was being greeted as some...
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Making Sense of the 2024 US Presidential Elections : Whither white supremacy and engrained patriarchy

Professor Canute Thompson The American people have spoken and, in my view, have spoken decisively in choosing Donald Trump as their  47th president.  Trump’s victory has come as a shock to many, while others are saying that it was expected.  But many analysts who were moved by, what they saw as, the flawless roll...
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Understanding the Root Causes of Low Mathematics Performance in Caribbean Schools: Exploring Possible Solutions

By Dr Marsha Black-Chen The Importance of Dialogue The problem of low mathematics performance among students across all levels of the Caribbean education system has been a systemic problem, and some may say it has been so for generations. The understanding is that being proficient at math ultimately leads to...
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Towards an understanding of the phenomenon of violence in Caribbean countries

Professor Canute Thompson Allison Montgomery The data on homicides in the Caribbean, in 2023, as reported by the Statista Research Department, (a source that is rated as highly trustworthy by several entities) showed Jamaica with the highest rate of murder per capita, at 60.9 per 100,000.  Statista, which shows data on...
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Examining the Math Problem in the Jamaican Education System

Dervin Cochrane Since 2020, Jamaica's performance in mathematics has had a varying trend. The performance ranged from 36 % to 47.3% at its highest point. Below is an illustration of this in Figure 1. Jamaica's pass percentage was 38.2% in 2020, during a time when Covid-19 was wreaking havoc across the...
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University-Trained Versus College-Trained Teachers: A disparity in Effectiveness in the Jamaican Classroom

Amorkard T. Brown  A few weeks ago, I made a pronouncement on the recent Primary Exit Profile (PEP) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) results that highlighted significant deficit in learning and mastery at these two levels particularly in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-based subjects.  One of the recommendations is to have teachers’...
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OTHER PUBLICATIONS

  • Thompson, C. S. (2020). Theories and applications of transformational school

leadership: Lessons from the experiences of two school leaders in Jamaica. Journal of Thought, Vol. 54 (3 & 4), 55 – 72. Available at http://journalofthought.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/08thompson.pdf

  • Thompson, C.S., & Samuels-Lee, L. (2020a). Jamaican teachers’ perspectives on the

desirability of performance-based payment: Lessons for education policy makers and school administrators. Educational Planning Journal, Vol. 27 (2), 63 – 84. Available at https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1252700

  •  Thompson, C. S., & Samuels-Lee, L. (2020b). Planning employee

empowerment: Lessons from the perspectives of Jamaican teachers. Educational Planning Journal, Vol. 27 (4), 45 – 64. Available at https://isep.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ISEPVol27.Issue4_.pdf

  • Cook, L., Thompson, C.S., &Weaver, S. Weaver, L. (2020). Mixed Methods

Research: Exploring its complexities and challenges. Caribbean Journal of Mixed Methods, Vol. 1 (01), 167 – 190.

Available at https://dhjhkxawhe8q4.cloudfront.net/uwi-press-wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/14144910/CJMMR.pdf.

  • Thompson, C. S. (2019a). School administrators’ and stakeholders’ attitudes toward, and

perspectives on, school-improvement planning. Educational Planning Journal, Vol. 25 (4), 7 – 26. Available at http://isep.info/volume-25-issue-4

  • Thompson, C. S. (2019b). Exploring teachers’ perspectives on effective organizational

change strategies. Educational Planning Journal, Vol. 26 (2), 15 – 28.

Available at https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1217437

  • Thompson, C.S., Burgess, S. & Major, T. (2019). Towards a philosophy of education for

the Caribbean: Exploring African models of integrating theory and praxis. Journal of Thought, Vol. 53 (1 & 2), 53 – 72.

Available at http://journalofthought.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/08thompsonetal1.pdf

  • Thompson, C. S. (2018a). Leadership behaviours that nurture organizational trust:

                              Re-Examining the fundamentals.  Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol.                                      21 (1),   28 – 42.

Available at                              

http://www.jhrm.eu/2018/04/28-leadership-behaviours-that-nurture-                                                  organizational-trust-       re-examining-the-fundamentals/

  • Thompson, C.S. (2018b). Planning for improvements in boys’ academic performance: Towards a better understanding of the role of teacher-student relationship.                Educational Planning Journal, Vol. 24 (4), 59 – 76.            

Available at:       http://isep.info/wpcontent/uploads/2018/01/24_4_4_PlanningforImprovementsinBoys.pdf

  • Thompson, C.S. (2018c). Preparing Caribbean teachers for the 21st century:  Whither the place of ethics.  Journal of Teacher Education and Educational Leadership, Vol. (2), 1 – 17.
  •  Thompson, C.S. (2018d). The construct of ‘respect’ in teacher-student

relationship: Exploring dimensions of ethics of care and sustainable development. Journal of Leadership Education, Vol. 17 (3), 42 – 60. Available at http://www.journalofleadershiped.org/attachments/article/551/2017_0726Thompson.pdf

  •  Thompson, C. S. (2017a). An exploration of faculty involvement in and attitudes toward strategic planning in their institutions. Educational Planning Journal, Vol. 24 (1), 7 – 19. Available at  http://isep.info/volume-24-issue-1
  • Thompson, C. S. (2017c). Teachers’ expectations of educational leaders’

leadership approach and perspectives on the principalship: Identifying critical leadership paradigms for the 21st century. Journal of Organizational & Educational LeadershipVol. 2 (2). Available at http://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/joel/vol2/iss2/4/

  •  Thompson, C. S., Burke, T., King, K., & Wong, S. (2017). Leadership strategies

for turning around under-performing schools: Lessons from two Jamaican schools. Journal of Education and Development in the Caribbean, Vol. 16 (2), 42 – 77. Available at https://www.mona.uwi.edu/soe/publications/jedic/article/454

Thompson, C. S. (2017b). Review of Leadership for success: The Jamaican school experience, by Disraeli Hutton and Beverly Johnson. Caribbean Journal of Education 39, (1 & 2), 150 – 153. Available at https://www.mona.uwi.edu/soe/publications/cje/article/456

NEWSPAPER COLUMNS

Retrieved from

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/the-agenda-front-page/time-for-more-action-the-future-of-education-and-the-fierce-urgency-of-the-now_205517

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

———. (2018, July 29). The academic as social activist: An endangered species? Jamaica Observer. Retrieved from  http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/the-agenda/the-academic-as-social-activist-An_endangered_species%3F_139806

  • Thompson, C. S. (2020, December 8). The PNP’s challenge. Jamaica Observer.

Retrieved from

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/the-pnp-s-challenge-the-pnp-s-challenge-overcoming-its-existential-crises-or-death-wish_209425

 

  • (2020, November 20). If Golding is to make a mark. Jamaica Observer.

Retrieved from https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/if-golding-is-to-make-a-mark_207667

 

  • (2020, October 11). Developing our nation: Preserving our democracy.

Jamaica Observer. Retrieved from https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/the-agenda/developing-our-nation-preserving-our-democracy_204740

 

  • (2020, October 1). If Lisa and Mark are to inspire. Jamaica Observer.

Retrieved from https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/if-lisa-and-mark-are-to-inspire-_204241

 

  • (2020, September 16). The 2020 General Election and the future of the PNP.

Jamaica Observer. Retrieved from  https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/the-2020-general-election-and-the-future-of-the-pnp_202658

 

  • (2020, September 1). Promises versus Performance – Part 2, The Holness

Administration 2016 – 2020. Jamaica Observer. Retrieved from

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/promises-vs-performance-part-2-the-andrew-holness-administration-2016-to-2020_201901

 

  • (2020, August 25). Promises versus Performance. Jamaica Observer. Retrieved

from https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/promises-vs-performance-the-andrew-holness-administration-2016-to-2020_201647

 

  • (2020, August 4). Highly popular…OK then. Jamaica Observer. Retrieved from

 https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/highly-popular-ok-then_200025

 

  • __________. (2020, March 8). Truth and political bias. Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved from

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/focus/20200308/canute-thompson-truth-and-political-bias

 

  • (2020, January 1). Appraising Chris Tufton’s performance. Jamaica Gleaner.

Retrieved from http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/commentary/20200101/canute-s-thompson-appraising-chris-tuftons-performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

———. (2016, October 9). Processes vs politics in public administration. Jamaica Observer. Retrieved from http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Processes-vs-politics-in-public-administration_76461

 

 

 

———. (2016, October 15). Acknowledging inconvenient truths about crime in Jamaica. Jamaica Observer. Retrieved from http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Acknowledging-inconvenient-truths-about-crime-in-Jamaica_76462

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

———. (2016, November 12). Coping in a post-fact world: the irony of the ‘information’ age. Jamaica Observer. Retrieved from http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Coping-in-a-post-fact-world–the-irony-of-the–information–age_80177

PAPERS PRESENTED

  1. (2020) Expert Panelist: “UNESCO Webinar on Education Response during COVID-19”. May 7.
  2. (2020)       Response to Paper: “A Utility Account of Liberal Education by Jane Gatley”. Philosophy of Education Society. Pittsburgh, Penn. March 6 – 9 
  3. (2019) Paper Presentation: “School Administrators Perceptions of Strategic Planning: Locating Concerns about Efficacy”. Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning Symposium, Jamaica. October 24-25 
  4. (2019) Panel Discussion: “Youth in Motion: Building Young People’s Future in Small Island Developing States”. UNESCO Conference on Advocating for Small Island Developing States. Kingston, Jamaica. September 11. 
  5. (2019) Paper Presentation: “Personal Professional Responsibilities and Values Issues” at UNESCO’s Global Webinar on Developing Leadership: Sustainable Employability, Productivity, and Governance in the New Workforce. April 24. 
  6. (2019)       Panel Presentation: “Re-Imagining the Task of Philosophy: Defending Philosophy of Education as   Praxis”. Philosophy of Education Society. Richmond, Virginia, March 14 – 18. 
  7. (2019) Panel Presentation: “The Vitality of Educational Planning”. Institute for Educational Administration and Leadership, Jamaica. Kingston, March 6 – 7. 
  8. (2017)       Paper Presentation: “Exploring easily forgotten elements of sustainable development in Early Childhood Education”. Early Childhood Development Conference. Montego Bay. Nov. 26 & 27. 
  9. (2017) Paper Presentation: “Planning for Improved Students’ Performance-Epistemology, Pedagogy, and Teacher Preparation: Exploring Experiences of Students in Jamaican School.  International Society for Educational Planning. Toronto. October 11 – 14. 
  10. (2017) Paper Presentation: “Postmodern Epistemology: Exploring Insights for Improving the Pedagogical Experiences of Students in Jamaican Schools”. Schools of Education Biennial Conference. Montego Bay, June 21. 
  11. (2017) Paper Presentation: “Students’ Perspectives on Listening and its Relationship to their Perceptions of Leadership:  Exploring Dimensions of Ethics of Care and Sustainable Development”. Schools of Education Biennial Conference. Montego Bay, June 22.
  12. (2017)       Paper Presentation: “Leadership Strategies for turning around Underperforming Schools: The Experience of two Jamaican Schools. Institute for Educational Administration and Leadership.  Kingston, March 3.  
  13. (2017) Paper Presentation: “Performance-based pay for Jamaican Teachers. Institute for Educational Administration and Leadership – Jamaica. Kingston, March 3 – 4.  
  14. (2016) Paper Presentation: “An Exploration of faculty involvement in and attitudes towards, strategic planning in their institutions”. International Society for Educational Planning. New Orleans, October 18 – 22.
  15. (2015). Paper Presentation: “Locating the Epicentre of Effective Educational Leadership in the 21st Century”. Institute for Educational Administration and Leadership. Montego Bay, Jamaica, August 20 – 21. 
  16. (2015). Paper Presentation: “Fundamental Requirements for Mainstreaming TVET in the Education System: Finding the Path to Consensus and Collaborative Relationships”:  School of Education and UNESCO, Second International Conference on TVET in the Caribbean. Montego Bay, Jamaica, May 13 – 15. 
  1. (2019) Keynote Address: “Leadership Re-Imagination and Governance: Imperatives for the Advancement of a Transformative Education System”. MICO Old Students’ Annual Glen Owen Memorial Lecture. Kingston, Jamaica. April 11. 
  2. (2019) Keynote Address: “Re-Imagining Higher Education in a Borderless World: Confronting Challenges, Overcoming Obstacles, and Owning Opportunities”. Schools of Education Biennial Conference 2019Keynote Presentation. Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. February 19 – 21. 
  3. (2018) Concurrent Session Presentation: “Reimagining Critical Pedagogy and the Task of Philosophy: Defending Philosophy of Education as Praxis”. Philosophy of Education Society of North America. October 26 – 28.  
  4. (2015). Feature Presentation: “Managing Change in Times of Uncertainty”. Commercial Banking Division, Bank of Nova Scotia, Jamaica. November 13. 
  5. (2014) Feature Presentation: “Learning Challenges facing Leaders in the 21st Century” Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ 34). November 20. 
  6. (2013). Feature Presentation: “Economies of Scale and Scope: The Formation of Industry Alliances as a Strategy for Export Competitiveness”. Caribbean Export Development Agency, 5th Management Consulting Business Symposium. Port of Spain, Trinidad. September 10 – 12.
  7. (2009). Guest Lecture: “Students’ Perceptions and Expectations of Leadership in a Postmodern Era”. University of Manitoba, Canada. March 16. 
  8. (2009) Guest Lecture: “Challenges Facing Small and Medium Sized Enterprises”. University of Manitoba, Canada. March 17. 
  9. (2009). Guest Lecture: “Strategies for Community Capacity Building”. University of Manitoba, Canada. March 18. 
  1. (2015). Workshop Session: “Towards a New Leadership Culture in the Jamaica Library Service”.  Jamaica Library Service. Kingston, December 3.  
  2. (2015). Workshop Session: “Creating a Culture Governed by Shared Core Values and a Commitment to Excellence”.  Ministry of National Security. May 5.
  3. (2015). Workshop Session: “Strategic Leadership and Management”. The University of the West Indies, Strategic Leadership and Management Workshop Series. March 11. 

#

YEAR

CONSULTANCY

ROLE and COUNTRY

FORMAT / TITLE OF TECHNICAL REPORT / OUTPUT

1

2019

OECS School Leadership and Accountability Project

Deputy Lead Consultant

 

Dominica and St. Lucia

Stewart, M., Thompson, C., Smith, M., Moore, S., & Edwards-Kerr, D. (2019). Educational Leadership and Accountability among Primary School Principals and Educational Leaders in Dominica, St. Lucia, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Castries, St. Lucia: Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

 

2

2019

Training of School Leaders in the development of School Improvement Plans

Sole Consultant

 

Antigua

Training Manual

     Strategic plans (12)

3

2017 to 2020

Facilitating the development of School Improvement Plans

Lead Consultant

 

Jamaica

Strategic Plans (4)

4

2016

Review of Inter-American Development Bank Education Sector Transformation Programme Report

Consultant

 

Jamaica

Report on the Facilitation of Stakeholder Review Consultation on IDB ESTP Report

5

2015

Development of Moneague College’s Strategic Plan

Jamaica

Strategic Plan for 2015 to 2020

6

2014

Negotiation of grant of £25M from UK Gov to the Government of Jamaica

Jamaica

Report on UK-Jamaica proposed Memorandum of Understanding for the Reform of Jamaica’s Correctional Estate

7

2014

Merger of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Island Special Constabulary Force

Lead Consultant

 

Jamaica

Report on Process for the Merger of the Island Special Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force

8

2010 – 2012

Management Reviews of the operations of seven Teachers’ and Community Colleges

(Seven separate reports)

Sole Consultant

 

Jamaica

Management Reviews of the_____(name institutions) College

 

(Brown’s Town, Edna Manley, G.C. Foster, Knox, Moneague, Montego Bay, Shortwood)