Publications and Tweets

Articles

Framing Standards of Leadership Behaviour and Public Discourse on Accountability

Steven Covey in his 1990 classic, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, makes the distinction between what he calls character ethics and marketing ethics. Character ethics are governed by a commitment to transparency and grounded in the belief that one should be authentic and be committed to truthful speaking....
Read More

Legacy-focused leadership

October 19, 2022 In Martin Luther King’s speech to sanitation workers in Memphis on April 3, 1968, he told the workers that they had some difficult days ahead, but the challenges and possible costs of what his and their actions may bring him, did not matter to him anymore for...
Read More

Removal of the Monarch as Head of State…to what end? Reimagining the leadership role of Head of State

October 6, 2022 Dr Canute Thompson There has been extensive public discourse concerning the future of Jamaica’s relationship with the British Monarch.  It appears to be the case that most Jamaicans want to sever relations with the monarch.  To be brutally honest, it is largely an inconsequential issue for me,...
Read More

PRELIMINARY REPORT ON FINDINGS ON TEACHER MIGRATION: THE RECENT JAMAICAN EXPERIENCE

September 24, 2022 The Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning (CCEP), located at The University of the West Indies is conducting a series of research studies on the issue of Jamaica’s recent experience with teacher migration.  Some early findings from an online survey, which was based on an instrument developed by...
Read More

An Invitation to Leadership in Education in Jamaica

September 13, 2022 Dr Michael Witter The haemorrhage of teachers, nurses, doctors and any other group of professionals reminds us of how connected Jamaica is to the United States of America (USA).  That country has been losing its teachers and nurses, largely because of low salaries, very poor working conditions,...
Read More

Teacher migration in Jamaica: Exploring the causes, effects, and solutions

Deatricia Ming and Celia Christian August 30, 2022 Ms Deatricia Ming Ms Celia Christian Every sector requires a healthy attrition rate to carry out its regular and vital processes; this in turn allows optimal performance. The concern arises when attrition rates are accelerated to the point where short notices are...
Read More

Denialism, a dangerous variant of weak leadership

August 24, 2022 One of the qualities which distinguishes great leaders from mediocre ones, is the capacity to develop and communicate a clear and compelling vision and to build support among would-be followers and even opponents of that vision.  A vision is, simply, the power of seeing beyond the immediate...
Read More

If Jamaica is to make progress, education transformation must succeed: Part 2

August 15, 2022 Dr Canute Thompson In Part 1, published on July 25, 2022, I summarized some of the issues which were discussed at  a forum which was held on July 21, 2022. This initiative was a collaborative effort between the Office of the Vice Chancellor of The University of...
Read More

The Patterson Commission Report: A Primary School Teacher’s Perspective

August 9, 2022 Ms. Deatricia Ming Scope of the Report Over the years, numerous reports have been commissioned to address the problems plaguing Jamaica’s education system. These reports have highlighted several issues in the sector which require swift actions, however, there has been a continuous failure on the part of...
Read More

If Jamaica is to make progress, education transformation must succeed: Part 1

July 25, 2022 One of the big lessons coming out of the Patterson Commission Report on Jamaica’s education system is the fact that it did not reveal much that is new - either findings or recommendations. Rather, the report in reiterating several of the findings and recommendations of previous studies...
Read More

Shared leadership and building trust

July 16, 2022 One of the fundamental trust-producing and respect-winning behaviours of leaders is found in their willingness and ability to both give space to members of their teams to excel and to celebrate the performance of their teams. In an article entitled “Leadership behaviours which nurture organizational trust”, published...
Read More

THE PATTERSON REPORT ON JAMAICA’S EDUCATION SYSTEM: THOUGHTS ON THE PROPOSED OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

Dr. Canute Thompson June 14, 2022 Professor Orlando Patterson Among the many recommendations of the 2021 Patterson Commission on the Jamaican education system, is the establishment of an oversight body to monitor the implementation of its recommendations.  This body will be called the Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC). The Government...
Read More

A reflection on Jamaica’s entry into the race for Commonwealth Secretary-General: Examining issues of leadership readiness

I do not support Jamaica’s decision to nominate  a candidate for the post at this time, given that CARICOM Heads at their meeting in Belize, earlier this year, had voted “overwhelmingly” to support Scotland for a second term. 
Read More

Reimagining Jamaica’s Labour / Skills Shortage!!

May 19, 2022 Jamaica faces a labour and skills shortage which is far more stark and severe than the Prime Minister Andrew Holness has communicated, when he spoke at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new hotel, in April 2022.  Indeed, the characterization of the crisis offered by the Prime Minister...
Read More

Leadership in the pursuit of one law for all

May 9, 2022 One of my persistent criticisms about the landscape of Jamaican society (and might I add, including the Church), relates to double standards.  This practice of double standards is often manifested in the unbalanced and disproportionate application of laws and rules.  Even in circumstances in which a decision-maker...
Read More

National Youth Service as Sustainable Development Strategy: Contemplating Key Elements

Dr. Canute Thompson April 20, 2022 Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced, earlier this month, the planned implementation of a mandatory National Youth Service (NYS) programme.  I welcome this announcement, having been calling for this since 2017.  In this brief article I share some of the suggestions I have been making...
Read More

Analyzing the Patterson Report on the Jamaican Education System

Dr. Canute Thompson April 6, 2022 The report of the Orlando Patterson-led “Jamaica Education Transformation Commission, was presented to the government in late 2021 and continues to await public debate.  The Gleaner newspaper is to be commended for its leadership in debating aspects of the report and urging a national...
Read More

Understanding the Crisis in Jamaica’s Education System and Shaping the Call to Action

There is a management dictum which says, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t management it”.  Put differently one cannot solve a problem unless and until the scope of the problem is determined. Jamaica’s education system faces a major, life-time crisis which was bad before the COVID-19 pandemic and has...
Read More

Unity, Reconciliation, and Truth: Leadership imperatives for a divided nation

Minister of Finance Nigel Clarke has taken (what I regard as) an untimely and unwise decision to place the images of former Prime Ministers Michael Manley and Edward Seaga on a new $2,000 banknote.  At present, the image of Michael Manley appears on the $1,000 note and Seaga appears on...
Read More

Urgently needed legislative changes: Limit powers of Ministers to overturn decisions

The Holness administration has had yet another resignation of a cabinet minister, this time a very senior minister who is also chair of the governing party, Robert Montague.  Montague’s resignation has come in the wake of an Integrity Commission report on the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA). Robert Montague is a...
Read More
1 3 4 5 6

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)