Author name: Melissa Beckford-Simpson

The educational landscape is a truly dynamic space; every so often, a new concept, theory or approach becomes the new “buzzword”. Maslow and Bloom seem to have lost the traction they have held for quite some time and; fresh in the minds of stakeholders in education are: 5Cs, 4Es, STEM/STEAM/STREAM. The 5Cs refer to  Critical […]

The Government of Jamaica had indicated it would introduce the Sixth Form Pathway Programme that would seek to improve the educational outcomes of many high school leavers. By engaging in courses to make themselves more marketable, school leavers through pursuing CXC/City and Guilds subjects, skill based subjects, this initiative also contributes to the improvement of

Effective leadership in every sphere requires the existence of trust.  A leader’s believability and the willingness of others to carry out instructions and act in the organization’s best interests, even in the absence of explicit situational instructions, are all dependent on trust between the leader and those he or she leads.  The ability of members

In 2022, teacher migration intensified in Jamaica.  In responding to the developments, the Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning (CCEP),conducted a series of interventions including staging seminars and carrying out field research to elicit the views of teachers.  The seminars engaged school administrators whose views on the causes, and proposals of the solutions including their management

Hurricane Beryl, the first hurricane of the 2024 Hurricane Season hit Jamaica on July 3, 2024. At the time of writing (August 7), it was approximately four weeks since the event.  The hurricane’s impact on the island was disproportionate with sections of parishes on the southern and southwestern sides (Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, and Westmoreland)

Shopping for traditional schools (brand schools) such as Campion College, Westwood High School and the Wolmer’s Schools just to name a few is the norm for Jamaican parents, teachers and students. In years gone by, and possibly, to a lesser extent, passing examinations for a non-traditional high school would be synonymous to a major, even

The Government of Jamaica tabled the report of the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) and the accompanying Ministry Paper No 1/2024 of the Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs. I asked myself the question, having read the report, “is this reform or just partisan realpolitik?”. Reform suggests that something noble, radical, visionary, audacious, selfless, game-changing is

Jamaica’s democracy faces some clear dangers which remain contemporary. Thought and industry leaders in the society (in academia, civil society groups, the church, and the private sector) who choose to ignore these risks become complicit to whatever costs the country incurs from such risks.  Even in circumstances in which such costs arise from cowardism (fear),

Education Transformation as Social Justice The transformation of Jamaica’s education system is a goal we should all embrace and a journey, which though will be long, is one which we must pursue.  Perhaps the most important reason such a journey should be undertaken is that justice demands it.  Educational transformation is an act of social

It is deemed normal for supporters of political parties to support what is done by leaders of their parties, regardless of how problematic and demonstrably unethical or unlawful such conduct may be.  Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the United States of America where the twice-impeached ex-President, Donald Trump, now on criminal trial