A comprehensive review and assessment of Jamaica’s education system, its structure, operation, and processes has been compiled by historical and cultural sociologist Professor Orlando Patterson.

Next Thursday (July 21), The Full Reform of Education in Jamaica Report, 2021, better known as the Orlando Patterson Commission Report will be examined during a Vice-Chancellor’s Forum hosted by The University of the West Indies (The UWI) in collaboration with the Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning (CCEP).

The virtual event, themed ‘Examining the Patterson Commission Report: Lessons for transforming education in Jamaica and the Caribbean‘, brings together regional technical experts in education who will discuss the report’s findings and recommendations, how they may be interpreted and applied to address Jamaica’s education system and elements of it which may be relevant across the wider Caribbean.

It will be live streamed from 11:00 am (AST/Eastern Caribbean) and 10:00 am (Jamaica time) via UWItv. 

Head of The UWI-based CCEP, Dr Canute Thompson, together with Professor Silvia Kouwenberg, dean of Faculty of Humanities and Education at the university’s Mona Campus, will deliver the feature presentations.

Two panel discussions, moderated by former education minister Reverend Ronald Thwaites will follow.

Panellists include: Dr Martin Baptiste, senior education specialist at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB); Dr Laurette Bristol, programme manager of human resource development at CARICOM; Robert Gregory, independent educational consultant; Professor Paul Miller, professor of educational leadership and social justice at the Institute for Educational and Social Equity; education specialist at Old Harbour Bay Primary School Deatricia Ming; and lecturer in language, online learning specialist and 2023 – 2026 head of Caribbean Centre for Educational Planning, Dr Schontal Moore.