Stakeholders welcome Dana as Minister of Education

EDUCATION leaders on Wednesday approved the nomination of Senator-Information Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon as Education Minister, expressing hope that she will inject new energy into the ongoing education transformation agenda, in line with other demands of the super ministry.

Morris Dixon, whose appointment was announced by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Wednesday morning during his weekly post-Cabinet press conference at Jamaica House in Kingston, was catapulted to the position following the appointment of former Education Minister Fayval Williams as Finance Minister. Williams replaces Dr Nigel Clarke, who resigned on Wednesday to take up the role of deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

On Wednesday, Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) president Dr. Mark Smith, while congratulating the two women, said the JTA “looks forward to working with Morris Dixon to ensure the continued development of the system.”

“As an association, we want to work with anyone who understands the importance of education changing the collective destiny of Jamaicans, which is why she comes to the office at a critical time. We still have some of the goals set out in the Patterson Report to achieve and we look forward to her role in injecting adrenaline into the process and moving it forward,” Smith said Observer from Jamaica.

“I believe that she will be able to build on the successes achieved by her predecessor, but of course put more emphasis on ensuring that we are able to improve spending on schools and have an impact on transforming the reality of the current class,” he added.

The Education Transformation Program is expected to improve the system in line with the 365 recommendations contained in the 2021 Report of the Jamaica Education Transformation Commission by Professor Orlando Patterson. The Patterson Report recognized seven pillars for transformation in the education sector, namely governance, legislation, leadership and administration; early childhood education; curriculum teaching and teacher training; higher education sector, technical and vocational education and training; infrastructure and technology; and financing. Transforming the country’s education system will cost $280 billion over 20 years and $166 billion over the first seven years of the program. The recommendations are being implemented over an eight-year period spanning 2023-2031, with the process monitored by the Education Transformation and Oversight Committee (ETOC).

Meanwhile, the JTA president, commenting on the former Minister of Education’s appointment, said: “She is taking up a position that has never been held by a woman before, so we congratulate her on breaking this glass ceiling, giving a lot of hope to young women across the island that they will be able to hold any office in the country.

“We’ve already had a female prime minister, now we have a finance minister who is a lady, so I think we can take some positive lessons from this and a great opportunity to motivate young ladies,” Smith said.

On Wednesday, Jamaica Association of Secondary School Principals (JAPSS) president Linvern Wright, noting that he was not familiar with Morris Dixon’s involvement in the education sector, said: “I trust that the government acted consciously in how the meeting was handled.”

“We are concerned about some things, such as how the transformation will take place; we don’t think this is on the right track, and we hope that one of the things that it will do first is just make sure that we have very clear goals, that we adequately fund the transition, and that we look at those things that we can afford, and “We don’t try to do everything,” he said Observer.

He continued by saying that JAPSS “is concerned that the transformation narrative appears to be being taken over by the ministry itself.”

“I think the ETOC needs to make sure that it responds to us in a meaningful way and that there is a greater level of consultation about the goals that we have set for education, and that we are realistic about our goals and focus on those things are possible in the short term,” Wright explained.

“I really wish her all the best and I hope that in the interest of education and children, we will have the leadership we need to get education where it needs to go,” he said.

Added Wright: “My bottom line is that I want the Ministry of Education to focus not on conversations, but on outcomes, collaboration and ensuring that stakeholders have a say, and making sure that we do those things that are necessary, for education to work. We need a firm hand and a clear direction in which education should go to ensure that we make moves that do not leave education behind even after the conversation about transformation.”

Meanwhile, President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), Stewart Jacobs, while congratulating both ministers, said: “NPTAJ will miss Minister Williams because of the relationship she has built with us over the last few years, attending our schools functions, supporting our efforts and supporting us in many ways.”

“She was a minister we could turn to for advice at almost any time, and from time to time she would seek our advice on matters related to the school system and parents,” he told reporters. Observer.

Noting that Morris Dixon’s appointment comes at a critical time in the school year with external examinations approaching, he said: “It is very important that the change of minister does not impact the day-to-day running of the ministry, which will come down to impacting our students over time “.

Morris Dixon, who was Minister without Portfolio in the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for Information, Skills and Digital Transformation, is a 2004 Fulbright Scholar and a graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI), where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Economics (Hons) and Master’s degree in Government Administration (Honours). She is also a graduate of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, where she obtained her PhD in international studies and the executive program at Harvard Business School. Morris Dixon served as a senior executive at Jamaica National Group and managing director of JN General Insurance Limited.

She has implemented many strategic large-scale projects, including: the launch of the first UK-authorized Caribbean bank in 2020, as well as the reorganization of Jamaica National Group, which created JN Bank and a new group structure in 2017. Seconded from JN Group to Bank of Jamaica, she also led the successful completion of the National Risk Assessment for Jamaica in 2021, which is a key element of the Jamaica Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plan. She also held senior public sector positions in the Office of the Prime Minister and the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (Jampro).

Her career began at UWI, where she taught several undergraduate and graduate courses. During her time at UWI, she also worked on the Jamaica Economic Project, which was a precursor to the successful Caribbean Policy Research Institute. Her passion was education. She has served on the Jamaica Education Transformation Commission and the Education Commission of the Archdiocese of Kingston. He is also a trustee of Campion College.