Corrupt Principal Promotion Policies

Recently, Professor Paul Miller, a United Kingdom based educator, wrote an article on the corrupt practices of selecting school principals in Jamaica. He indicated that the process has been flawed for many years. Professor Miller is correct in his research findings as noted in the link below. Corruption is a societal ill in Jamaica, and the education system is no exception. The article emphasizes that the corruption stems from the member of parliament; however, a great deal of the corruption initiates from the Ministry of Education that will only employ persons for high-level administrative positions if these candidates are socially connected to an influential relatives or friends who are known throughout Jamaica. So, there is no wonder that the Ministry of Education's nepotism practices will trickle down to the hiring of principals. Nevertheless, the death of a young girl late last year at the Prickly Pole Primary school in  St. Ann' clearly shows a principal's inability to lead when she along with the board's director arranged for students and parents to take a bus to participate in a political demonstration against their Member of Parliament, Lisa Hanna. This irresponsible behavior is a minor example of the incompetence of not only many principals but also the members politically selected to serve on school boards. But, unfortunately, such biased selection for these important positions ultimately affects the students who will not have a chance to to their best with incompetent leadership.

Principal Prejudice - Corrupt Promotion Policies Hurting Jamaica's Education System, Claims Professor

Too Much Nepotism and Favoritism in Jamaica

Matondo Mukulu says it best - there is too much nepotism and favoritism in Jamaica. While this behavior is rewarding to the "connected", it is one of the contributors to the countries' inability to mirror the successes that have been achieved by other Caribbean countries.  In fact, so many talented Jamaicans have migrated or will be migrating in the future since nepotism and favoritism have locked them out of gaining opportunities to live a quality life. So, as nepotism and favoritism dictate the progress, wealth, and power of some, the country will continue to lose bright young professionals such as Mr. Mukulu who are simply fed up with unethical, political and private entities that continue to support a "who know you" system.

Leaders On Paper Only

They say they are managers

They say they are directors

They say they are leaders

Paper title leader

Their jobs are never advertised

An interview is not necessary

They are the only job candidate

Paper title leader

Their experience is not important

Their skills are not necessary

Their education is never questioned

Paper title leader

Prime minister connection

Government minister connection

Corporate connection

Family connection

Friend in high places connection

Paper title leader

Inexperienced practices

Frequent mistakes

Uncertain decisions

Challenging tasks

Unsatisfactory  results

Paper title leader

Dr. Joan Campbell - copyright 2014

Jamaicans' Passivity to Government Corruption

The Jamaican dollar has greatly devalued against the U.S. dollar which is now at an all time high selling price of at least JA$100 for US$1.  Unemployment continues to be a major factor as many students are graduating without any signs of employment unless their parents own a company, holds a high position at a company, or the graduate or their parent knows someone influential in the business sector. Having close connections to well-known, wealthy Jamaican families not only will guarantee a top-level job, but it demonstrates nepotism at its best!! Nevertheless, prices of food, gas, electricity, water, and just about everything else have been rising steadily, yet government workers' salaries have remain frozen with the excuse from the finance minister that there is no money to  increase salaries. But, government ministers demonstrate that they have no conscience by using tax payers money to profile at expensive functions and parties every week as seen in the media, and they seem to have no problems finding money to purchase luxury cars for themselves. Furthermore, it is quite absurd to recently read that ministers have received a raise! Even more alarming is that while the government professes there is no money, they seem to find the money to dress in the most expensive clothes and accessories, stay at the most luxurious hotels abroad, take expensive vacations, and arrive there and back on first class airline tickets issued with the use of tax payers' money. After all of these blatant offenses, the Jamaican people remain passive. The only action that the people seem capable of taking is complaining on the radio talk shows and other media about high prices, over-charging of pubic service companies that monopolize industries,  and other consumer issues. The irony is that in a country with so many "leaders", no one will step up to organize any public demonstrations against the difficulties they are facing. Obviously, if prices of goods and services continuously increase and consumers maintain their usual buying customs of these goods, then there will be no efforts made to lower prices or even consider the issues. So, price increases will continue since government and business owners have realized that the passive nature of Jamaicans will not allow them to take action in the streets such as the people of Brazil, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries where the people can no longer take government abuses and have come out in force to demonstrate the government high spending, corruption, and lack of concern in funding the important needs of the people.  People of Jamaica need to put aside their passivity, political biases, and go out in large number to demonstrate government's selfish actions of self-service, the corruptive acts and basically the lack of regard for the people's well being. At this point, that is the only way that a government with no conscience will recognize that they need to begin serving the people of Jamaica and not their personal interests.