Biography of Wesley Barrett

A reflective, results-oriented and innovative professional educator and leader with special interest and skills in educational standards-setting, open and distance learning, economics of education, teacher professional development, mathematics education, project evaluation, quality assurance, comparative education and international travel.Mr. Barrett  was educated at the Mico College, University of the West Indies and Western Michigan University (USA). He has participated in courses at the International Training Institute (Australia), International Institute of Educational Planning (France) Commonwealth of Learning (Canada)  and the University of New Orleans. He holds a Teacher’s Diploma, B.A. (Pure Math & Economics), M.A. (Ed) Math and Science Education and certificates in Project Management, Financial Management as well as Distance Learning.He began his career in education as a teacher at the Giddy Hall All-age School, moving on to become Principal Kilmarnock All-age School for seven years before joining the Ministry of Education in 1973. Appointed Chief Education Officer in 1993, he retired in 2004 and  joined the Caribbean Examinations Council as Pro-Registrar. He currently works as an Educational Consultant and gives of his time to The Teachers’ Appeals Tribunal and the Mico University College.Career Highlights:

  • Conceptualised and led in the establishment of Literacy Centres at Moneague College and Bethlehem Moravian College to prepare teachers of literacy for the first three levels of the education system
  • Initiated and led in the development of Educational Standards for Primary and Secondary Education
  • Conceptualised and led in the rationalisation of technical/vocational education at the secondary level and in the establishment of “Centres of Excellence” in  a pilot project in St Elizabeth and Westmoreland
  • Led in the planning and management of the process of decentralization of the educational administrative system and in the setting up of the Regional Education Offices
  • Initiated and led in the establishment of “Centre of Excellence in the Learning and Teaching of Primary Science” at the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE)
  • Led and managed the establishment of the post of Master Teacher in the education system
  • Led administratively and technically in the reclassification of then New Secondary Schools to Comprehensive High and then High Schools
  • Managed the transition from the overseas examinations to CXC examinations and assessments
  • Performed as counter-part to several international consultants (World Bank, IDB, CDB, USAID etc) to the Ministry of Education
  • Received several awards for contribution to education in Jamaica

Publications: “The Caribbean Examinations Council” in The Caribbean Community in Transition (2008)            by Kenneth Hall & Myrtle Chuck-A-Sang Several articles on education in the Daily Observer Newspaper (2004-10)Positions held: Chair, Association of Caribbean Chief Education Officers, Founder/Chair, Jamaican                       Association of Distance and Open Learning, Returning Officer, Elder, United Church