Celebrating Dr. Merlin Barriffe: A Lifetime of Dedication to Education

On National Heroes Day, Monday (Oct. 21), Dr. Merlin Roselee Barriffe will be presented with the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service for 40 years of contribution to public education in Jamaica.

It is just reward for a lifetime of commitment and work in the education sector, which has been marked by dedicated and significant contribution as a classroom teacher, principal, administrator, trainer and researcher.

She was instrumental in training teachers and the development of programmes and manuals for the sector, including the administration of examinations.

Dr. Barriffe is grateful for the recognition.

“I have been working in education for so many years,” she tells JIS News.

The award also continues a legacy of national acknowledgement of her family members for a job well done.

“Most of us are civil servants, my sister who is currently the General Secretary for the Nurses Association of Jamaica, was awarded last year; My brother who retired from the army was awarded a few years ago. This award is very timely, and I’m glad that I’m receiving it while I’m alive,” she tells JIS News.

Reflecting on her journey, Dr. Barriffe shares that her passion for teaching was evident to her from a young age.

She recalls being asked about her career ambitions in grade six at primary school and confidently stated that she wanted to be a teacher and a principal.

“It was in my blood from that time,” she says.

Hailing from the small, farming community of Cheapside in Manchester, Dr. Barriffe’s career began with a 12-week training programme at Kenwood Junior Teachers College in 1969, designed to address the shortage of teachers in Jamaica.

She rose through the ranks over a 16-year period, serving as a classroom teacher, senior teacher, and acting vice principal at White Marl Primary School.

Her commitment, experience and expertise led her to the central office of the Ministry of Education in 1988 where she served in various capacities as an early childhood teacher-trainer, including with the Early Childhood Unit and the Student Assessment Unit (SAU) where she remained until retirement.

During her tenure at the Ministry, Dr. Barriffe played a pivotal role in developing policies and programmes that shaped Jamaica’s educational landscape, notably creating a grading system for vocational schools.

“At that time, we had three vocational schools. Also, while at the SAU, I worked in every area; training the teachers to write the (test) items, putting the tests together, and administering the tests. But at that time there wasn’t any handbook to train persons or administrators. So, I developed the manual for administering all the examinations administered by the Government of Jamaica,” Dr. Barriffe notes.

Her expertise in testing and measurement was recognised and she was sent to the University of Cambridge for specialised training.

One of her other significant contributions has been in early childhood education where she has done research that highlights the importance of trained teachers in early childhood institutions, leading to initiatives that improved the quality of education for young children.

“I was happy to get into early childhood education because my first degree was a study of childhood institutions. I was always passionate about education [from the foundation],” she explains.

In 2004, Dr. Barriffe was appointed senior education officer.

She coordinated the marking exercise for all examinations administered by the Ministry.

Even after her retirement in 2009, Dr. Barriffe has continued to serve her community in various capacities.

“Apart from education, I have been a Justice of The Peace since 2003. I am a Lay Magistrate and I served in the Spanish Town court, now I’m presently serving in the Old Harbour court. I am a marriage officer, I was the volunteer chaplain for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) at one time, and in my community, I serve as an advisor for the Every Citizens Association,” she tells JIS News.

Dr. Barriffe’s legacy is one of dedication, passion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence in Jamaica’s education system.

Her contributions have left an indelible mark, and her story serves as an inspiration to educators and students alike.

As she continues to serve her community, Dr. Barriffe’s impact will be felt for generations to come.