NCEL Hosts Leadership Day Conference March 20

Thursday, March 20, promises to be a pivotal day for educators, as the National College for Educational Leadership (NCEL) will host its third Leadership Day Conference, at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters, Mona. Under the theme, ‘Situating Educational Leadership in National Development, Going Beyond Conversations to Implementation’, the event aims to explore innovative and actionable strategies to advance educational leadership and improve student outcomes across the country. Following two successful virtual conferences in 2023 and 2024, the 2025 conference will take a hybrid format, allowing for both face-to-face engagement and an online audience through live streaming on NCEL’s YouTube channel. Among those expected to be in attendance are stakeholders in education, to include policymakers, educational administrators and teachers, dedicated to enhancing educational leadership. Director/Principal (Interim) at NCEL, Keriffe Clark, at a JIS Think Tank, today (March 14), said that the NCEL, since its inception, has taken a comprehensive approach to leadership development.

He emphasised the importance of moving beyond discussions of educational leadership to practical implementation.

“This year, we are taking a 360-degree approach to leadership development that spans the entire educational system – from early-childhood to primary, secondary, and tertiary levels,” he explained.

The conference will begin with registration starting at 8:30 a.m., followed by the official opening ceremony at 9:00 a.m.

With an expected attendance of 250 individuals on-site, the conference will facilitate an inclusive environment, allowing for additional participation through the NCEL YouTube channel.

Two keynote speakers will headline the event – Chair of the Education Transformation Oversight Committee (ETOC), Dr. Adrian Stokes, and President of the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), Professor Andrew Spencer. In addition to keynote addresses, the conference will feature concurrent sessions led by stakeholders, researchers, and interest groups addressing various issues of leadership. Topics will include innovative best practices in leadership at different educational levels to system-wide implementation strategies aimed at improving student outcomes. A panel discussion looking on the role of males in education and educational leadership, and a debate competition will also form part of the day’s activities.

Mr. Clark noted that the conference’s focus encompasses all areas and tiers of leadership, underlining the importance of collaboration among the various stakeholders. The Leadership Day Conference is a free event, encouraging broad participation from pre-service and in-service teachers, school administrators, and representatives from the Ministry of Education, Skills, Information and Youth. “At NCEL we are dedicated to improving the level and quality of leadership in the country; therefore, all our learning products are free, with the exception of the Aspiring Principals Programme,” said Mr. Clark.

For information on the registration process, persons can visit ncel.gov.jm. Conference information is also available through NCEL’s social media pages – Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn.