DR Blossom O’Meally-Nelson, a former pro-chancellor of the University of Technology and educational development consultant, has warned members of school boards not to allow political loyalties or other partisan alliances to colour their decisions and operation.

Dr O’Meally-Nelson, who is also a former chairman of Duhaney Park Primary School, pointed out that the problem of political influence existed because it was often members of parliament who recommend people to school boards, and that the problem tended to be more acute at the primary level.

“You have to acknowledge that there is a political dynamic… [but] avoid a partisan approach,” cautioned O’Meally-Nelson, who was speaking to chairpersons and members of boards from five primary and high schools participating in the Jamaica National Building Society Foundation’s (JN Foundation) iLead educational leadership programme, being conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

The programme is a three-year initiative aimed at transforming the administrative and academic leadership in 15 primary and high schools in the parishes of Portland, St Mary and St Thomas, which are considered by the National Education Inspectorate to be most in need of better management.

“You know that it was the political directorate that placed you there, but you have to remain true to the loyalties [of the school]. The moment you are now going to lose one of those loyalties and put your political affiliation above what you know is right, in terms of the principal and the staff and what takes place in the school, you are going to compromise yourself,” she said.

O’Meally-Nelson, said the credibility of the school boards depends on the members’ ability to carry out their mandate and avoid conflicts of interest, whether political or otherwise, which can impact decisions made by the board.

Dr Renee Rattray, JN Foundation’s education director and manager of the iLead programme, said there may be need to sensitise MPs on the issue.

“They play an important role in the process; and, therefore, sensitisation for MPs must be seriously considered to improve the quality of school governance,” said Rattray, an educational leadership professional.

Beyond those issues, Dr O’Meally-Nelson emphasised that it was important for boards to be comprised of people with various professional skills and expertise to deepen their capacity to oversee school operations. “Everybody can’t be a lawyer and everybody can’t be a teacher and everybody can’t be a doctor,” she said.