KINGSTON, Jamaica— Former education minister Maxine Henry-Wilson says the current education ministry cannot take the country forward unless a consensus is reached as it relates to education reform.

During an interview on Tuesday Henry-Wilson expressed “great concern” as she believes issues currently plaguing the ministry are being recycled as policies which were previously put in place were not allowed to mature.

“I have been very concerned and I continue to be. We have been talking and talking about education and the education system and what is of great concern is we keep repeating the same thing over and over and over again and not allowing the maturity of the various policies,” Henry-Wilson explained.

She added that after reading a recent policy report from the education ministry she noted that it was similar to a report from 2004 when she served as minister of education.

“So I read the policy report and it really is a replica of the 2004 report and a significant point that has been made in all these reports is that the ministry of education needs to be transformed; that the ministry of education as it exists cannot take the country forward,” she told OBSERVER ONLINE.

The former education minister advised that building a consensus, and ensuring that consultation is had with the wider Jamaica and not only the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) are needed to enact proper education reform.

“… Every time there is an attempt made to do that transformation it is reversed and I would really like to see a concerted effort to build a consensus, [because] you cannot build an education system by making it a non-consensus affair. You have to build a consensus and I am really now trying to see if we can find a way to get it to the authorities that one can’t clap in this education reform. They must set up a system where there is genuine consultation, not just with the PNP but with the entire country so there is an appreciation of what is happening,” Henry-Wilson stated.