The long-time acting principal of Jamaica College (JC) Wayne Robinson, has finally been confirmed as headmaster of the all-boys’ institution in St Andrew.
Robinson’s confirmation was made effective by the Ministry of Education from September 1, 2022, according to Board Chairman Lance Hylton.
“The entire Jamaica College school community is ecstatic at this long-awaited development as Robinson…. has led the school with distinction and excellence,” he said in a press statement.
Robinson, 61, has served as JC’s acting principal since March 2016, following the departure of former principal Ruel Reid, who took special leave to assume the role of education minister.
But instead of becoming one of the most successful ministers in Jamaica, Reid chose the life of a political criminal in one of the biggest scandals that Jamaica has seen.
Following the allegations, Reid was resigned from both the Ministry and the Senate and a full investigation, led by the Financial Investigations Division (FID) and the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA), was launched against the former education minister
However, Reid formally remained JC’s principal until November 2021, when he resigned.
In a letter dated August 2, 2024, acting Chief Education Officer Terry-Ann Thomas Gayle informed Hylton that the ministry had approved Robinson’s permanent appointment and instructed that he be notified in writing.
The Teachers’ Services Commission, responsible for senior appointments within the education system, initially raised concerns in May 2022, noting that Robinson “does not have three years of service as a trained teacher in a public educational institution”.
“Kindly submit a letter justifying the board’s selection and a request to waive the requirements for appointment to the post,” it asked the JC board.
In response, the JC board highlighted an October 2019 letter from Dr Kasan Troupe, who was then acting Chief Education Officer, stating that Robinson had attained trained graduate status based on his master’s degree from Western Carolina University in the United States.
Responding to questions about Robinson’s acting status in May 2024, Troupe, who is now the permanent secretary in the ministry, said two things were impacting a final decision.
She said the service commission was still assessing the JC board’s recommendation, and further that the ministry was awaiting a response from the school to an audit that she said was requested by Education Minister Fayval Williams.
Hylton also said the issues surrounding Robinson’s qualification were “resolved” and pointed to Troupe’s October 2019 letter. “They (ministry) had confirmed from then that his qualifications …were beyond the requirements”.
Robinson, a long-time educator, is a director and former principal of Quality Academics, a private educational institution.
 Wayne Robinson, has finally been confirmed as headmaster of the all-boys' institution.){kind=link}