Mic Check – Decolonizing Education In Jamaica – Dr Maurice D Smith

Decolonizing Education In Jamaica, Changing Colonization Of The Mind, Guest Dr Maurice D Smith

Maurice D. Smith received his professional training at the Mico University College in Kingston, Jamaica. Having earned undergraduate and graduate degrees with honours from both Northern Caribbean University and the Nova Southeastern University respectively, he is a
Jamaica 2010 Fulbright Scholar who has read for a Doctor of Education [with high commendation] in educational leadership and policy from Howard University.

Dr. Smith is credited with the establishment of Belmont Academy; Jamaica’s first Centre of Excellence. Having been previously engaged as the Principal Director of the National College for Educational Leadership [NCEL], he was in 2015 appointed Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. Between 2017 and 2019, Dr. Smith was engaged as an international educational consultant to the World Bank, UNESCO and Organization of Eastern Caribbean States where he provided policy and technical advice to governments
across Latin America, the Caribbean and the Middle East. He currently serves as University Registrar and Chief Administrative Officer of the University of the West Indies with its almost 50,000 students spread across five campuses and 17 countries in the Caribbean. He is Chair of the Board of the All American Institute of Medical Sciences and Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the I-AM USA
Foundation.
Dr. Smith who is a certified Performance Coach and Commonwealth Professional Fellow in Education frequently addresses local and international conferences on matters related to educational leadership. He is an author, well sought after motivational speaker and the recipient of several awards chief of which are the Governor General’s Achievement Award [2019] and the [2016] Prime Minister’s Medal of Appreciation for Service to Education. He is also a Justice of the Peace for the parish of Kingston.