Mico Alumni Happenings

Contribution by Paul Green

There is no doulbt that Sir Howard Cooke is one of Mico’s most accomplished persona.  Came accross his information on Jamaicahomecoming.com and thought it would be a good idea to share the information with you all.

 Sir Howard Cooke

Date of Birth: 13 November 1915
City: Montego Bay
 
His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Howard Felix Hanlan Cooke, ON, CD, GC, MG, Governor-General of Jamaica, was born in Goodwill, a small district in the parish of St James on November 13, 1915 to David and Mary Jane Cooke. He was educated at Mico College and at London University.

On his return to Jamaica, Sir Howard taught at Mico College and Practising School. In his twenty-three years of teaching, Sir Howard served as Headmaster at Belle Castle All-Age School, Port Antonio Upper School, and Montego Bay Boys’ School. He has also acted as President of the Jamaica Teacher’s Association.

Sir Howard’s sense of social responsibility led him to politics. In 1938 he became one of the founding members of the People’s National Party (PNP) and was, during his political career, a senator as well as a member of the House of Representatives. He held several portfolios during his political tenure. He was a minister of government, holding various positions including Minister of Pensions and Social Security, of Education, and Labour and the Public Service.

An extraordinary sportsman, Sir Howard captained several teams in cricket and football. He has also worked extensively with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission and was responsible for establishing several community centres to encourage the development of community talent and self-reliance.

Sir Howard married Ivy Tai on July 22, 1939 and the union produced three children, Howard, Richard and Audrey.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth bestowed a knighthood on Sir Howard (GCMG) in 1991. He has also been honoured for his work by several organizations including the Government of Jamaica and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Contribution from Paul Green

THere are times when it is important to record old news. So often we find that our memory of relatively recent events become very elusive because we hear but do not take note.

I have very fond memories of Mr. Downie, having spent three years with him as my VP at Mico.  I got great advice from him when I made the decision to attend college here in the US back in 2000. 

I came accross  the article below on the Jamaica Teachers Association’s web site and thought it fitting for this post.

The Daily Gleaner
9 December 2004

Jamaica is poorer for the passing of stalwart educator and advocate Eric Downie.

As the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture bids him farewell, we reflect on his sterling contribution to nation building and give God thanks that he had allowed him the capacity to give service of distinction to his country.

Mr. Downie belonged to an exceptional cohort of hardworking and committed educators who foster excellence in the education system even at great personal sacrifice.

A Graduate of the Mico College, Mr. Downie has served at various levels of the system.

We remember him as an outstanding lecturer of History at the Mico College where he later served as vice principal for 13 years before he joined the Jamaica Teachers Association as the Secretary General.

Mr. Downie was instrumental in the development of the preliminary programme at the Mico College because he believed firmly in giving students a second chance at academics. Such was his support of the programme and the students that he was dubbed the ‘Godfather of Prelim.’

His selfless service was characterised by humility and passion.

As an advocate, he served as president of the Jamaica Teachers Association defending the interests of his colleagues, but more focused on promoting their professional development.

It was his concern for this area of the teaching profession that led to him giving impeccable service on several education related boards and commissions including the Teachers’ Services Commission, National Council on Education, Mico College Board of Directors and the Jamaica Association of Teacher Educators.

His love for God and love for humanity also led him to serve as moderator for the Lluidas Vale Baptist Church, Lay Preacher and Senior Deacon at the Boulevard Baptist where he was loved and respected as an astute and humble leader.

Certainly, his death is a poignant loss to the education sector.

We honour him for being an excellent role model; for devotion and professional integrity, for commitment to hard work. He was fair, just and unscrupulous in his exuberance for honesty and service to his country.

The Ministry of Education Youth and Culture extends sincere condolence to his wife Cordella; his sons Omar and Varick; their wives Ruth and Suzette and his grandchildren Abigail and Jhana.

Contribution from Paul Green

KINGSTON, (JIS)
Monday, July 03, 2006

A resolution for the establishment of a scheme that will enable the Mico Teachers College to assume more autonomous functions and extend its scope of collaboration with degree granting institutions, was unanimously supported, when it was laid before the House of Representatives on June 28.

Education and Youth Minister, Maxine Henry Wilson, who piloted the Mico University College Scheme 2006, explained that the move was a step forward in the process of the college gaining university status.

The scheme, she said, would enable the institution to establish the constitution of a board of directors and empower it as the chief policy-making body of the institution; stipulate the powers and duties of the academic board; enable the college to exercise greater flexibility in granting degrees and diplomas and to determine general curricula offerings in keeping with national needs.

The Mico College, the Education Minister noted, has an existing relationship with the University of the West Indies (UWI), whereby the teacher training college has been able to grant degrees such as the bachelor of education degree in primary education and special education degrees. The University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) accredits the degree programmes that are offered.

“Therefore, the proposal for the establishment of the scheme is consistent with our education transformation proposal, whereby teachers will require a first degree to be registered and licensed,” Mrs. Henry Wilson said, outlining that the government’s overarching objective was to have 80 per cent of the nation’s teaching cohort possessing a baccalaureate or undergraduate degree by 2015.

She said that the enhancement in the status of the Mico College would not incur additional expenditure, noting that some $162 million was granted to the institution each year through the Education Ministry. A significant portion of funding to upgrade the institution will be derived from the coffers of the Mico Trust and the Mico Foundation.

Meanwhile, the Minister indicated that the college was undertaking an upgrading programme with most of their staff members now pursuing doctorates as a requirement for the institution gaining university status.

Offering his endorsement of the resolution, Opposition Spokesman on Education and Youth, Andrew Holness remarked that the college “will now be able to provide content and determine a curriculum, which is important to moving towards that status of being a university.”

He proposed that the government examine the creation of tertiary education institutions aimed specifically at exporting trained people to work in foreign countries. “We need to create these tertiary institutions to export trained people, to increase the Diaspora, which in turn increases our remittances, so we may need to look at education as an export industry. We have the capacity here to do it and we should follow the lead of countries like India, the Philippines and Ireland that have looked education as an export industry,” he recommended.

Responding to Mr. Holness’ suggestion, Minster Henry Wilson said the government was engaged in “managed migration programmes, which we are trying to enter into where people can go, spend two or three years somewhere and come back and retain their status here in a professional environment.”

The Education Minister asserted that, “the Caribbean Single Market is what caters to this movement as well, so it is in preparation for all of that, that we have to be making sure that our people are on the cutting edge of accreditation.”

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