SENATOR, THE HONOURABLE RUEL B. REID, CD., JP.
MINISTER OF EDUCATION, YOUTH AND INFORMATION
Senator, The Honourable Ruel B. Reid was born in the rural district of Content in Balaclava St. Elizabeth. He received his early formal education at the Balaclava Basic and Primary schools and attended Munro College one of Jamaica’s most prestigious boys’ school. Having excelled in his academic programme at Munro College he pursued higher education at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Liberal Arts College of Jamaica, Bethlehem Moravian College and Nova Southeastern University. He holds a Diploma in Education, Bachelor of Science in Business Studies and a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management (Hons).
Mr. Reid has a distinguished career in the teaching profession which commenced in 1996 when he joined the academic staff at his alma mater Munro College. Since then he has blazed a trail of successes. These include being appointed Master Teacher in 2003, a fitting confirmation that he is one of Jamaica’s most outstanding educators. He has served as the St. Elizabeth parish representative on the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) General Council, a member of its secondary and credentials committees and chaired its St. Elizabeth parish debating committee. In 2004 he was elected as JTA’s President-elect (2004-2005) and served as the 38th president 2005-2006.
His outstanding teaching career has led to him receiving several awards recognizing his excellent work, dedication and commitment to the Education Sector. He has received the vocational award for excellence from the Rotary Clubs of St. Andrew and Downtown Kingston in 2007 and 2009 respectively. Other awards for excellence were received from the Kingston Book Shop in 2008 and the St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation. The national honour of commander of distinction (Commander Class, CD) was conferred on him in 2011 for his outstanding service to education. He is also a justice of the peace for the parish of St. Andrew.
He has served as Board Member of Family Life Ministries ( FLM), CXC Council, HEART- NTA and chairman of the Audit Committee of HEART – NTA; Chairman of the National Council on Education (NCE), Chairman, NCTVET and Special Advisor to the Minister of Education. He was also recently asked to serve on the education and training committee for the establishment of a logistics hub in Jamaica.
In 2006 he was appointed Principal Jamaica College one of the leading boys’ school in Jamaica. In the last few years through his transformational leadership he has led with his team the restoration of Jamaica College to its prominence.
Significant improvements and expansion has been made to the school’s campus and is now seen as one of the best looking educational facility in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
He was appointed to the Senate and assigned to the newly created Ministry of Education, Youth and Information on March 7, 2016. He is married to wife Sharen and has two children. His hobbies include: Cricket, football, tennis, current affairs, reading and watching movies.
