Beryl Urquhart: Stalwart in education for 40 years

BERYL URQUHART has spent 40 notable years in the education sector, impacting the lives of hundreds of students whom she has taught or advised.

Mrs. Urquhart, a former director, of the Overseas Examination Office, has made her name as active community member, mother of two, administrator, and in her chosen profession as a teacher.

Her interest in teaching was sparked from an early age, having grown up with an uncle who was also a teacher, and being influenced by 'excellent' role models whom she came in contact with while in school.

Born in Kingston in 1932, the third of six girls, she moved to Tymount district in the hills of Clarendon where she started her schooling at the James Hill All-Age school.

She was later successful at the first second and third Jamaica local exams and when a teaching post became vacant at James Hill, she began to teach there.

She later taught at Long Look All-Age school also in Clarendon and Alva All-Age in St. Ann.

Later having accumulated enough money, she enrolled at Moneague Teachers' College in 1957. While there she distinguished herself in drama and methodology - a course about the art of teaching.

She was also deeply enthused about her studies in English and English literature ­ the courses she later taught.

MOVING ON TO KC

After completing her studies she started teaching at Chetolah Park Primary where she stayed for seven years. While there she began studying at the University of the West Indies, completing her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1967.

Her next teaching position was at the all-male Kingston College (KC) which she described as one of her most memorable and meaningful experiences.

"I enjoyed their pranks," Mrs. Urquhart said.

While at the school, she started her climb up the administrative ladder, becoming head of the English department and later made KC history as the first female vice principal at the institution.

Her position at the OEO is one that she described as her most distinguished achievement as it afforded her a lot of exposure.

She recalled her trip to the University of Cambridge where she got a first hand look at how they administer their examinations and a tour of London as notable experiences.

As it turned out, Mrs. Urquhart move up the career ladder was no accident, but came as reward for paying attention to her qualifications. She went back to UWI between 1986 and 1988 for additional training in Personal Administration and Computer Application, specialising in Service and Educational Technology for which she received diplomas.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Mrs. Urquhart has not only given service to the education sector but also to her community. She is currently the chairman of the Harbour View Citizens' Association where she has lived for the last 30 years. As part of her contribution to her community, she has started a homework programme at the Harbour View Library where retired teachers volunteer on selected afternoons to assist students with their homework.

Mrs. Urquhart is also co-ordinator of the Harbour View Branch Library, chairman of the St. Boniface Basic School, a resource instructor for the In-service Teacher Education Trust run by the Ministry of Education.

She attributes her teaching success to her easygoing attitude, her ability to be calm in times of crisis, and being able to hold her own in any situation. And, her success and love for her job has rubbed off on others including one of her sisters and one of her daughters who is now overseas. Her other daughter is the executive director of the Scientific Research Council.

Despite retiring last year, Mrs. Urquhart stayed on at the Overseas Examination Office to assist with the transition for the new director. In recognition for her work, the OEO will honour her at a function on December 11. This will add to her previous awards of Long Service that she received from the OEO and KC.

On final retirement, Mrs. Urquhart said she intends to pursue her goal of writing children's books and to maintain an active role in her community