We missed an opportunity to start afresh
Loading article...
THE EDITOR, Madam:
Can you imagine Champs next year, with the commentator excitedly declaring: “And here comes Hydel Cumberland High! Hydel Cumberland moving into the lead!”
Poor commentator. That is quite a mouthful.
Hydel has built an enviable reputation in track and field, including winning Girls’ Champs. Branding matters and, while I understand the reasoning behind retaining both names, Hydel Cumberland High School does not exactly roll off the tongue.
My concern, however, goes beyond the length of the name.
From an organisational development perspective, this merger presented a golden opportunity to create an entirely new institutional identity.
When organisations with established cultures merge, one of the biggest challenges is getting people to stop thinking in terms of “us” and “them”. Hydel and Cumberland bring different histories and identities to this arrangement. Simply combining the two names may unintentionally preserve that separation.
Soon we may hear students say, “I’m from the Hydel side” or “I’m from the Cumberland side.” Effective change management seeks to prevent exactly that.
Why not create something entirely new?
I would have seriously considered Portmore STEM Academy.
Jamaica is seeking to strengthen STEM, technical and vocational education. Here was an opportunity to do something bold without acquiring new land or building a school from scratch. Cumberland provides the physical plant, while Hydel contributes students, staff, sporting excellence and other institutional strengths.
The merged institution could have been developed into a flagship STEM and TVET academy, offering programmes in engineering, information technology, robotics, artificial intelligence and other fields aligned with Jamaica’s economic future.
A new name would not erase either school’s history. Campus blocks, houses and heritage displays could honour both legacies.
The message would be clear: Hydel did not take over Cumberland, and Cumberland did not absorb Hydel. Together, they created something new.
Hydel Cumberland may eventually grow on us, but I believe we missed a rare opportunity to give Portmore a truly new school and a fresh lease on life.
NAME WITHHELD