Medical school looking forward to scholarships through education ministry
Published:Monday | March 4, 2024 | 12:09 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
Minister of Education Fayval Williams has committed to a month-end deadline for the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between her ministry and the Caribbean School of Medical Science, Jamaica (CSMSJ).
Williams made the pledge during the school’s white-coat ceremony yesterday, where 19 medical students were officially inducted into the medical profession.
“I am committed to ensuring that the MOU for the CSMSJ is signed,” she said to applause.
Dr Neville Ballin, executive dean of the school, welcomed the minister’s assurance and noted that the MOU is, essentially, an acknowledgement by the Ministry of Education that the curriculum and facilities of the institution are up to standard.
Ballin said it would also allow students attending the school to take advantage of scholarship opportunities offered by the ministry.
Stating that the school currently does not receive a lot of support from the ministry, he is hopeful that the signing of the MOU will change that.
“They had granted us scholarships before, which was taken away, so we want to go back to get that back again so that students can have an opportunity,” Ballin, who assumed the executive dean position six months ago, told The Gleaner.
He also shared the school’s vision of expansion, which includes improving its infrastructure to include buildings to house lecturers.
The school is located on the property of Shortwood Teachers’ College, and Ballin outlined that it is also exploring accommodation for students in conjunction with the college.
EXPANSION PLAN
“Right now we’re at 65 students, but we’re looking to get over 100 students. If that is the case, we’ll need more space to accommodate them,” he said.
He noted, too, that the 10-year-old institution’s lab facilities have recently been increased.
Williams, in the meantime, said the CSMSJ was a welcome addition to Jamaica’s group of tertiary institutions.
“The CSMSJ presence among the higher education institutions is a plus for Jamaica as it offers additional access to programmes designed to provide needed and specialist services on the island and further afield.”
Outlining that the school’s specialised academic programmes in sports medicine, health tourism, and health technology are advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, she urged them to persist.
“We want to continue to work with you to promote those. We hope that as an institution, you’ll be able to attract more students and expand your programmes,” she said.
“We’re also pleased with work you’ve done through the CSMSJ associate degree in the natural and applied sciences programme, which is in keeping with the ministry’s effort to have more students being able to earn an associate degree by the completion of grade 13.”
Lauding the 19 inductees for publicly declaring their commitment to professionalism and excellence, she reminded them that they also have a duty to the community.
“We need you to help to educate the people in our communities as well about how to take care of themselves, what to eat, what not to eat. You believe that knowledge is available, but you just have to walk through some of these communities and you’ll understand that it is not percolating down to the persons who need to get it,” she said.