STEM students shine in spite of ST&I Policy delays
Published:Monday | August 12, 2024 | 12:06 AMCorey Robinson/Senior Staff Reporter
It may take some time for all the kinks of the island’s National Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) Policy (2022) to be ironed out and all stakeholders to fully settle into their mandates, but until then some Jamaican students are already showing high promise for Jamaica’s future in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Chief among them are 28 promising secondary and tertiary education students who recently walked away with grants and scholarships totaling more than $7.5 million as part of the Jamaica Public Service Foundation’s ‘Power up’ Scholarship Programme, which aims at assisting youngsters in the fields.
Dr Natwaine Gardner, principal director of the Science Division of the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport, said the scholarships represent the level of support needed from corporate entities - one core target group of the ST&I policy implementation plan and ultimately the ST&I policy that is awaiting implementation.
“There has been a little delay regarding our ST&I policy tabled in 2022, because we had to do a comprehensive overview of our ST&I Landscape. This policy heavily outlines things that have to be done regarding STEM to push our ST&I offerings locally,” said Gardner.
“These of course can’t be done in isolation. There are several different ministerial approaches to different STEM aspects outlined. But we are still full speed ahead,” stressed the science division director, adding that various entities within the Ministry of Education and the Scientific Research Council have been making strides in formalising mandates, sensitising key players, and granting scholarships and training toward the country’s STEM and ST&I goals.
All of these are critical to an implementation plan currently being devised, explained Gardner, who argued that embracing STEM is one of the fundamental pillars of Jamaica’s future.
“It makes for a better citizenry. What we have realised from the data, is that when you have young students who from an early age are exposed to STEM principles they tend to have a better cognitive function, they can think and analyse things more effectively, and they have better facial recognition skills,” Gardner charged.
“What all of this does is lead to more innovative practices and toward finding solutions for everyday problems. This, in turn, will bode well for the country. We can attract investment with more skilled workers. We can improve our socio-economic development and improve our rank on the global innovation index,” she explained, enthused while calling for more private sector entities to offer assistance through grants, scholarships, and even internship experiences for youngsters.
Sophia Lewis, head of the JPS Foundation, said the new scholarship programme forms part of a revised five-year strategy toward stem education locally.
“STEM education has always been an important area of focus for us,” offered Lewis, noting that previously funding was provided for one engineering student, which was worthwhile.
“Because of this, we wanted to reach more of our young people who are pursuing studies that will equip them with the requisite skills to boost innovation at the macro level and bring us closer to actualising a technology-enabled society,” she outlined.
Some of the most interesting success stories among the recipients were those of young Ajani Rodgers, who was recently placed at Campion College; Shevonice Carr, who recently graduated from Alpha Academy; Shari-Jae Ford, formerly of Dunoon Technical High School; and Denzel J. Morrison, who in June graduated from Knox College. Theirs were stories of hard work, commitment, and a drive to overcome all obstacles.
Eleven-year-old Ajani’s work ethic and routines are comparable to many adults. A recent graduate of Kingdom Kids Preparatory in Kingston, Ajani, in preparation for his exams, had extra lessons every weekday, and again on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. He balanced those, his “tons of homework”, chores, and dinner all before bedtime each night.
“A lot of times he was a bit stressed with all the schooling but we continued to encourage him, telling him that all of this hard work will pay off eventually,” said Ajani’s father, Gary, whose son was granted a $60,000 scholarship in time for his start at Campion College in September.
Ajani said he would like to be a computer programmer and has already started building online games for himself and his friends.
“Ajani has always been a good learner and from early we set the platform; you come home in the evenings, you do your homework first. So he has that in him, and when it came to grade six, now he already had it in him; he wants to get all of his work done before bedtime,” his proud mother, Syan, said with a laugh.
In love with sciences
In the meantime, a candid Shari-Jae Ford explained the hassle she has to make her way from rural Lane Gate in Bull Bay, St Andrew to school each morning, public transportation being a pet peeve, especially financially as her parents cannot afford it.
Shari-Jae is awaiting her final CAPE results before continuing at university, but already she is boasting that she has “20 subjects in 20 different areas,” confident she will pass the outstanding five that are pending. She hopes to become a teacher, specialising in biology, as she is in love with the sciences.
She was granted a JPS Foundation first-year teachers’ STEM scholarship valued at $500,000.
“I love science subjects, but bio always spoke to me. It always gave me that sense of belonging, and why not do something that you love? And added to that, I really love kids so I want to teach them,” she explained, adding that she will be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in science education, with a specialisation in biology.
Developed through nationwide consultation with various state entities, and private, academic, and non-profit entities the ST&I policy aspires for a dynamic and responsive national system and culture of innovation; a development agenda advanced by ST&I; and an excellent ST&I research and development capability, among other things.
Among its objectives are to ensure that the government promotes ST&I in public and private spheres, promote a sense of commitment in public and private sector institutions and individuals toward research and innovation, anticipate and embrace new and emerging technologies and innovation (including disruptive technologies), and assess their potential impacts, positive or negative, on national development.
“The successful implementation of the ST&I Policy will be governed by a National Implementation Plan to be developed through comprehensive stakeholder consultations. Ministries, departments and agencies will align their work plans with the NIP, academic institutions and private sector entities will also be encouraged to do the same,” reads a section of the tabled policy.