NINE teachers’ colleges across Jamaica will participate in the second phase of a project to infuse topics on the island’s biodiversity into their teaching curricula.

The project is co-ordinated by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) and the Joint Board of Teachers’ Education (JBTE). It is funded by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) at a cost of $4.4 million.

“It is geared towards early childhood and primary school educators and seeks to develop activities that go beyond the confines of science into all disciplines to explore the economic, social, cultural and political aspects of biodiversity,” JET said in a release to the media.

The initiative is also intended to empower student-teachers with the knowledge and skills to include topics on biodiversity in their teaching curriculum when they leave the college.

“The project is an attempt not just to increase awareness and knowledge of biodiversity among our lecturers, but to develop positive attitudes and behaviour in the student teachers towards the protection of Jamaica’s rich biodiversity,” said Carlette Falloon, JET’s director of programmes. “Very few persons know that Jamaica is ranked number one in endemic birds in the Caribbean, found here and nowhere else in the world, and fifth in endemic plants among the islands of the world.”

Activities under the project will include professional development workshops for the teachers as well as year-long, college-based action projects on biodiversity. The project will culminate with a symposium to share results and best practices with the wider education community.

Participating colleges are Bethlehem Moravian College, Church Teachers’ College, College of Agriculture, Science and Education, Edna Manley College of Visual & Performing Arts, Mico College, Moneague College, Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, Shortwood Teachers’ College and St Joseph’s Teachers’ College.

“Our biodiversity project has been a rewarding experience, bringing together interests of staff and students and making us realise the significance of using this project to integrate several disciplines. The hands-on approach has significantly heightened the interests of all involved,” said Sue Chambers, head of the Science Department at St Joseph’s.