Education Minister Ronald Thwaites says increased emphasis will be placed on teaching the sciences in all secondary schools, starting this financial year.

This move is consistent with the ministry’s plans to fully and formally integrate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) into the education system.

Thwaites, who was speaking at the Katalyxt Youth Innovators’ Competition awards ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, in New Kingston, on May 14, informed that the ministry will also be improving the capacity for teaching sciences in all secondary schools.

“As we make this important change, we are polling each school to determine what their needs are and it is our modest, but essential ambition that every high school in Jamaica should have at least one functioning and well-equipped science laboratory,” adding that there will be the upgrading of science laboratories and provision of equipment to high schools.

Micro science kits will also be provided at the upper primary level to ensure that those students are properly prepared for high school.

Thwaites invited the private sector and the non-government community, including alumni associations, to partner with the ministry in this regard.

Additionally, he informed that the ministry is developing a new national curriculum for all grades and subjects that will have intensive application of the STEM methodology and subjects.

He remarked that, while Jamaica will continue to be noted for its extraordinary athletes and recording artistes, “we have to also win the Olympics in science and technology”.