MALVERN, St Elizabeth — Not many schools in Jamaica can boast a 98 per cent pass rate for the sciences. But this rare feat is becoming a tradition at Hampton School for Girls.

With more than 90 per cent of students graduating with at least one science subject, Hampton has emerged as one of the top- five secondary schools in Jamaica since the 2013 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

This comes as a result of the school’s unique approach to the science subjects, with students getting lessons in biology, chemistry and physics from as early as first form. In addition to that, the school has embarked on a number of student-led, hands-on projects such as an alternative energy initiative and the development of mobile science labs, both of which give them tremendous exposure to the practical side of the subject area.

Recognising the global demand for skilled workers with a scientific background, Hampton is producing students who can compete globally in new and emerging technologies. “We are producing ladies who are expected to compete on the global scale; we must provide them with the tools necessary to compete,” says Sandra Bryan-Lord, head of the school’s Science Department.

“Jamaicans must become entrepreneurs with the ability to adapt to change, versatile with current technologies and able to create new technologies. A background in science which stresses innovation and the use of technology is a step in that direction,” she added.

In 2013, the school started its go-green initiative in partnership with the Digicel Foundation. This involved the implementation of renewable energy in the form of wind and solar power to generate electricity for the school’s sixth-form complex.

The students also played a major role in the installation of the equipment and are working together with the school to have the institution fully powered by the end of 2016.

The success of this project motivated the school to tackle another one of

its challenges: the unavailability of sufficient science laboratories and equipment for the growing number of students who are doing the sciences.

The solution was the development of mobile science laboratory units. Conceptualised and designed by a group of students and teachers at the school, the mobile science labs were funded by the Digicel Foundation.

Through a US$1-million investment, the Foundation will introduce the labs in 50 secondary schools within three years. Since its launch in September 2014, the mobile labs are now in 17 high schools across the island.

“The mobile labs allow our teachers to carry the equipment to their classes, and groups of students could work with this equipment,” said Sandra Bryan-Lord. “Now they don’t have to wait three years before they get a chance to interact with lab equipment. We have already started to see improvement.”

The school has also utilised the mobile labs to assist grade-six students at primary schools in their community, in a bid to start exposing students to the sciences from early. These include the Bethlehem Primary and Infant School and the Munro Preparatory School.

“We are moved to see the enthusiasm with which students have embraced these mobile science labs,” said Samantha Chantrelle, CEO of the Digicel Jamaica Foundation. “When we started the initiative we were energised by the innovation that these labs represented. A lot of that energy came from the students and staff of the Hampton School who worked closely with us on this project. The fact that they have used the labs to assist their communities is a testament of the impact.”

Meanwhile, Education Minister Ronald Thwaites said, “the mobile science labs represent the best affordable opportunity to advance science education in our schools.”

“Hampton School, predictably, is leading the way. I am pleased to know that a version will also be available for primary school,” the minister stressed.

“I encourage benefactors to support the purchase of more of these labs and thank Digicel for their creative generosity. Let us build a new culture of scientific knowledge starting in our schools,” he added.