MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — As government continues to mull the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects, known collectively as STEM, one institution in western Jamaica has been using the model for close to three years and has been reaping results.

The Academy of Science, Technology and the Arts (ASTA), located in Reading in St James, was founded to challenge the conventional practice of teaching.

“Finally, a school that honours each child as a unique individual. As a parent of three teens I can honestly say ASTA has been and is a school that is willing to listen to the needs of the children, is always willing and able to offer guidance, support and care that allows each child to grow with confidence emotionally and academically,” said Siobhan Archibald, an ASTA parent.

According to co-founder and director Dr Arnoldo Ventura, ASTA encourages students to be inquisitive, to break the mould, think outside of the box and challenge theories respectfully. Scientific enquiry, critical thinking, practical applications and technology are applied to lessons.

Ventura, an expert in the development of science and technology for socio-economic development, has close to 40 years’ experience in research and development.

“Through my studies and experience it was noticed that the conventional practice of teaching was centred more on regurgitating facts and not enough emphasis was placed on the concepts used to achieve those facts.

“The vital, fundamental principles of scientific enquiry, critical thinking, practical applications and logical reasoning were lacking and I have known and been advocating for years the importance of these principles as being essential to true development,” he said.

Tammy Browne, another ASTA parent, supported Archibald and sang praises of the school’s teaching methods.

“Love, love, love how amazing ASTA has been to my daughter. [I am] so impressed with how much she is learning, retaining and sharing with everyone.

Her confidence has improved tenfold. The teachers and other staff at the school are always helpful and friendly. ASTA is more than a school, it’s family,” she said.

ASTA has about 40 students enrolled from grades seven with a cap of 15 students per grade. The school incorporates the use of technology to support its curriculum, using iPads as the main learning tool. All course material is available online and parents are given access to track their child’s progress.

In addition, ASTA has a fully equipped media recording facility that teachers use to generate multimedia content.

When asked how coupling STEM subjects with traditional ones would work, Ventura said, “Simply put, the only tools capable of solving the problems faced with energy, water, economy and violence are science and technology. The scientific approach is useful in inculcating higher skills to distinguish evidence from propaganda, probability from certainty, rational belief from superstition, data from assertion, science from assertion, science from folklore and theory from dogma”.

ASTA will launch its pre-high school programme in September, and will cater to grades four to six students. Ventura says that this will prepare students in independent learning, scientific methods, critical thinking and introduce them to the high school curriculum.