The decision to introduce the microscience

kit within the school system in 2016 was to increase the number of students

participating in the subject, says Assistant Chief Education Officer and

Natural Science Coordinator in the Ministry of Education Sadpha Bennett.

Addressing a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, Mr.

Bennett noted that findings from a comprehensive survey undertaken in 2014

cited inadequate laboratory space as the most significant factor that was

affecting the number of students doing science or showing an interest in the

subject.

“The decision to implement that approach in

schools is also in line with Jamaica’s National Development Goals, and Vision

2030 that speaks to a technologically oriented society, which means that every

child should have a rounded experience in science,” he said.

Bennett pointed out that teachers in

training at several teachers’ colleges are now being exposed to the

microscience approach.

“What this means is that at the tertiary

level, we are able to impact the new teachers leaving college, ready to

interface with students using microscience as a tool for teaching,” he

said.

“While we continue to work with the

in-service teachers, we are building the capacity of teachers, who will be

ready to use microscience, and this is a significant advancement and

improvement in terms of the sustainability and future of microscience in our

schools,” Bennett added.

The new approach to teaching science was

implemented as a pilot project in 14 secondary schools across the island.

Microscience is a practical method for the

delivery of science subjects using inexpensive microscience kits along with

supporting student and teacher manuals that allow teachers to teach science

from any national curriculum.

The kits, which are alternatives to

laboratories, are compact and portable, and consist of miniature apparatus

specific to the science subjects – Chemistry, Biology and Physics.

They come at a lower cost, approximately $2,500.00 (US$20.00) each, and with greater safety than the traditional laboratory-centred approach.

Currently, the findings from the 2016 pilot project are now being evaluated, and should be released soon.