MONTEGO BAY, St James — Organisers of Jill Stewart MoBay City Run have increased scholarships to Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College to $1.2 million, their way of trying to encourage more people to consider a career in the classroom.

“This year we made some changes; we increased the amount of money to each recipient. We also focused a lot on Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College because, as many of you know, the country is losing teachers at an alarming rate,” said chief organiser for the event, Janet Silvera.

She was speaking Wednesday during a scholarship award ceremony at Sandals Montego Bay.

She told the Jamaica Observer that the teachers’ college was awarded $800,000 in scholarships last year and this year was the first it was ever being awarded more than $ 1 million from the charity event. The plan is to do even more for the Granville, St James-based institution which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

“Sam Sharpe is going to become our second in relation to the amount of money that we give. Next year, they will get close to what we are giving to The University of the West Indies ( The UWI),” explained Silvera.

“We want more teachers because it is so important. We can’t see teachers leaving this country and we are not able to put back teachers in the classrooms,” she added.

Jamaica has long had a challenge retaining educators but the situation has got progressively worse in recent years. As countries such as the US and UK lose their teachers, they look outward — to Jamaica and other locations — for replacements. Many locals are swayed by lucrative packages that include the opportunity to take family members overseas with them.

“We have to have a concerted effort as a people of a country that understands the importance of teachers and to help them remain here in Jamaica,” Silvera urged.

The news of the larger scholarship for Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College was welcomed by several students of the institution who were at the ceremony.

Scholarship recipient Zoya Graham, a second-year student who is majoring in French with minors in English language and literature, thinks it will help attract students.

“Yes, it definitely will because, as they said, a lot of teachers are leaving the classrooms. However, one of the things is that some don’t come because of the fees. There are students who start and don’t complete as well,” she said.

Graham said she plans to remain in Jamaica and she was effusive in her gratitude for the support.

“It came right on time when I really needed it and trust me, I will make them proud,” she promised.

Her fellow second-year student Chris-Shana Gallimore, who is a part of the school counselling programme, also vowed to remain in Jamaica.

“I am not one of those ready to go. Yes, we need more money but I want to give back to where I’m from,” she said.

“I love Jamaica and I am a Jamaican and it doesn’t matter which part in the world I am. Yes, I would be getting more money but there is nowhere like home,” she added.

Ashley Peterkin, whose focus is on early childhood education, also spoke of the importance of giving back.

“I have seen where persons are just disappearing left, right and centre and it’s my goal to give back to my country by being in the classroom,” she said.

In total, scholarships were offered to more than 60 students. According to Silvera, there were 110 applications this year from students of The UWI, University of Technology, Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College and Montego Bay Community College.

“There is a total of $7.1 million to be awarded to 65 students across these institutions,” she told the gathering.

“I would love to be able to give $10 million but $7 million-plus is like a 128 per cent increase over last year; last year we had $3.5 million,” she said.

Silvera attributed the jump in funds raised to the influence of the late Jill Stewart who passed away last year after a brave battle with cancer. She was wife of Jamaica Observer and Sandals Resorts Executive Chairman Adam Stewart.

“She has helped to shape the direction in which the Jill Stewart MoBay City Run is going. The amount of celebrities, the amount of companies that came on board this year, we could not have asked for more,” Silvera said.