Students at Clan Carthy High School in Kingston now have the opportunity to understand the interconnectedness of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, and real-world applications, while enhancing their overall learning experience.

This follows the recent donation of new equipment to the school through the BOOST programme.

The BOOST Programme is a novel scholarship scheme designed by The University of the West Indies (The UWI) to address the shortage of STEM teachers in secondary schools while nurturing the careers of young STEM professionals.

Carlene McCook Allen, acting vice-principal at Clan Carthy High, welcomed the donation of the equipment as she declared that the items are not just for current teaching and learning, but for future learners at the school.

“The donation will make a difference in our science and technology classes. Our students like to be innovative, and with added resources, it will assist them in the right direction towards STEM education.

“We have some of the best teachers, and we are grateful that you have empowered them to teach our students to be the best that they can be,” McCook Allen said.

She argued that the donation is an investment, not only for the school’s teachers, but also for the students.

“It is important for us to improve the level of education of our students so that they can be innovative and exploratory,” added McCook Allen.

A collaborative effort between The UWI’s Faculty of Science and Technology and Faculty of Humanities and Education, BOOST aims to enhance STEM education in Jamaica by providing a yearly stream of quality science and mathematics teachers through an innovative back-end incentivised scholarship programme.

Tertiary graduates who become BOOST Fellows are assigned to teach in schools with STEM needs across the country.

In addition to their salary, for each year worked [up to three years], BOOST refunds one year of their university tuition through its ‘back-end scholarship’. Additional generous performance-based incentives are also paid yearly to the Fellows.

Dr Andre Coy, associate dean, external engagement at the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) at The UWI, Mona, said the beneficiary schools do an inventory and provide a list of the needed items to Chemical, Medical and Scientific Supplies Limited.

“Funding comes from the Digicel Foundation that provides $100,000 for every BOOST Fellow that is at the institution.

“Chemical, Medical and Scientific Supplies Limited adds 10 per cent for each fellow. Clan Carthy has seven fellows. The donation totalled $770,000 worth of equipment,” Dr Coy said.

“We have very brilliant and curious students, and we are ensuring that they are equipped to pursue STEM education in a way that hopefully their minds will be opened to studying and living STEM,” Dr Coy added.

Clan Carthy High School currently has more than 600 students enrolled. The science syllabus is taught from grades 7 to 11.

Some of the equipment donated included test tubes, litmus paper, distilled water, copper oxide, silver nitrate, syringes, hydrochloric acid among a number of other items.

National Baking Company Foundation is the inaugural and primary donor for the BOOST Programme which is also sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Youth, Skills, and Information.

Two BOOST Fellows currently at the school — Shanique Graham (cohort 2) and Garrick Barrett (cohort 4) — said they were grateful for the BOOST STEM donations as the items will be of great help for the lower and upper school students.

According to the fellows, they are elated for this opportunity to teach and learn and are very appreciative of the opportunity and the partnerships.

The two said the donation will encourage the students creativity, and definitely boost their hands-on experience.