MINISTER of Education Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon says the specialised laboratories being built out at technical high schools is just a start, as all secondary-level institutions will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities.

“We start this year with the 15 technical high schools and then every year [after] we’re going to be doing more of these state-of-the-art labs.

“It’s not normal things we’re doing, because we’re thinking bigger for our children. The world is changing and we believe our children should be there,” said Morris Dixon as she addressed a Primary Exit Profile (PEP) awards dinner hosted by Member of Parliament for St Andrew East Rural Juliet Holness at the Hillside City Centre in Lower Halls Delight on Thursday.

The labs being provided at the technical high schools will equip students in specialised areas such as digital construction, mechatronics, green technology, and robotics.

Morris Dixon said the Government is undertaking the expansion and upgrade of laboratory facilities in the selected institutions to prepare young people for a technologically driven future.

Providing details about the labs that some of the institutions will receive, Morris Dixon said the Corporate Area-based Dunoon Technical High School in Kingston will be equipped with a facility focused on digital construction.

“We’re talking about the future of construction. All the latest technology will be in that lab in that school,” said Morris Dixon.

She added that Herbert Morrison Technical High School in St James will receive a mechatronics lab. Mechatronics is a multidisciplinary field that combines mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering to design and develop smart, automated systems, such as those used in manufacturing processes.

The education minister argued that, “In the future, many of our manufacturing companies are going to be using robots and automation, and so our children need to understand it.”

She said, in recognition of future trends and technology, Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St Ann will be equipped with a lab that is focused on renewables and green technology.

“So they’re going to be looking at solar technology, they’re going to be looking at rainwater harvesting. All those new areas are what you’re going to have at Marcus Garvey Technical,” said Morris Dixon.

She noted further that at St Mary Technical High School students will have access to a full robotics lab that is going to focus on industrial controls, which is about automation.

Morris Dixon emphasised that the Government is doing the work required to raise the standard of every school in Jamaica.

— JIS