HANOVER, Jamaica — Describing as miraculous the impressive exam results in science subjects despite under-resourced labs, Minister of Education Dr Dana Morris Dixon has given an assurance that efforts are underway to purchase much-needed equipment.

“We did an audit of all science labs because we felt that this was absolutely important, and we have a procurement [process]that is ongoing where we are buying equipment for all physics, chemistry and biology labs across the board. And so, all over schools will get the equipment that they need,” she said.

Her comments came Wednesday during the final day of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) 61st Annual Conference held at Princess Grand Jamaica Hotel in Green Island, Hanover.

The minister described what she had seen during an islandwide tour of schools since her appointment in 2024.

“This is a big thing. We said we are preparing our children for a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) future. I have been in so many labs — the biology labs, the physics labs, the chemistry labs — and nothing not in there! All I see are some benches and some tables; just the basic things that you would use,” she said.

“When I saw the biology results for CSEC, I was very happy. But then I said, you know what, that means that we have miracle workers in our schools. Because if you can produce those results with nothing in the labs, you are miracle workers. But, we can’t stop there and call you miracle workers. We need to give you the resources,” Morris Dixon added.