Gov’t to Establish Stem Innovation Teaching Centre at Heroes Circle

The Government is looking to establish a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) innovation teaching centre at National Heroes Circle in Kingston.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in making the disclosure, said the facility will be part of plans for the redevelopment of the area, which will include a new parliament building and other structures to house the various ministries and government agencies.

“I am very careful that we should locate strategic buildings in areas that make logical sense. You don’t want to put strategic buildings in a place where access to infrastructure is not there, so we have a plan for the redevelopment of the Heroes Circle area, which is in proximity to MICO (The Mico University College) and within that plan we will find a space for the STEM teacher innovation centre,” he said.

The Prime Minister was addressing the Future Ready International Conference at the University of Technology (UTech) campus in Kingston on April 24.

He said that STEM education, training and development will be the engine that drives Jamaica’s development and bolsters the country’s international competitiveness in what is projected to be a trillion-dollar industry.

He noted that Jamaica currently boasts four centres of excellence for STEM, which were opened in partnership with the HEART/NSTA Trust, and plans are also in place for the construction of six STEM schools across the island, with the first such institution to be built in St. Ann.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness (right), greets 14-year-old University of Technology (UTech) student, Jada Wright (left), during the Future Ready International Conference at the UTech campus in Kingston on April 24. Looking on are Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Dr. Kasan Troupe; and Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams (right).

A National STEM Learning Centre is to be established at The Mico University College to equip teachers with the skill sets to educate students in the STEM disciplines.

“The Government, last year, launched the STEM Tertiary Scholarship Programme where we provided 1,250 Jamaican students with scholarships over the next five years to pursue a STEM teaching career at MICO,” the Prime Minister noted further.

Other initiatives to support STEM education include the creation of free Wi-Fi hotspots to enable connectivity for all Jamaicans, the national broadband project, and the distribution of 10,000 laptops to teachers and students.