Through the creation of an incentivized teaching scholarship programme, the University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI) in partnership with the NCB Foundation aims to slow down the migration of our teachers from Jamaica.

The Building Out Our STEM Teachers (BOOST) Scholarship which started in 2021 facilitates the advancement of teachers in pursuit of specialisation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

With the Foundation now on board with a whopping $9 million investment, special emphasis will be placed on producing high-quality teachers in digital studies.

Scholarship recipient Thea May was delighted for the assistance to complete the final year of her computer studies major in education and liberal studies. Her passion for inspiring a love for digital studies remains resolute as she prepares to enter the education workforce.

“Jamaica is in dire need of more proficient educators. We have so many young minds that are curious about the way things work and how to make them better. My role as a teacher is to inspire, motivate and make learning enjoyable,” said May.

With the resignation of 400 teachers since the start of the year, the BOOST programme will help to make teaching more attractive. Through the programme, student teachers will receive grants to cover their student loans and an increase in their salaries. Scholarship recipients will also benefit from specially-designed mentorship schemes, summer training, outreach programmes, and networking opportunities.

Successful NCB BOOST scholars will be placed in high schools to teach subjects such as Information Technology, Webpage Design, and Programming at the high school level.

“The shortage of qualified teachers in Jamaica has significantly impacted the development of the human resources within the island. Through the BOOST programme, the UWI will aid in creating a steady supply of quality STEM educators,” stated Professor Michael Taylor, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at UWI’s Mona campus.

Photo caption: From left: Professor Michael Taylor, Dean forFaculty of Science and Technology, The UWI Mona, Dr. Sharon Bramwell-Lalor, Lecturer at the School of Education, The UWI Mona and Mrs. Elecia Myers, Resource Mobilization Coordinator for the Faculty of Science and Technology, The UWI Mona, oversee the signing of the BOOST Scholarship partnership by Prof. Ian Boxill, Deputy Principal of The UWI Mona and Nadeen Matthews Blair, CEO of the N.C.B Foundation.

Photo credit: Loop News