The Scientific Research Council (SRC) is seeking to forge additional partnerships to expand its annual Summer Attachment Programme, which provides practical science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) training for teachers across the island.
Executive Director, Dr. Chara Watson, says demand for the programme and its educational facility tours continues to grow each year, with participation increasing from 17 teachers in its inaugural year in 2023 to 240 educators in 2026.
She said the growing interest highlights the need for more professional-development opportunities that expose teachers to practical STEM applications while connecting them with scientists and industry professionals.
The initiative is designed to help educators incorporate more practical, inquiry-based approaches into their teaching, with the potential to positively impact thousands of students across the island.
“There are over 5,000-plus teachers. So, while we’re happy that we have 240 registered for this programme, we know that is barely scratching the surface,” Dr. Watson told JIS News.
Educational tours have become a highlight of the Summer Attachment Programme, but current capacity limits participation to just 30 teachers.
Dr. Watson is encouraging more science-based institutions, private-sector companies, scientists and other practitioners to partner with the SRC to increase the number of teachers who can participate.
She noted that the tours enable teachers to build relationships with professionals in the science and technology fields, creating opportunities that extend beyond the programme itself.
“What you find is that, most times, a lot of the teachers are able to make those connections. You find later in the academic year, they’re arranging tours and site visits for their students. They’re able to invite these entities into their schools for career days, science talks, and things like that,” Dr. Watson said.
She added that these relationships strengthen the broader network supporting science education by connecting teachers with industry professionals, scientists and other stakeholders within the STEM ecosystem.
The SRC is also seeking sponsorship to support transportation and other logistical requirements associated with expanding the facility tours and increasing teacher participation.
Meanwhile, Dr. Watson noted that partnerships with science-based institutions have been instrumental to the programme’s success, citing the International Centre for Environmental and Nuclear Sciences (ICENS) and the Natural History Museum of Jamaica among the organisations that have supported the initiative since its inception.
She said there are opportunities for additional partnerships with companies operating in food processing, bauxite and sugar production, biotechnology, and other science-based industries.
Dr. Watson explained that these industries can provide teachers with practical examples that can be linked to concepts taught in the classroom, helping to make learning more relevant and engaging for students.
The call for increased support forms part of the SRC’s broader effort to strengthen STEM education across the country.
Dr. Watson assured that the SRC will continue exploring ways to enhance and expand the Summer Attachment Programme while maintaining its commitment to offering the initiative free of cost to participating teachers.
The programme is currently funded through the SRC’s budget but additional partnerships and sponsorship will become increasingly important as demand for the initiative continues to grow.
