Alpha Primary School has a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) laboratory fully equipped to prepare students for 21st century careers.

The facility, established through support from Digicel Foundation and National Baking Company Foundation, provides practical facilities to deepen students’ science and technology skills while supporting the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) education into the curriculum.

Addressing the official opening on Thursday (October 22) at the school’s South Camp Road campus, Education, Skills, Youth and Information Minister, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon, said the lab will help to expose students to the skills required in an increasingly technology-driven world.

She said that STEM education develops competencies that are useful across professions.

“The Prime Minister has already signalled that if we’re going to be the developed country that we all want to be, Jamaica has to become a STEM country,” she said.

“STEM education is most fundamental. It develops critical thinking. It develops creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills that are important in every single profession,” she added.

The Minister highlighted the connection between technical knowledge and creativity, noting that innovation requires students to apply what they learn to real-world challenges.

“Engineers must be creative, programmers must imagine new solutions, designers must understand mathematics and technology,” she said.

Senator Morris Dixon underscored the importance of ensuring that teachers are prepared to incorporate technology into their lessons.

“As we build out a STEM lab like this, it is important that our teachers are carried along,” she said.

She pointed to the Nurturing Early Scientific Thinking (NEST) programme, which has been rolled out to 500 institutions to support the introduction of scientific concepts at an early age through learning materials and teacher training.

The Minister also outlined plans to expand opportunities for students to develop skills in robotics, coding and mechatronics, while highlighting the establishment of an artificial intelligence (AI) laboratory at the University of Technology, Jamaica, with support from HEART/NSTA Trust and private-sector partners.

“AI is the way of the future. We have a plan in terms of how we’re going to take our children there… . With your support, we can have that plan executed even more quickly and benefit even more Jamaican children,” Senator Morris Dixon noted.

She encouraged the students to make full use of the facility and maintain an interest in learning.

“Always be curious. Never, ever stop asking questions about the world,” the Minister urged.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Digicel Foundation, Charmaine Daniels, highlighted the collaboration that helped bring the facility to fruition, including the partnership with the Sisters of Mercy.

She noted that the project required a dedicated facility to meet the school’s needs, rather than simply upgrading an existing classroom. She said the Foundation’s board was supportive of the initiative, recognising the importance of providing students with an appropriate environment for practical learning.

The CEO also emphasised the value of partnerships in making educational projects possible, noting that collaboration among organisations can help schools access facilities and resources that strengthen students’ learning experiences.

“It always takes a village,” she highlighted.

Chairman and CEO of National Baking Company, Gary Hendrickson, in his remarks, noted the importance of preparing students to understand and use emerging technologies.

He encouraged them to take advantage of the lab and use the resources to explore their interests and develop skills that could prepare them for future opportunities.

For her part, Area Administrator for the Sisters of Mercy Jamaica, Marcia Tai Chun, said the lab forms part of a seven-year plan for the development of the Alpha campus.

She explained that the facility comprises two laboratory spaces and a resource room, equipped with 30 computers, scientific tools and other equipment to support teaching and learning.

Ms. Tai Chun informed that the Digicel Foundation funded the construction of the main building, with the National Baking Company Foundation providing the computers, furniture and equipment. The school also raised funds to support the construction of restrooms.

Principal of Alpha Primary School, Okelo Francis, expressed gratitude to the partners whose contributions helped to make the facility possible.

He said the STEAM Lab represents an investment in the students’ curiosity, innovation and future opportunities, providing them with a space to apply what they learn in the classroom.

Mr. Francis noted that the value of the facility will, ultimately, be reflected in the knowledge and skills students develop through their engagement with the resources.