Design work has commenced on Jamaica’s first Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Academy in Bernard Lodge, St. Catherine.

Acting Chief Education Officer in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Terry-Ann Thomas-Gayle, said that the land has also been transferred to the Ministry.

Speaking on Thursday (July 18), at a Back-to-School Conference for Region Two at the Portland-based College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), Mrs. Thomas-Gayle added that, “we are also able to identify another location in St. Ann where the land transfer is in progress and all the preparatory works have commenced”.

She pointed out that Jamaica has been declared a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) island, noting that, “we aspire to see our education sector graduating more STEM students as part of the process of transforming education for national development”.

Mrs. Thomas-Gayle also congratulated Region Two, which comprises St. Thomas, Portland and St. Mary, for being “ahead of the game”, based on what is planned nationally.

In 2022, land was marked for the construction of Jamaica’s first STEAM Academy, as part of the Greater Bernard Lodge Development in Dunbeholden, St. Catherine. It is to be erected on the 22 acres of land reserved for social services.

The Back -to-School conference was held under the theme ‘Shaping the Future: STEM/STEAM and the Transformation Agenda’.