By Teino Evans, Staff Reporter 
Miller
THE MINISTRY of Education is finding few takers for its slate of scholarships for teachers to do undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies in specialist Mathematics and Science subjects.
"Right now, we have a shortage of teachers in these areas and the scholarships are intended to build up a pool of teachers with specialist training," Philbert Dhyll, Assistant Chief Education Officer for the Tertiary Unit at the Ministry said.
The programme targets teachers with diplomas in double option mathematics and science as well as persons fresh out of high school who might have an interest in teaching.
The Government provides for 30 scholarships to be offered each year to persons wanting to pursue degrees in Mathematics and Science at the University of the West Indies (Mona). A single scholarship includes full payment of tuition, maintenance and a book grant, amounting to more than $170,000 per year. At the end of study the students will be bonded for three years to teach in a public school. However, on several occasions only half the number is actually taken up.
"Last year, of the 15 scholarships we awarded, only 12 took up the offer," Mr. Dhyll said.
Persons, however, seem to be shying away from the strict challenges the particular subjects offer. According to Tamara Steele, a past Mathematics major at the Mico Teachers College, "they couldn't pay me to do maths again," lamenting the fact that she barely managed to get by 'Mico maths'.
According to Doreen Wil-liams, head of the Science Department at a prominent high school in Kingston, "We have a problem getting qualified science teachers as they are either taking up teaching positions abroad or going into other areas outside of teaching, so we have to resort to pre-trained graduates with little experience or diploma teachers just leaving college."
Dr. Errol C. Miller, chairman of the Association of Science Teachers of Jamaica and senior lecturer at Knox Community College, "The best science students end up going to the UWI, University of Technology (UTech), Northern Caribbean University (NCU) and colleges abroad. He said those entering teachers colleges tend to be weaker students, based on the qualifications they come in with.
"Most times, they (students) only enter the teachers colleges with one science subject (usually Human and Social Biology), while the better science students entering universities here and abroad will have their three science subjects," said Dr. Miller.
Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) passes over the last five years may also reflect the generally low-quality students entering teachers colleges to major in these areas. Passes in mathematics and sciences (Biology, Physics and Chemistry) averaged between 29 and 45 per cent. According to Dr. Miller, instead of targeting these inexperienced persons (high school and diploma graduates), the Govern-ment should re-focus its attention on catering for "seasoned science teachers in the system for 10 years and over, who may not have a degree."
The current offer by Govern-ment, he said, did not cater for teachers like these, as they had families to look after, and would not have the time to attend full-time classes for three years at the university.
SEASONED TEACHERS
He also suggested that if the programmes were done in modules (implemented in small parts), then it would facilitate the needs of seasoned teachers.
The education system has been losing not only younger blood, but also veteran teachers, for greener pastures. Two years ago, the New York City Board of Education (NYCBOE) went on a massive recruitment drive in Jamaica to get specialist teachers (with experience) in areas like mathematics and science, raking in more than 300. An additional 150 teachers were also recruited by agencies from the United Kingdom within the period.
In an extra bid to attract more teachers to these subject areas, Mr. Dhyll said the Government recently began offering full tuition programmes for persons wishing to do Mathematics and Science at the teachers college level. "This is a new programme instituted in teachers colleges last year, and there were 66 beneficiaries," he said, noting that $2,694,662 had been allocated for scholarships.
Persons choosing to go this route, however, will be required to teach for at least two years after leaving teachers' college.
Currently, only three teachers colleges Mico, Shortwood and Church offer the double-option Mathematics and Science programmes.
Name changed on request.
