Jackson
DOES IT make sense to build a megamall in Port Maria, the capital of St. Mary? Will there be enough schools for the island's children in 10 years? Is the country adequately prepared to service the local and surrounding populations in the event of various possible disasters?
Geographical Information Systems can help with these answers and, according to Fitz Jackson, Minister of State for Education, there is an urgent need for GIS specialists in Jamaica.
GIS consists of computer hardware and software designed to capture, store and display efficiently, geographically referenced information. It can be applied in land administration and management, crime monitoring and analysis, urban planing and forecasting, transportation, engineering and planning and continuing education.
A GIS education-in-schools programme, a collaboration of the Ministries of Land and the Environment, and Education, the Land Information Council of Jamaica and sponsored by a US$1-million grant by Spatial Innovision/ESRI(Environmental Systems Research Institute) in the United States, was launched yesterday at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston. It is a first step to sensitise teachers to the use and benefits of GIS, which will, among other things, help students think creatively by, for example, representing mathematical issues visually with tables, and promote the use of GIS as a tool for Government's decision-making process.
The first stage of the programme is being managed by a committee of educators and spatial scientists and will target 16 secondary schools. During the next 12 months, more schools will be invited.
"GIS can affect the whole educational experience for students, teachers and the community", he said. "GIS can be an effective tool to promote change and growth for students, teachers, skills development, classroom organisation and community participation all at the same time."
He said that GIS, a 21st century tool, is used by law enforcement agencies in North America and has created a demand for GIS professionals in the criminal justice system there. Jobs exist for GIS specialists in crime analysis, forensics and crime profiling.
"In countries where GIS has been taught in schools, it has been found that both teachers and students develop desirable skills," Mr Jackson said. "Using GIS enhances one's logical, mathematical, linguistic and interpersonal intelligence."
A part of the Government's "commitment to develop the infomatics industry in Jamaica", GIS presents an opportunity to train Jamaicans in a discipline that has international demand.
