Tony Sewell on a recent visit to The Gleaner's Offices at 7 North Street in Kingston. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
GENERATING GENIUS, a new project offering Jamaican schoolboys the chance to become the doctors and scientists of the future, is set to begin later this year.
It is being sponsored by Dr. Tony Sewell, a British educator, the Jamaica National Building Society (JNBS), the Gleaner Company Limited, through its various publications, including the UK-based Voice newspaper, in partnership with the University of the West Indies, Mona campus.
REVERSE UNDERACHIEVEMENT
Generating Genius aims to select 10 Jamaican schoolboys and a further 10 from Britain, to participate in the scheme. The scheme is the brainchild Dr. Tony Sewell and offers an annual four-week summer camp at UWI, starting this year, July 24 to August 20.
The boys, who must currently be in first form or grade seven, will reside on campus and will be treated as medical students, said Dr. Sewell. Rooms will be shared by one Jamaican boy, and one British boy each. Further study is to be offered to Jamaican boys on several weekends of the year and at half-term, to be taught by UWI staff.
"We are looking to reverse the underachievement of black schoolboys in the U.K. They have a lack of positive aspirations and we are looking to show them that science is a possibility for them. Universities do not reach out early enough to children, and this is an opportunity for them to become involved and for UWI to be pioneering this type of education world-wide," Dr. Sewell told The Gleaner.
ADVANCE STUDY
Likewise UWI is hoping to raise the achievement of Jamaican boys as currently 70 per cent of UWI students are female, hence the commitment to the scheme by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Nigel Harris.
"Science is a subject that is feared", said UWI co-ordinator Dr. Roger Gibson, a researcher in the university's psychiatry department. "These students will be able to engage in the subject and ideally we hope we can help them advance into university study and then careers in science and medicine."
According to Dr. Sewell, in the second year, the scheme will be expanded.
"We have ambitions to go for huge numbers and to make this Caribbean-wide, so the next year will involve the rest of the Caribbean. The British government should provide funding in the second and subsequent years. But essentially this is a Jamaican-driven project," he said.
Outlining The Gleaner Company's support Chairman and Managing Director Oliver Clarke said: "Generating Genius is going to excite young, bright young men from England and Jamaica to become interested in scientific research. Generating Genius is likely to influence the whole future of each one of the bright students that participate."
Earl Jarrett, JNBS General Manager added: "This is a scheme that develops the educational potential of Jamaican males. It is also significant for us as Jamaica National has branches in the UK and this scheme strengthens our connection."
The Gleaner is inviting parents to apply on behalf of their children. Potential geniuses must be male, in first form (grade 7), aged 11 to 12 years old and with minimum GSAT scores of 90 per cent in the sciences in GSAT.
They must demonstrate a strong desire to be a doctor or scientist, and be available for the annual four-week summer camp, for the next five years.
Application forms will be available from The Gleaner Company Limited and Jamaica National Building Society. For more information interested persons may telephone: 932-6083 or email: karin.cooper@gleanerjm.com
For further information email: generatinggenius@yahoo.co.uk
