MONTEGO BAY, St James — University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) President Dr Kevin Brown has raised an alarm over what he described as an emerging crisis, warning that only 20 per cent of students who sit Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations each year achieve the minimum five passes required for entry into most tertiary institutions.

“We have a situation where 30,000 high schoolers take CSEC. Only 6,000 get five passes, with maths and english included,” Brown said as he delivered the welcome address Wednesday during the launch of UTech’s third Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Summer Camp at the university’s western Campus in Montego Bay.

He said these low pass rates have created intense competition among Jamaica’s approximately 16 tertiary institutions to draw from a very limited pool of qualified students.

“Here’s the challenge: UWI (The University of the West Indies) wants some, UTech wants some, CMU (Caribbean Maritime University) wants some. We are all fighting over the 6,000,” Brown said.

He noted that teacher training colleges, as well as public and private universities across the country, are also competing for the same cohort of students who meet the minimum matriculation requirements.

“UTech alone wants 3,000. That’s half the amount that qualify. So you have a pipeline issue,” he underscored.

The UTech president also expressed grave concern about the future of the approximately 24,000 students remaining who do not attain the required passes to matriculate into tertiary education.

“Where do the other students go?” he questioned.

“Some might go to HEART, some might go and find a job, but you now have a large number of students who are not in tertiary education. That’s a scary thought,” said Brown.

He pointed out that while another 5,000 students may attain five subjects without either Mathematics or English, many tertiary institutions still insist on both subjects as mandatory entry requirements.

He framed UTech’s STEM Summer Camp as part a broader national strategy designed to strengthen Jamaica’s educational and technological future.

“This is not just two weeks of any type of camp. This is a national initiative to try and get more boys and girls interested in STEM,” Brown explained.

He urged corporate Jamaica to consider their sponsorship not only as support for UTech, but as an investment in the country’s future workforce.

“UTech is Jamaica’s national university, and you are giving us the funding and support because you want to see Jamaican students — not just UTech students — do better and allow this country to have that STEM pipeline,” Brown declared.

He spoke of the vital role played by sponsors who have consistently supported the initiative over the years, singling out companies such as Exelerate Energy and National Bakery for their continued commitment.

“I’m always appreciative of our sponsors because they could say no,” said Brown.

Explaining why National Bakery has thrown its support behind the initiative, Executive Director Laurie Ann Samuels said the company is convinced that “meaningful development of our country begins with investing in our people; particularly our youth”.

“When we create opportunities for young Jamaicans to learn, explore, innovate, and dream bigger; we help to shape the future of our country. That is why initiatives like this STEM Summer Camp are so important,” Samuels said.

This year, sponsors have partnered with the university to provide 200 underserved youths between the ages of 11 and 16 with hands-on exposure to the STEM curriculum in an effort to develop critical employability skills within an increasingly digital and technology-driven economy.

UTech Western Campus Coordinator Antoinette Smith has been lauded for spearheading the STEM camp initiative, with Brown describing it as her brainchild and crediting her persistence for its success. He noted that the programme has grown significantly since its inception and has now been expanded to UTech’s Papine Campus.

As Smith outlined, the STEM camp began at UTech’s Western Campus in Montego Bay on July 8, 2024, just days after the passage of Hurricane Beryl. Despite the uncertainty following the storm, the initiative moved forward and quickly grew into a safe and engaging space for students, attracting more than 80 participants in its first year. Building on that success, the programme expanded in 2025 to UTech’s Papine Campus in Kingston, reaching an additional 100 students, while participation at the campus in Montego Bay grew to more than 120 boys and girls.

“Today, as we enter our third year, we do so with a renewed sense of purpose. Recent events, including the disruptions caused by Hurricane Melissa across western Jamaica, remind us once again of the importance of resilience, adaptability, and preparedness,” Smith said.

Melissa made landfall on October 28, 2025, leaving massive damage in the island’s south-western and north-western parishes.

The two-week camp will run from July 13 to 24 and July 20 to 31 at the Western and Papine campuses, respectively. Held under the theme ‘Resilient Futures: Empowering Jamaican Youth Through STEM Innovation for Climate Action, Community Impact and Sustainable Development’ the goal is to expose students to various aspects of STEM education while incorporating entrepreneurship, wellness and career guidance. Topics to be covered include science and the environment, robotics, artificial intelligence, engineering design, mathematics, entrepreneurship, and career exploration.

University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) Deputy President and Provost Professor Shermaine Barrett (right) has the attention of UTech Western Campus Coordinator Antoinette Smith during Wednesday’s launch of the university’s third Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Summer Camp at the western campus in Montego Bay. (Photos: Horace Hines)

University of Technology, Jamaica President Dr Kevin Brown delivering welcome remarks during the launch of the university’s third Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Summer Camp at its western campus in Montego Bay on Wednesday.

Laurie Ann Samuels, executive director of National Bakery, speaking on Wednesday at the University of Technology, Jamaica’s third Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Summer Camp at the university’s western campus in Montego Bay.