The Regional Accelerator for STEM Students’ Readiness (RASSR) program of the University of Guyana (UG) is revolutionizing training and education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for young Guyanese. RASSR is funded by the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), a pivotal USD100 million, 10-year partnership among ExxonMobil Guyana and its co-venturers, Hess Guyana Exploration, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana as well as the people of Guyana.
The goal is to promote sustainable economic diversification for the long-term prosperity of Guyanese by investing in communities, developing the local workforce, enhancing human capacity, advancing education, and improving healthcare. Designed for children aged nine to 15, RASSR promotes accelerated STEM training and education across all ten regions of Guyana.
It positions brilliant young minds as frontrunners in national development, cultivating out-of-the-box thinking, sparking creativity, and encouraging practical application of scientific principles to solve modern problems. 32 RASSR offers a two-week immersive residential learning experience annually for 100 STEM-enthusiast students. Launched in 2022, RASSR aims to stimulate interest in scientific and technological principles and expedite the learning process among gifted learners, some of whom are secondary school children on the cusp of selecting career paths.
This goal is motivated by the desire to propel an increased pursuit of careers in STEM, thereby making learners more employable and enabling them to meet the increasing labor demand in STEM fields.
Another key objective of the program is to reduce the time taken to create professionals in the STEM fields by 25% (one year) through the carefully crafted curriculum designed and taught by UG lecturers.
RASSR is focused on rounded personal and emotional development, enabling the students to function well in an advanced academic setting. The curriculum is two-fold: it utilizes innovative teaching methods while facilitating accelerated STEM education in career-oriented interests for the students.
This approach assures the development of both learners and educators, fostering an environment of continued growth and development across the board. It also promotes an increased understanding of how to apply STEM principles in practical applications, encouraging advanced problem solving abilities, collaboration, and innovative solutions. Core subjects taught include mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, integrated science, technology, and engineering.
According to GGI Coordinator Fabion Jerrick, one of the goals of RASSR is to develop an observational research model aimed at unearthing the support framework for gifted children across Guyana from varied genders, cultures, and socio-economic backgrounds with the aim of replicating and extending this framework.
He noted that the University of Guyana is the ideal execution partner for this project, given its sheer complexity and the needs of the children, which are highly specialized.
“Not only does it have the teaching staff to develop and deliver an advanced STEM curriculum, fully equipped laboratories and facilities to allow for immersion into STEM subjects, it also provides a learning environment that facilitates exploration, discovery, and application of scientific principles to everyday life,” Jerrick explained. UG also boasts several on-site facilities that expose students to diverse complementary activities such as astronomy, robotics, and biodiversity.
In addition to these facilities, Jerrick noted that the University is ideal since it possesses adequate living quarters to accommodate the students for the fortnight. Camper, J’Kell Whyte, recounted his experience during the 2024 cohort of the program, saying, “I think that I’ve grown academically because things that I did not know in year one or year two, I’ve now learnt, and I am way ahead in subjects like Mathematics and Physics, many of the subjects I didn’t even know existed when I came out the NGSA(National Grade Six Assessment) I now know.”
So far, RASSR has impacted 109 students, achieving an impressive retention rate of 97%. Through its support for the program, the GGI aims to 33 Q4 2024 EDITION STEM EDUCATION develop local human capital by providing a pipeline for specialization in STEM at the post-secondary level.
The ultimate objective is to create a pool of highly qualified young Guyanese who can respond to the growing need for skilled labor in STEM fields across Guyana, including the oil and gas industry. According to the results of a survey completed by RASSR beneficiaries in February 2024, 75% have opted to pursue careers in STEM fields.
Already, this cutting-edge program has begun to reap significant rewards. As of 2024, 15 RASSR beneficiaries are positioned to write their Caribbean Secondary Examination Council examinations one year ahead of their peers in 2025. Additionally, two 14-year-olds were accepted into UG, demonstrating the tangible impact of the program in achieving expedited academic and social development.
During the launch of the academic year 2024/2025, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin underscored the importance of nurturing gifted students, stating, “What we do to identify and support gifted children is as important as what we do to support children who have challenges with learning. It is important that the gifted at nine do not become bored at 11, and then disruptive at 13, and lost at 15.
While we must not force children to perform above their capability, if they can and want to, we must find a way to support, nurture, and celebrate this in a safe and healthy way. Geniuses can come from amongst us too. This prospect delights us at the University of Guyana!”
The GGI has been instrumental in improving 34 the performance of young Guyanese across several educational projects. Support for RASSR aligns with its core objective of empowering the Guyanese workforce and driving sustainable economic development. Through its commitment to funding targeted educational programs such as RASSR, the GGI is advancing skills development and competency building to prepare Guyana’s workforce for its rapidly evolving growth.
