M&M Jamaica launches bursary to honour educator extraordinaire

There is now a bursary in the name of Dr Randolph Watson to be administered through the Bethlehem Moravian College, an institution for which he was the principal for 13 years.

Watson, a son of St Elizabeth, is a well-respected trained educator. He has a bachelor’s degree in educational psychology and technology in education, as well as a doctorate in technology in education. His stewardship at Bethlehem allowed him to gain immense insight into the world of academia which propelled him to become the director of Student Services & Community Relations at the All American Institute of Medical Sciences in Black River, St Elizabeth, and chief architect/administrator of The M&M Jamaica Mathematics Competition.

The Randolph Watson Bursary is a tangible way to honour this extraordinary educator’s legacy.

The $50,000 offered yearly over a 10-year period will become available to qualifying students through the college’s Students’ Affairs Unit, beginning in the 2021 academic year. It is spearheaded and funded by one of Jamaica’s leading civil engineering, building and project management companies, M&M Jamaica.

“We were moved to etch a significant place in academia for Dr Watson, as it was he who helped us to formulate the concept for our M&M Math Competition over 20 years ago. In fact, not only did he assist in the formulation and structuring process, he was the engine behind the planning, managing and execution of an initiative we have been running in St Elizabeth-based high schools with impressive results. Thanks to Dr Watson, the M&M Math Competition has and continues to positively impact students’ performance in mathematics,” outlined Deputy Managing Director Richard Mullings.

At the recent official presentation ceremony of the Randolph Watson Bursary, Watson spoke to being proud of his involvement with a programme that influenced a paradigm shift in students’ perception and performance in mathematics, which has always presented challenges for learners at all levels of the educational system.

The M&M Math Competition has helped to not only stimulate interest, but influenced improved overall mathematics performance throughout high schools in St Elizabeth where the completion was exclusively administered. “Yes, there have been changes. We have found that the non-traditional schools are performing much better from when they initially started the competition,” stated Watson.

M&M Jamaica’s founder Donald Mullings outlined, “Mathematics is a part of human culture as it underpins many disciplines. Therefore, with learning mathematics, students become empowered in their abilities to apply mathematical ideas in many aspects of the development of modern life. As Dr Watson was co-architect of our competition, we are so pleased to show him this honour, as one who continues to contribute to nation building.”

According to Mullings, Bethlehem was chosen as it is a place where Watson has given so much of himself. “He mentored and guided so many there – he saw possibilities where some saw need; he saw opportunities where some saw problems; he said I will take it on when other said let someone else do it.”