Pathrine Thompson

It is a known fact that for decades now, students at the high school level of our education system have failed to perform well in the sciences.

The subjects mainly affected are physics, chemistry, and to a lesser extent, biology. The reason for such poor performance may be due to the lack of certain prerequisites which they should have mastered, or at least have had a working knowledge of, before embarking on a study of these subjects.

This is the sentiment expressed by Pathrine Thompson, a chemistry teacher at the St Catherine High School in Spanish Town. "I observe that most students because they have a problem with mathematics, they also have a problem with chemistry. This is seen in their inability to do calculations," she noted.

She said in order for them to comprehend what she is teaching, she has to first break it down into small segments.

The Holy Childhood High School past student also informed The Star that her methods have proven to be successful as the pass rate at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examinations and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination continue to improve yearly.

Thompson also shared that the students generally become enthused by the experiments, which form part of the chemistry course, and also by the way she presents her lessons, letting them see that science is all around them and helping them to understand certain things that take place in society.

Thompson worked for a period as a lab technician before becoming a member of the teaching profession. This was shortly after she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the University of the West Indies.

She later taught at the Queen's School as a pre-trained graduate teacher from September 2003 to August 2006. During this period, she also studied part time at The Mico University College, graduating in 2006 with a diploma in education.

The efficient and affable educator joined the staff at St Catherine High School on September 1, 2008. She teaches chemistry to students ranging from first to sixth form.

Thompson is also the acting head of the science department and acting faculty adviser for the Science and Technology club.

As head of the department, the St Andrew-born educator meets with other faculty members to make sure that the work is done properly, carry out assessments, and to devise teaching strategies.