According to coordinator Edgar Holt, the programme which started in September 2008 has already lost 14 members to the main college, as they have done well in examinations and moved on.

In their qualifying year the men have been doing college mathematics, English and specialisations including industrial technology, visual arts, music and guidance and counselling.

Holt is appealing to the corporate community to provide assistance for the programme as the cost for each participant is $180,000 per year for five years.

Normal matriculation require-ments for degree programmes at the school include five Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate subjects and two Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations unit one passes. PUMP, or the Pre-University Men's Programme, screens and admits men with other talents outside of the strictly academic, such as music and sports, into a one-year upgrading programme, which will prepare them for entry for the degree in teaching.

According to school president, Dr Claude Packer, the programme was conceived to get more men into the university and into the classroom.

"The first batch we took in allowed us to return all-island champions in cricket. We have to find creative ways to admit them. Men are not teaching and we want them in the classrooms."

According to Dr Packer, the degree in education will take the men five years to complete, after which they can "spend another five years in the classroom before moving on to other fields.

"We have graduates who have become lawyers, investors and pilots. That's fine with us. We want to expose our men to that."

The school president said the university college has also implemented a graduate programme in leadership, claiming that the induction of men into undergraduate programmes was an extension of the commitment of Mico to "leadership and good teaching".

The university college also operates five extension schools in rural Jamaica, which also cater to those who wish to upgrade their qualification.

avia.ustanny@gleanerjm.com