More Competitions to help Boost Students’ Education

OCHO RIOS — The Ministry of Education, in the coming months, will be increasing the number of competitions for schools across the island.

The effort, expected to enhance the education process, was revealed by Education Minister, Hon. Andrew Holness, at the Northwest St. Ann poetry competition awards ceremony held on May 28 at St. Mark’s Anglican Church Hall in Brown’s Town.

“In the coming months, you are going to see, out of the Ministry of Education, an increase in the number of competitions because competition is also very important in keeping the students interested,” he stated.

“The philosophy of Jamaican education embraces competition but we are going to make sure that we do not only reward the winner, but also give adequate recognition and support to all those who participate,” he informed.

Pointing to the BlackBerry Developers Competition, which was recently launched by the Ministry to boost students’ understanding of technology, he noted that the Ministry was also looking to develop contests in other areas.

“We are looking into other competitive areas. It is not just in sports, but we are looking to develop competitions in art and literature,” Minister Holness said, while commending the organisers of the St. Ann poetry contest.

Meanwhile, Coordinator of the competition, Claudette Graham, said that she was pleased with the level of participation from the schools in the region. “I am proud to report that the objectives of the competition have been met and I want to encourage (students) who participated to continue to read and believe in yourselves,” she said.

“You have shown tremendous creativity and you have been an inspiration. You are all winners so don’t you ever hide your light under a bushel,” Miss Graham added.

Students from 14 schools participated in the competition, with 11-year old Tashique Gibson of Sturge Town Primary emerging victorious.

“I am very happy that I won this competition because I have a passion for poetry and I must thank my mother, my sister and my principal for assisting me and today, I am feeling proud because I won,” Tashique told JIS News.

The North West St. Ann Poetry Competition, an initiative of Member of Parliament Othneil Lawrence in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Region Three, was launched on April 1. Students were required to create original poems about Jamaica.

By ALDEEN CAMPBELL, JIS Reporter