Students Urged to Excel at All Times

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles, has urged students to believe in themselves and to endeavour at all times to excel at their given tasks.
“I’m saying to all of you, there is no mountain that you can’t move, no problem that can’t be solved, and no hardship that you can’t get over if you work hard. Work hard, pray hard, respect your parents and have manners. You’ll get there if you have respect,” he advised.
The Minister was delivering the keynote address at a recent presentation ceremony for scholarship awardees, drawn from various communities within Jamalco’s operating area in Clarendon and Manchester, who will be entering secondary institutions in September.
The scholarships have a net value of $350,000 and constitute the first phase of Jamalco’s Back-to-School Assistance Programme, which will see the company contributing $1 million to education this year. The Jamalco Community Scholarship Programme, is also a component of the company’s Educational Assistance Programme and was designed to help students from Jamalco’s operating area, who require financial assistance, to pursue secondary level education.
Parents of the awardees were reminded by Minister Charles that their role in ensuring their children’s success was just as important as that of their children’s teachers.
“It’s not all in the hands of the teachers, it is in large part the responsibility of the parents,” he told them.
Senior Education Officer for Region 6, Mrs. Esmelda McKenzie, challenged the awardees to have a positive attitude towards their school work, to exercise discipline, and to give God thanks continuously, in order to reap success.
“In everything, give thanks. You have been handpicked for this award, you are special. Give God thanks. Be principled, your values shape your attitude. See then that you maintain high ideals by the things you say and the things you do,” she urged.
Mrs. McKenzie congratulated Jamalco for being a good corporate citizen, supporting community initiatives over the years.
The 14 recipients, inclusive of 6 boys, were selected on the basis of need, academic performance, discipline and attendance. The selection was done with the assistance of the principals, class teachers and guidance counsellors of the respective schools.
Each child will receive $25,000 annually, which will be renewable over the next 5 years, providing that the recipient maintains a B+ average, is involved in at least one extra-curricular activity and remains disciplined. Continuous improvement in their academic work is also a requirement.
The funds will be disbursed through the high schools which the students will be attending. These schools include Manchester High, deCarteret College, Glenmuir High, Denbigh High, Porus High and Bustamante High.
Jamalco is currently spearheading other programmes to assist 400 students at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels to return to school in September.