Students Urged to Make Good Use of Secondary School Education

Educator and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Audrey Sewell, is imploring students, who will be attending high school in September to make the best of their secondary education.

She urged them to dedicate themselves to their studies, and display exemplary behaviour.

“Do not pressure your parents to buy things that are not important; let education be your priority,” Mrs. Sewell said.

She was addressing the recent school leaving exercise for the Kitson Town All Age School in St. Catherine, held on the grounds of the Kitson Town Baptist Church.

Mrs. Sewell, who spoke under the theme: ‘The Race for Excellence Has no Finish Line,’ implored the parents in attendance to nurture their children, and guide them along the right path.

She cited the case of a Kingston father, who with the support of a church, was able to put in children on the road to success.

She said that with the intervention of the church, the older child was able to attend Alpha Academy, where in fourth form, she passed four subjects with three at distinction.

The younger child, whom she noted, “started primary school at the age when she should be in grade two”, has earned a place at the Immaculate Conception High School, having passed the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) with an average score of 98 percent.

“With the support of the father, they did it,” Mrs. Sewell said. She urged other parents to emulate his example, and invest in their children’s education rather than providing them with “bling.”

“They don’t have any cable television to distract them, they don’t even have radio in the home, but the father values education. He has very high standards for his girls. They have to stay at home and study,” she told the gathering.

The Permanent Secretary said she was “heartened” by the strides being made at the Kitson Town All Age School, and encouraged the leadership and staff to “continue on that path, because excellence requires constant growth; it means continuous improvement.”