Students Urged to Master the English Language
By: , August 7, 2015The Key Point:
Photo: Mark Bell
Senior Advisor to the Minister of Education, Dr. Franklin Johnston (left), having a light conversation with recipients of grants from the National Security Employees Co-op Credit Union, during the company’s annual Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) awards function, held at its Cross Roads location in Kingston, today (Aug. 5). The awardees (pictured from second left) are: Zavier Johnson, Orane Grant, Kaif McGaw, and Chevon Davis. A total of 66 students were presented with grants during the function.The Facts
- He noted, however, that having a command of English does not mean they cannot speak all the other languages, including Jamaican creole, “but what it means is that you want to know you have one thing that you do well, because it opens doors for you.”
The Full Story
Senior Advisor to the Minister of Education, Dr. Franklin Johnston, is urging students to ensure they master the English language, as this is one skill which demonstrates their competence in many areas.
“It is extremely important to your future that each of you masters English, because you are not just going to remain here, you’re going to go right up to the top of some organisation…you’re going to go abroad, and one of the things that will always serve you well is if you know your English well, you speak it well and you can do it well,” he said.
Dr. Johnston was speaking at the annual Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) awards function of the National Security Employees Co-op Credit Union, at its Cross Roads location, in Kingston, today (August 5).
The Senior Advisor shared with the students that he has worked in many countries around the world and English “is one thing that takes me through, because no matter what your skill or expertise, you have to be able to communicate with people.”
He noted, however, that having a command of English does not mean they cannot speak all the other languages, including Jamaican creole, “but what it means is that you want to know you have one thing that you do well, because it opens doors for you.”
In the meantime, Dr. Johnston congratulated the scholarship awardees on their achievement and encouraged them to enter this new phase of their lives with a sense of purpose. He also reminded them to have faith, work hard and continue to strive for success.
The Senior Advisor also praised the credit union, which has provided over $7 million in GSAT grants since the inception of the awards programme.
For the past eight years the credit union has awarded children of members with yearly grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 per child.
The credit union hosts the function each year in honour of students who were successful in GSAT and also assists parents to offset some of their back-to-school expenses. A total of 66 students were awarded this year.