Supplements for GSAT Students

The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with H.D Hopwood and Seven Seas, has embarked on an initiative to supply some rural schools with vitamin supplements, for students sitting the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) examination. Constitution Hill All-age School in St. Andrew, the first of six schools to be presented with the supplements, received supplies on (Jan. 29), at a handing over ceremony, held at the Ministry of Education, National Heroes Circle. The other schools targeted are: Rowlandsfield All-age in St. Thomas; Hastings Primary in Trelawny; Sunderland All-age in St. James; Merrywood Primary in St. Elizabeth, and Cedar Valley All-age and Infant in St. Catherine. Four students, who represented Constitution Hill, were presented with Omega 3 (fish oil), vitamin C and Minadex tonic by Deborah Allen, Brand Manager for Seven Seas. “We at HD Hopwood and at Seven Seas recognize that nutrition is very important in a child’s development, and especially when they are going through stressful times, that’s the time when they need more of a nutritional balance,” she said. Director of the School Feeding Unit in the Ministry, Helen Robertson, said this move was done to accommodate students sitting the GSAT examination.
She pointed out that this programme was in keeping with the Ministry’s private and public partnerships and was the second donation within a week. “Last week, Glaxo Smith-Kline contributed Horlicks for use in our infant schools,” she pointed out. On the School Feeding Programme, the Director said that the two components of the programme, cooked lunch and nutri-bun, have been going well.
“Feeding grant cheques were distributed in December for schools on the cooked lunch programme and students in the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH). Cheques for nutritional support will be going out in the next week or two,” she added. Yvonne Mathison, Principal of Constitution Hill All-age, said she was very grateful for the gift, and that she is expecting good results from her students.