Big rewards for top GSAT scholars for South St James

Sixty-six top performers at the primary-school level in South St James were lauded at a ceremony held at the Springfield Baptist Church recently.

The majority of the awardees scored 90 per cent and above; they received $10,000 book vouchers.

Top female student Rhianna Barker, with a 99.5 per cent average, and her male counterpart Jovaldino Scott, with 94.5 per cent, both of St Mary's Prep, received $20,000 book vouchers.

"This is indeed a wonderful day for Jamaica's education system and for the citizens, especially the students of my constituency, South St James," said Mayor of Montego Bay Homer Daver. "We can say this is the start of something new which will become an annual event for the top student from the new PEP examinations in the years ahead.

"It is an investment in the youth of our nation, an investment in our parish, and an investment in our country," he added. "We believe that once we empower the children of South St James, it will be to the benefit of this great parish and our country Jamaica."

"This education programme, which caters to the top GSAT students from all 15 primary schools in the constituency, is executed with no political bias and no regard to race, colour or creed," Davis said. "Education is not about your political beliefs, it is not about where or how you worship. This is about giving our students a chance to excel."

Meanwhile, Davis, in challenging the students to do their best at high school, said they must endeavour to make the most of their opportunities and strive for excellence.

The primary schools in South St James include St Mary's Prep, Cambridge Primary, Niagara Primary, Catadupa Primary, Garlands Primary, Bickersteth Primary, Orange Hill Primary, Roehampton Primary, Vaughansfield Primary, Springfield Primary, Anchovy Primary, Maldon Primary, Retrieve Primary, Chatsworth Primary and Lethe Primary.