The Ministry of Education’s School’s Welfare Services presented certificates to pupils of the Georgetown Education District who attained more than 95% or more attendance during the last academic year 2008/09 in a grand ceremony at the West Ruimveldt Primary School yesterday.
At the event, held as part of the observances of Education Month, 18 public schools were identified as having attained the attendance rate. West Ruimveldt Primary topped the list with 305 students making 95% or more attendance.
In her address to the gathering of students and teachers, Donna Chapman Deputy Chief Education Officer Development (DCEO Dev.) noted that it was “a memorable day” for the schools and the children. “I know today is an unforgettable experience,” she told the students while commending them and their school. Chapman also applauded the parents of the students and thanked them for supporting the education system.
However, she reminded teachers that it is for them to make sure students stay in school. She urged teachers to also ensure learners see the relevance of what they are doing and how it is linked to their everyday life. In her salute to teachers she told them to make their teaching more interesting.
Chapman noted the difficulty of acquiring an education in some countries and told those present that they “should count your blessings”. She closed by urging that the day’s exercise must not be one that is done during education month only but throughout the academic year.
She also urged all the schools that did not make the qualification to work harder to ensure that they too make the 95% or more attendance.
The schools that met the required attendance rate and received certificates at the presentation were: West Ruimveldt Primary (305), Winfer Gardens Primary (237), Christ Church Secondary (116), St Angela’s Primary (63), FE Pollard Primary (45), St Pius Primary (36), Redeemer Primary (35), South Ruimveldt Primary (30), Tucville Primary (30), Rama Krishna Primary (26), JE Burnham Primary (21), Bel Air Primary (21), St Ambrose Primary (12), Enterprise Primary (12), Central Primary (12), St Andrew’s Primary (10), St Stephen’s Primary (8) and Lodge Community High with five students making 95% or more attendance.
For being the school with the most students who made good attendance, West Ruimveldt Primary also received a plaque and was urged to continue to keep up its good attendance rate. This theme for Education Month is ‘Schools Attendance and Punctuality: Keys to Education Success’.
