Annandale Secondary with 36 points and Abram Zuil Secondary with 21 points occupied the first place and first runner-up position respectively in the quiz competition held by the Rotary Club of Stabroek in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
The National Quiz Competition, held on November 1 and 2, it was reported, was aimed towards the advancement of literacy and education. Unlike other programmes that rewarded individual effort, this quiz was organised around the 10 administrative regions Education District 11 and saw three students from Grade 9 (Form 3) representing each of these regions. The teams fought fiercely over the two-day period for a spot in the finals but only Regions 2 and 4 managed to make it to the final round.
Region 4 was represented by Annandale Secondary School and emerged victorious with 36 points, while Region 2 which was represented by the Abram Zuil Secondary School copped the first runner-up position with 21 points. The children in the winning team each received $25,000 compliments of the Bank of Nova Scotia and a Lenovo tablet compliments of Starr Computers along with other prizes plus a trophy for the school. The first runners-up each received $20,000, compliments of the Bank of Nova Scotia, school supplies and other educational and motivational material and a trophy for the school. Consolation prizes comprising school supplies and educational games were presented to the other contestants.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds who delivered the feature address at the closing ceremony reiterated government’s commitment to providing access to education for all children. He thanked the Rotary Club of Stabroek and Ministry of Education for the initiative. In congratulating the winners, the Prime Minister recognised their talents and the trust and confidence placed in them by their regions. He also recognised the important role teachers play in education development and encouraged them to do more to lessen the burden of parents especially as it relates to after school lessons.
Rotary Stabroek’s President Rotarian Luana Falconer said the club was very pleased to have collaborated with the Ministry of Education on the quiz, which she hopes will be an annual one. She commended the ministry’s staff who worked assiduously to ensure the success of the competition. The Rotary Club of Stabroek she said has over the last six years embarked on several projects aimed at advancing the development of the disadvantaged across Guyana.
This event, Falconer said marked another milestone in the club’s commitment to supporting literacy in Guyana and said it will continuously promote and support programmes which will benefit children.
She told the students that by participating in the quiz, they have given prominence to their respective schools and regions, and hope and excitement to the next set of competitors that if they study hard they stand a good chance of emerging as next year’s winners.
She reminded the private sector and government organisations that by supporting Rotary Clubs, they are helping the most vulnerable among us. The club expressed profound gratitude to its sponsors: Bank of Nova Scotia, the Brainstreet Group, Starr Computer, Digicel, NCN, BK International, Banks DIH and Courts.
