Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) was named the ‘Best Overall Region’ when the winners were announced and prizes awarded as the National Science, Mathematics and Technology Fair 2014 ended.
Elated students from several schools in the region were in celebratory mode yesterday.
Speaking to Stabroek News, winners and runner-ups were all elated. Jahni Williamson, a student of Mackenzie High said that she was happy that all the hard work had seen her school win a first place. “I knew that we would have done well but we never expected it to be first place. We are all so happy now that we were placed first in the Mathematics segment and we also came out on top for the best overall project,” she said.
Mohamed Safeer Juma, student of Abrams Zuil Secondary after receiving the trophy for first prize Industrial Technology segment exclaimed, “This feels awesome! We had a lot of inspiration while doing this project and it just feels great that we were awarded first place.”
National Science Coordinator Petal Punalall-Jetoo giving a review of the National Science, Mathematics and Technology Fair 2014, thanked the judges, collaborators and the regional coordinators for making it a success.
“What we have seen over the past three days is what we need to do in Science, Mathematics and Technology Fairs in the future. Our students presented to us the solutions for the problems we need to solve and we have just begun to walk the road with our young scientists. This fair doesn’t end today. It ends when the projects are implemented,” she said. Deputy Chief Education Officer Donna Chapman said this year’s fair “brings back memories of me coordinating a science fair at this same venue in 2002 but this time we are bigger and better. I wish to thank the heads of the education departments and their teams for making what seemed impossible, possible. I also want to congratulate the budding scientists for their great effort.”
Chapman said that it was interesting to see 63 schools from across the 11 educational districts participated in the event. She praised the students for remarkable team spirit, effective communication skills and great interaction.
In her remarks, Chief Judge Lois Oliver commended each student, teacher and parent for the projects that were on display. “The calibre of the exhibits this year was of a very high standard. There has been representation from all the regions and that is commendable,” she said.
She added that there were three aspects of the projects that were judged; oral, report and exhibit. Oliver noted that they were improvements that could be made to the overall event such as registration at the information desk.
The awards were announced as follows:
Mathematics, Primary Schools – New Diamond Grove Primary, first and St Stephen’s Primary second.
And in the lower secondary division:
Craft and Visual Arts – Linden Foundation, third; Leonora Secondary, second and Craig Primary, first.
Social and Behavioural Sciences – Queen’s College, second and Mackenzie High, first.
Integrated Science – St Rose’s High, first; Cotton Field Secondary, second and St John’s Secondary, third.
Environmental Science – St Ignatius Secondary, first; Number 8 Secondary, second and Abrams Creek Secondary, third.
Agricultural Science – Anna Regina Secondary, first; Queen’s College second and Three Miles Secondary third.
Information Technology – Queen’s College was the lone entry.
In the upper secondary division
Craft and Visual Arts – Karabourie Primary was the lone entry.
Physics – Johanna Cecilia Secondary, first.
Home Economics – Queen’s College, first; Kwakwani Secondary, second and Bartica Secondary, third.
Integrated Science – Anna Regina Secondary, first; Uitvlugt, second and Lancaster Secondary, third.
Environmental Science – LBI Secondary, first; Mahaicony, second and Aurora Secondary, third.
Agricultural Science – Santa Rosa Secondary, first; Rosignol Secondary, second.
Industrial Technology – Abrams Zuil Secondary, first; St Ignatius, second and Skeldon Secondary, third.
Mathematics – Mackenzie High, first; Santa Rosa Secondary second; and JC Chandisingh Secondary, third.
Information Technology – 8th of May Secondary was the lone entry.
Chemistry – Bush Lot Secondary, first; Mahdia Secondary, second.
Best oral presentation for primary schools was awarded to Taymouth Manor, while Queen’s College won for lower secondary division and Abrams Zuil Secondary for the upper secondary division.
Mackenzie High School secured the award for Best Overall Project in the lower secondary division and Abrams Zuil Secondary in the upper secondary.
The National Science, Mathematics and Technology Fair 2014 was held under the theme ‘Science Mathematics and Technology: Providing Solutions for the 21st Century’ at the Anna Regina Secondary School, Essequibo Coast, Region Two by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with GT&T.
