Three Berbice High School students who were awarded the first National Industrial & Commercial Investments Ltd (NICIL) National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) scholarships for 2019 were once again all rewarded by the company for excelling at their Christmas term exams.
According to a NICIL release, the students, Pawan Etwaroo, Chitra Ramdihal and Marissa Siriram, all scored over 70 per cent at their exams.
Pawan Etwaroo and Chitra Ramdihal, had both topped Region Six, while Marissa Siriram had come in fifth. However, while they were all placed in different Grade Seven classes, Ramdihal achieved 83% with Siriram gaining 76.8% and Etwaroo 74.6%. The students were all elated to have scored over 70% and promised to improve their performances next term. Etwaroo also was able to make his school under-15 cricket team, confessing that he has a deep passion for the game. He however promised to balance his love for cricket with his studies to ensure that his grades remain impressive.
The scholarship was instituted by the NICIL’s CEO, Colvin Heath-London, after the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, felt that something tangible ought to be done to reward the children of former and or present GuySuCo workers in Region Six who performed exceptionally well at the 2019 NGSA. After receiving the Minister’s approval, the NICIL/SPU Region Six NGSA Scholarship was established. The top five students for Region Six were awarded with school supplies and a monthly stipend of $50,000 each
At a presentation ceremony, NICIL’s Rose Hall Berbice Estate Manager, Edward Anderson, expressed his company’s pleasure to be once again rewarding the students. He noted that their investment thus far in the three children is certainly paying off as it was evident that with the required support, financial and otherwise, that they could certainly achieve their academic goals. “When we decided to invest into these children, [we] recognized that it was the right thing to do as they were evidently faced with challenging financial difficulties. As such, we felt that such a scholarship programme would have further enhanced their academic ability as it is a known fact that some students are unable to perform to their highest potential because of financial difficulties facing their homes,” Anderson was quoted as saying.
Anderson reiterated his company’s commitment to continue lending valuable support and assistance to the three students urging them to be aware that their performance would help in reaffirming NICIL’s belief that they are worthy of financial and other support. “All we at NICIL expect of you is to do your best and we are already aware that you three are highflyers, so continue the trend of excelling as we are definitely confident of you going on to achieve your set dreams. Guyana will certainly be a better place with three top professionals in some years’ time,” he declared.
Deputy Headmaster of Berbice High, Basoodeo Utam, congratulated the students for what he said were excellent performances. He declared that he along with the rest of the school’s teaching staff were impressed with the conduct and performances of the three students, singling out Etwaroo’s selection to the school’s cricket team. “We are aware of Pawan’s cricketing ability and we intend to continue lending support to him as he continues to excel in both sports and academics. While Chitra is leaning towards the arts we recognise that Marissa is a very shy young lady, but we are confident that before the end of the academic year that they both would also be deeply involved in extracurricular activities,” the Deputy said.
Utam acknowledged that the school recognised that several students were from financially challenged homes and has been raising funds through the execution of a number of projects and programmes so that they could lend assistance to those greatly in need. He disclosed that the school concert was able to assist the school in distributing over 30 hampers to some of the school’s most needy students and intends to lend further assistance to other students in the new year.
“Support from Corporate companies and organizations like NICIL helps us significantly in achieving our set objects and goals and we are appealing to others to emulate the actions of NICIL as I can assure you that with the relevant support and assistance these students can and will excel,” Utam urged.
As part of their reward package the three students will be spending the weekend with their parents and siblings at the Watooka Guest House, while touring several places of interest in Region Ten next weekend.
