The Lions Club of Central Demerara awarded the top four students from schools along East Bank Demerara highway in recognition of their excellent achievement at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examination.
The bursary presentation was held at Central Demerara Lions residence in Providence, East Bank Demerara, on Sunday. The students’ teachers and parents were also recognised for creating the path to excellence.
The top four performers earned placements at one of the country’s premiere secondary schools, Queen’s College: Ruben Cush of KuruKuru Primary gained 555 marks; Joshua Kaladen of Peter’s Hall Primary gained 554; Chandrapaul Sukhu of New Diamond Grove Primary scored 548: and Jonathan Arjune of Covent Garden Primary gained 543.
Lions Club members along with beneficiaries
The President of Central Demerara Lions, Dwarta Singh congratulated the top performers who are all males, and noted that at the previous bursary awards, the recipients were all females.
He challenged the young men to reappear before him in the next five years when they have completed their Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations.
Education officer Loren Park who delivered the feature address urged the students to remain focused at secondary school and not “get lost through the cracks”. He urged parents to not shelter their children too much but to take them to places where they can be inspired and add values to people’s lives:
“When my daughter reaches 12 years old I will take her to the area around the post office, Georgetown Public Hospital and Bourda Market for her to see how life is different for many other individuals. So she can be sensitive to the things around here and be humane and humble.”
Park further encouraged the boys to be respectful and humble in their pursuit of secondary education.
Past president Lion Ivor English of Central Demerara Lions expressed his delight at being able to offer words of wisdom to the top performers.
He briefly remarked that these top students have a tendency of operating “as they have arrived” at these top schools and forgetting the need to continue working; however he thanked the children for humbly accepting the bursaries from Central Demerara Lions.
Top student Cush spoke on behalf of his fellow peers, noting their thankfulness to God and their families, who he described as “cornerstones”. Cush also thanked the teachers and headteachers of their respective schools for the great input in their achievements.
Central Demerara Lions disclosed that the group is seeking to undertake greater projects besides painting pedestrian crossings and offering bursaries.
