Congrats to Ayanna, Dwain and Haleema

THE EDITOR: I refer to the Editorial in the September 1 issue of your newspaper, where you state, inter alia, “A simple review of the A level results presents the glaring fact that all (emphasis mine) the successful students come from what we have grown accustomed to calling ‘the prestige schools’.” This statement is at variance with the results published in a table on page 39 of your issue of Sunday August 31, under the caption “Top Achievers” where three students from the St Augustine Senior Comprehensive School are listed among these achievers. Unless of course, one assumes that you consider the St Augustine Senior Comprehensive School to be prestige! It is unfortunate that the achievers, Dwain Davis (5th in Geometrical and Mechanical Drawing), Haleema Ali and Ayanna Richardson (7th in Business Studies and History respectively) were not commended for their efforts. You state that “the ‘prestige schools’ attract the brightest students, who having done well in the former Common Entrance now SEA examinations, choose them as their first choice.” By extension the weaker students go to the “The Rest.”

It is therefore highly commendable that weak students can be so motivated and so well taught, that they are able to place at such high levels, not only among Trinidad and Tobago candidates, but among candidates taking the examination in question, “in the world.” While it is true that “The Rest” do not produce scholarship winners and good results “on a consistent basis” it is commendable that they do at all, considering what is deemed to be the weaker material with which they deal. Congratulating the three youngsters mentioned above will raise not only their self esteem, but be an encouragement to other children who attend schools among “The Rest” and help them to realise that they too can aim at excellence! Congratulations to Ayanna, Dwain and Haleema.

JULIAN DUNCAN
St Augustine