President lauds ‘devoted’ students

President of Trinidad and Tobago, George Maxwell Richards, praised winners of the President’s Medal yesterday because their “attainment of the coveted medal is a recognition of a single-mindedness of purpose, devotion to studies and discipline extended over a period of time.” In a ceremony at President’s House, he was also high in praise for the Ministry of Education and the government, commending them on the efforts being made to make education, especially tertiary level education, accessible to all students in the country. The President added that as a result of government’s efforts, there would no longer be a situation where students could not access education because of financial circumstances, as the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) initiative allowed all tertiary level students access to tertiary level education.

Mention was also made of the increased contribution to the University of the West Indies (UWI) at  St Augustine, noting there was an increased enrollment in “critical areas” such as Science and Technology. The President also mentioned the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), saying more than 2,000 applications from qualified candidates have been received for entry into UTT. With these improvements, he said he expected to see the tertiary level enrollment rate in the 17-25 age category increase from nine percent to 25 percent. Minister of Education Hazel Manning also addressed the gathering, saying the achievements of the students were testimony to the efforts being made to prepare students for the demands of the adult world, as well as a stepping stone for national development. She reminded them to motivate the youth and give something back to their alma mater and community, as they were the “master builders” that provided the foundation on which they could build.

She also praised the awardees, saying they epitomised the nation’s watchwords: Discipline, Tolerance and Production. The awardees were: Keron Drakes of El Dorado Secondary Comprehensive, who received the President’s Medal for Comprehensive School (Craft Studies), as well as the President’s Medal for Craft Studies (Open). Drakes was the most outstanding student from senior comprehensive and composite schools. The President’s Medal for Secondary Schools (Open), went to Riad Khan of Naparima College. He was the most outstanding student at the Cambridge O’ Level/CXC Examinations. The President’s Medal for Higher Secondary Education (Open), for the most outstanding student in Maths/Sciences, went to Kevin Singh of Naparima College. The other President’s Medal for Higher Secondary Education in all other subject areas went to Summer Alston Smith of St Joseph’s Convent, Port-of-Spain.

Kevin Nanan of San Fernando Technical Institute received the President’s Medal for Technical Studies (Open), which is awarded to the most outstanding student in the Examinations at technicians’ level of the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education. Omesh Mathura, of the Valsayn Teacher’s College, received the President’s Medal for Teacher’s Colleges. The President’s Medal for Teacher Training (Technical/Vocational) went to Marcia Gunman of the John S Donaldson Technical Institute. While the awardees were pleased with their accomplishments, they said it could not be done without hard work, as well as support from their schools and families. The mother of one awardee, Summer Alston Smith, who received the award on the behalf on her daughter who is on scholarship at the University of Reading, England, said her daughter maintained balance throughout her academic career, but still found time for leisure, as she remained dedicated to her studies. Many of the awardees said that pursuing a university degree was on the cards for them, while Kevin Singh, the recipient for Higher Education (Open), was already attending university in Canada.