Class Four students of the Lawrence T. Gay Memorial primary school are better equipped to sit the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination in just over a week.
On Friday, Ian Gooding-Edghill, Member of Parliament for the St Michael West Central, the constituency in which the school is located, donated examination kits to the 75 students who will be sitting the exam which is commonly referred to as the 11-Plus.
The donation forms part of Gooding-Edghill’s annual give back programme to the school, which has been in place for about a decade.
He told reporters it was his intention to continue the initiative, adding that there were several other plans on the cards to help students of that learning institution.
Opting not to say what those plans were, Edghill said: “It is absolutely necessary that we in the community help those within the community and that will continue to be my mandate as a former resident of the area and in my capacity as their member of parliament.”
The Spooners Hill, St Michael institution has experienced several environmental challenges over the years resulting in the relocation of the students to other schools. This year, the Class Four students will sit the 11-Plus exam at the Combermere School.
The exam will now be held on Tuesday, July 14, after it was postponed from its original date of Tuesday, May 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gooding-Edghill was not in a position to say when the issues plaguing the school would be corrected, but noted he was pleased with the progress of the Ministry of Education.
“I am also pleased with the arrangements that we have in place for the students,” he said.
He lauded the teachers for their support throughout the years, saying they remained patient and especially helpful to the students to ensure very little disruption as possible.
“I want to say that oftentimes we do not salute the teachers at schools, and especially those at the primary level. I can tell you, because I maintain a very close relationship with the school, that the teachers have gone above and beyond in helping to prepare these students for the examination, like they have done in the past. That says a lot about the quality of teaching we have in Barbados,” he said.
Class Four student Marisa Lowe thanked the minister on behalf of the other students for the examination kits.
“On behalf of my fellow students at the Lawrence T. Gay Memorial School, I say thank you for presenting us with these packages. These packages will be useful as we sit the Common Entrance Exam,” said Lowe.
Principal of the school Jacinta Alexander also expressed appreciation, saying that Gooding-Edghill has always “been there for us”. She believed the assistance would help boost the morale of staff and children, saying she was hoping the assistance to the school would continue for years to come. marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb
