From among a field of six brilliant students from the sub-region, Srinisvashan was adjudged the best in the Seventh Annual COURTS-sponsored OECS Reading Competition held in Roseau, Dominica.
Speaking with SKNVibes, Education Officer with Responsibility for Literacy Terres Dore said that the Department of Education on Nevis is extremely proud to have Srinisvashan representing the Federation at the competition and returning home victorious.
She noted that long hours were put into his preparation for the competition.
“The Department, the school and the family have worked assiduously to ensure his participation, and we are elated that he has emerged winner.”
Dore explained that over the seven-year existence of the competition, a number of students from Nevis had represented the Federation and that only last year a female student from that island had captured the First Runner-up spot.
“We have had other students from Nevis represent the Federation before and we were just jubilant throughout the entire process. We join with our counterparts in the Ministry of Education in St. Kitts in offering heartiest congratulations to Hrishikes, and we commend COURTS for their interest in the love for reading among our youths.”
This is the second time that the twin-island Federation was victorious at the competition; the first time was in 2011and it was won by Jendayi Omawali.
Dore is calling on parents to spend more time in having their children engaged in reading activities, pointing out that the Department continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Education in forging the habit of reading throughout the Federation.
“We had a national assessment done and out of that we have been visiting the schools and hearing from the teachers...and address the areas that teachers have difficulties with the students in reading.”
According to Dominican News Online, Srinisvashan amassed a total of 697 points in two rounds (Narrative and News Item) to walk away victorious in the competition.
For the victory, he took home a Kindle Tablet and EC$5,000 for his efforts, while the school he attends received a similar cash prize.
“I would like to firstly thank COURTS for sponsoring the competition, the Education Department for allowing me to enter, my teachers for helping me, and I want to thank my parents and fans for supporting me,” Srinisvashan said.
