Monday, November 30 – At the Alternative Secondary Education Programme (ASEP) graduation ceremony held last week Coordinator of the Programme Mrs. Cecily Malone announced with great pride that this year’s graduating class is the highest achieving class since the programme’s inception.
Mrs. Malone told the gathering that the class had more credits and distinctions than any other class in the history of the programme. “This class has raised the standard even higher than classes in previous years,” she said.
She also added that she is proud of the male students who she has described as the ‘trail blazers’. “This year, just like last year, our highest achiever is a male student, Mr. Dwayne Strawn, who has pushed it to another level by getting distinctions in all his five subjects,” she said.
Mrs. Malone said in a community where males are looked at very negatively, she is proud to see the accomplishments of the male students in the programme.
Twenty-five students received their Secondary Certificates and eight received certificates in a single subject. Mrs. Malone told the graduates this certificate is their passport to getting the job they desire and also their entrance to higher education.
Minister of Education and Culture Honourable Andrew Fahie gave the graduates some sound advice. “Graduates, if anyone knows about failure it is I, but I learned that failure is the opportunity to start again more intelligently,” he said.
Minister Fahie told the gathering that with the inception of this program in 2002 a mission began. “It was not a political mission for the next general elections but a mission for the next generation,” he said, adding, “that mission has allowed over 150 persons who would have not had the opportunity to get a high school certificate to have one today.”
Acting Chief Education Officer Dr. Marcia Potter also congratulated the graduates for their hard work and dedication. “It is clear that you are a committed group of young people, determined to improve your lives by taking hold of this fresh new opportunity given to you by the Government of the Virgin Islands, which has shaped your life anew and prepared yourselves for an exciting future,” she said.
Guest Speaker and past graduate of the programme Mrs. Utah Cameron told the graduates this marked a new era in their lives. “You have now reached the pinnacle of your general education and this is your ticket to specialised training in any field you choose or in any endeavour you undertake,” she said.
Top achiever Mr. Dwayne Strawn told his fellow graduates this achievement was just a milestone in their lives. “This is indeed a remarkable milestone but it is just that a milestone. The journey is long and we have quite a long way to go,” he said.
He added, “I strongly believe that everyone has the power to alter their destiny and be the best they can be.”
The goals of the Alternative Secondary Education Programme are to provide another opportunity for individuals to complete secondary level equivalency education in both academic and technical or vocational courses and to offer persons in the community personal enrichment.
British Virgin Islands News