Road Town, Tortola– The top three students in classes one to five at all public primary schools in the Territory will enjoy a day of adventure as they will tour historical sites on Tortola on Friday, February 12 during mid-term break.

Approximately 278 students will be on the tour sponsored by the Ministry and Department of Education and Culture under the auspices of the Minister of Education Honourable Andrew Fahie. These students were the top performers during the Advent term of the school year 2009/2010.

Honourable Fahie told the Department of Information and Public Relations that the aim of this initiative, which began in February 2008, is to reward academic performance, boost students’ morale and highlight the positive things that are happening with the students in education.  “Our commitment is to our students and rewarding their hard work and dedication is important for us to continue on our journey of moving our education system from good to great,” the minister said.

Honourable Fahie said this initiative aids in boosting students’ morale and highlights the positive things that are happening with the students in education. 

During the educational tour, the students will be able to explore and learn about local historical sites such as the Cholera and Quaker Burial Sites, Kingston Church Ruins, Aragon Beef Island, Josiah’s Bay Plantation among others

The students will be accompanied by teachers, parents and tour guides.  The students will assemble at 8:30 a.m. in the vacant lot adjacent to the Central Administration Complex and buses will take them on the tour. 

A total of 525 students, who were the top three performers in classes one to five at all public primary schools in the Territory, were rewarded for their excellent performance during the Advent and Lent terms of the school year 2008/2009.  

Last school year the top students for the Advent and Lent terms were rewarded with a sail along the South Coast, a tour of Jost Van Dyke and a full tour of Anegada, respectively.    In addition, special recognition was given to those students who maintained the top three positions for both terms. 

Students who maintained their top position for the three consecutive terms (Advent, Lent and Trinity) will receive the Ministry of Education and Culture’s top achievers award in October of this year.

The mission of the Ministry of Education and Culture is to provide high quality education and rehabilitative services, as well as, to facilitate access to and participation in sports, recreation and culture, in order to enrich the lives of all residents of the Virgin Islands.