BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – EC$12 000 in cheques were yesterday (Nov. 23) handed over to 24 students of the various Primary Schools in the Constituency Seven district by the area’s Parliamentary Representative, Hon. Dr. Timothy Harris.
The Help a Child Scholarship ceremony, which was held yesterday (Nov. 23) at the Edgar T Morris Primary School in Tabernacle, saw six students from each of four Primary Schools receiving EC$500 each in an effort to assist the parents of those students to meet their child’s academic needs.
The ceremony also saw dance performances, poetry and song being performed by some of the students of the various schools for the parents, teachers and officials at the ceremony, with a special performance by local artiste Rolensha Henry.
The students who received awards were Damian Davis, Kenja Browne, Kishaun Fahie, Stevincia Carey, Shaiyan Douglas, Queniecia Gilbert, Randolph Skelton, Joydayne Francis, Alrecia Scarborough, Derrick Michael, Roquelle Byron, Shannon Estridge, Neville Browne, Rianna Blair, Kadian Richards, Bishon Buchanan, William Weekes, Vinika O’Loughlin, Kayjuan Gaiton, J’nqua Carey, Racquel Browne, Shamar Cannonier, Tray Natta, and Jayden Bradshaw.
Giving his featured address, Harris advised the teachers to step outside of their comfort zone and be community leaders, urging them to visit their students’ parents and explain to them what issues their child may be having and find solutions to that student’s problem.
He also pleaded with the parents to keep abreast with what is going on with their children academically and to assist the teachers in helping them [children] succeed, noting that “education is not just for learning but at the end of the learning process, each student should be able to adapt to the challenges of life.”
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Harris explained that the Help a Child Scholarship Programme is one that targets primary schools in Constituency Seven of which there are four, Edgar T Morris Primary in Tabernacle, Estridge Primary in Mansion Village, Joshua Obediah Williams Primary in Molineux, and Violet Petty in Primary in Lodge.
Students are nominated from each school of which six are chosen for the scholarship making a total of 24 scholarships being provided. Each student is given EC$500 for the purpose of helping to meet the needs of those parents who are experiencing difficulties when handling their child’s academic expenses.
There are two criteria – the child must be in need and the child must be able to show academic promise.
“The idea is to try to help people who are having difficulties in the school area, largely because they have some need that they cannot meet. It could be anything, from a pencil to a geometry set. We are trying to help because we do not want the children to fall through the crack,” Harris explained.
Harris said that his hope for the Help a Child’s tenth year is to add two other schools to the programme.
“For the tenth anniversary, we want to expand the Programme to include the Secondary School in Cayon and the Secondary School in Saddlers.
Harris said that there are quite a number of sponsors that have come on board to assist in the cause; some have been involved since the Programme’s inception and others have recently joined – all of whose efforts are greatly appreciated.
The programme is in its eighth year with a total of EC$96 000 being distributed between 192 students.
