Eastern St Thomas awards GSAT students

SOME 49 students were awarded gift certificates and bursaries last week during a luncheon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Eastern St Thomas Annual Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) Top Achievers Programme.

The awardees were chosen from the 20 primary and four preparatory schools across the constituency and had averages ranging between 60 per cent and 98.5 per cent.

A release from the office of the member of parliament for Eastern St Thomas noted that last year, Dr Fenton Ferguson spent some $11 million on education and training, courtesy of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme, during which time the services of the Edufocal programme were engaged to assist with GSAT readiness.

According to the office, Ferguson is looking to spend another $11 million this year, $8 million from the CDF and $3 million from the prime minister’s HOPE programme.

Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips, who was guest speaker at the GSAT Top Achievers Luncheon, hailed his colleague for what he said is his continued dedication and commitment, both in terms of financial and technical support.

Phillips lauded the constituency for its employment of the use of up-to-date technological tools and programmes for the enhancement of the delivery of education.

“I say this because the ways in which education is being administered all over the world has gone electronic. The services of the Edufocal online programme, which were engaged to assist with GSAT readiness, no doubt contributed to the successes being awarded today, and programmes like this should certainly be considered for replication across the island,” he said.