Gittens to graduate from UWI Open Campus with First Class Honours

Yvette Gittens, Early Childhood practitioner and Reading coach, will graduate next Friday, February 23, 2018, from the University of the West Indies Open Campus with First Class Honours.

Gittens had hopes of representing the Open Campus as valedictorian, but said in a release that even though this will not be possible, she is thankful that she still maintained her grades and sanity, despite the financial challenges and sleepless nights.

“Nothing in life comes easy; you have to work hard for what you have and stay focussed, despite the petty jealousies and financial challenges,” she said.

Gittens said she is still confused as to why she had to pursue other courses unrelated to her studies in Early Childhood and Family Studies, which were in Leadership Management, such as Social Psychology and Human Resource Management, after being exempted from other courses.

She said that Social Psychology was the worst of all her courses, as the e-tutor marked down to the punctuation. Also group work was not done with effort, and collaboration was lacking in the course, as students lacked the motivation to participate.

Gittens encouraged students who are looking for a university at which to pursue their studies to choose the University of the West Indies Open Campus and to study well.

“A GPA is only a number, but you must give your best at all times. It is not only the knowledge you would have received that matters, but the way you are able to use that knowledge to empower your students and others after you have finished completing your studies,” Gittens said.

Gittens said she has given herself the name “Perseverance” and continues to hold her head high, as her desire is to work with children who are struggling readers. Curriculum is only a guide, for with it, one must add instructional strategies and research based interventions for children’s holistic development.

She expressed thanks to those who supported her throughout her years of study.

“I intend to use the knowledge received to better the lives of children in St Vincent and the Grenadines,” Gittens said.