Primary Schools get a sports boost

Seven of this nation’s primary schools are now equipped with cricket and netball gear compliments the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ Nationals of Washington D.C.

This is the 16th year the group has been making contributions to the Layou, Rose Hall, Sandy Bay, Cane End, Evesham Methodist, the Mary Hutchinson Primary (Union Island) and the Barrouallie Anglican Schools.{{more}}

The programme caters to primary schools chosen based on geographic location, this according to Albie Crick, chairman of the education committee.

The items, which include cricket bats, gloves, wicket keeping pads, batting pads and netballs, are valued at just under EC$6,000.

A sum of US$500 was also donated to the group’s liaison officer Godfred Pompey for the purchase of exercise books, which will be distributed throughout the recipient schools.

Crick said this is the second phase of the project which is now in its third year.

He added that another cheque for US$500 will be sent in February to replenish the supply.

Crick said that the items donated are usually those requested.

“We ask schools to submit requests and we try to honour them at the same time,” he said.

But perhaps a unique factor of the project is that where available the items are purchased locally, which according to Crick helps to generate income.

And the response from the individual schools has been overwhelming.

“This has been a great help to the students,” Gosnell Williams, headteacher of the Rose Hall Government School, told SEARCHLIGHT.

“The children have benefitted a lot; the programme has been a good one,” he said.

Lenford Spring of the Sandy Bay Government commented that not all students were academically inclined and the sporting gear was ideal in helping them to explore other avenues.

“We can’t go wrong. I will do my part to see as headteacher that the equipment will be put to good use,” Adonis Charles, headteacher of the Barrouallie Anglican School said.(DD)