IPD students pleased with their performance

The students of the Institute of Professional Development are pleased.

Despite their personal obstacles and challenges, the four young women who wrote the CSEC examinations are thankful that they were able to secure passes.{{more}}

From a batch of 12 first year students, only three: Shaymalyn Roberts, Lafeisha Cottle and Ashakica McBurnette made it to the second year, where they were joined by Jamilla Neverson.

Their perseverance paid off, with the students recording 100% passes in English A, Office Administration, Principles of Accounts and Principles of Business.

There was a 75% pass rate in Mathematics, and the students are still awaiting results from the Typing and Word Processing examinations.

The Institute’s top student was Shaymalyn Roberts, with four grade ones (Office Administration, and distinctions in English A, Principles of Business and Principles of Accounts, and a grade two in Mathematics.

She also received a First Class pass in Elementary Typing at City and Guild during her first year at the Institute.

The students visited SEARCHLIGHT, accompanied by Kim Joshua, a teacher at the Institute, where they expressed satisfaction with their efforts, although they admitted that they could have done better.

Joshua indicated that the motivation of the students was the greatest hurdle from the teachers’ point of view, but noted that once the students realized the seriousness of the task ahead of them, they became more focused.

The students took the opportunity to thank the teachers, especially Joshua, Miss Young and Head of the Institute Camille Crichton, for sticking by them and showing confidence in their abilities.

They also expressed gratitude to family members and friends.

Crichton, who founded the Institute in 1992, said that despite diminishing external support and behavioural issues at times, she and faculty are motivated yearly, with the improved results that are realized by her students.

According to Crichton, the institute, which caters for young women who for some reason or another did not make it through secondary school, gives the students an opportunity to acquire skills and academic qualifications, where they can improve their standard of living.

Crichton sees the Institute as her contribution to the development of young women and education in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Over 300 students have graduated from the Institute to date, with a number of past students furthering their studies at the University of the West Indies or other institutions of higher learning.

As for the current students, they indicated that they are looking forward to furthering their studies, or becoming productive contributors to the nation’s workforce. (JJ)