Grade six students Jaykel Mars and Afeisha Spencer of the Barrouallie Anglican School are the 2010 champions of the Kingstown Co-operative Credit Union Limited (KCCU) Annual Primary School Quiz.{{more}}

With a total of 24 points, the dynamic duo battled through three rounds of stiff competition to reign supreme over five other competing schools at the Methodist Church Hall on Saturday, November 27.

Round one comprised multiple choice questions, round two consisted of closed questions and the third round, probably the most exciting, was the buzzer round, in which the students pressed a button to answer questions.

An excited Jaykel told SEARCHLIGHT: “We feel really excited that we have worked so hard and we have won today.” Afeisha echoed the sentiments of her partner and added, “I feel the same way because we put all of our efforts in doing this and we won.”

In addition to copping the Thomas Saunders Challenge Trophy, the duo will be soon presented with a computer and printer at their school.

Representing the Fancy Government School, Danny Michael and Abigail Alexander missed out on the title by just one point and had to settle for the second spot, with a total of 23 points. Ruth Ollivierre and Alvania Simmons did their school proud, as they brought home the third position for the Bequia Anglican Primary School.

The Lowmans Windward Anglican School came in fourth place, Canouan Government School took the 5th position, and the Barrouallie Government School rounded off the bunch, taking the sixth spot.

The students keenly contested in five categories namely: History, Sports, Credit Union affairs, General Knowledge, and Current Affairs. The students received cash prizes and trophies.

President of KCCU Board of Directors, Michael John, said the KCCU has been investing in the youth for a number of years and the competition is one of their “shining” examples. John expressed his delight in the turnout at the finals, especially with the presence of the two schools from the Grenadines.

John threw out a challenge to other schools to get involved and get prepared for the quiz next year. He said this year, the Board decided to offer higher incentives to the winning school by awarding the winners with a desktop computer. “Our keen interest is to see the youth of St Vincent and the Grenadines excel and this quiz serves as an avenue where they are allowed to excel,” he noted.

Representing the Ministry of Education, Marla Nanton conveyed congratulations to the KCCU for putting on the quiz each year. She noted that they at the Ministry recognize the deeper value of students participating in healthy and structured competition. She said competitions of this nature help to create in students a desire to succeed. “Through healthy competition, students may gain a taste of success and want even more,” Nanton said.

She added that it is the hope of the Ministry that even after students leave the formal education system, the desire for success will follow them.

Chairperson of the KCCU Education Committee, Adrian Wyllie, said the programme took on a new look with the involvement of schools from the Grenadines, specifically Canouan and Bequia.(KW)