Belmont Government School takes Child Month essay writing competition

Sharania Jackson, a student of the Belmont Government School, is the winner of the first ever essay writing competition held among primary schools during May, for child month celebrations.{{more}}

Sponsored by the General Employees Cooperative Credit Union (GECCU), the competition was organized by the Ministry of Education and was conducted in primary schools at the Grade 5 level.

Twelve schools participated, with the Belmont Government taking the two top spots.

Jackson’s classmate, Angelica Mc Donald, took the second position, while Tamia Isaacs of the Sion Hill Government had to settle for the third spot.

Students were required to write an essay on the Child Month’s theme: “Building a strong foundation: Ensuring a brighter future”.

Following the prize-giving ceremony, held on May 29 at GECCU’s boardroom, an excited Jackson told SEARCHLIGHT that she completed her essay in one and a half days.

The soft spoken grade five pupil said it was an honour to represent her school and being able to emerge as winner.

“I feel excited and proud to represent my school and myself.

“I believed in myself and from there I told myself I have to do this…

“My parents and teacher only edited the essay. I wrote everything and they looked it over to make sure it was good,” she said, smiling from ear to ear.

Meanwhile, GECCU’s president, Clarence Harry, congratulated all the students on a job well done.

Harry stated that GECCU is attached to anything that involves young people.

“When I look in the audience, I see a bright future; a future that has no limits, it has no boundaries. The sky is the limit and to hear that you would have completed the essay in two weeks, it speaks volumes.

“It says to us and it says to me that your potentials are unlimited. There is nothing impossible amongst these generations…”

He described the essay competition as an historic event, as it is the first of its kind among primary school students.

“We at GECCU are happy to have been part of this competition and to partner with the Ministry of Education to ensure that we maintain a strong focus on the development of our youth.”

Membership under the age of 30 represents 60 per cent of the credit union’s membership and, according to Harry, “that is remarkable”.

“So, it is not by accident that GECCU focuses on the youth,” Harry added.(AA)