The finalists for the eighth edition of the local leg of the Courts OECS Reading Competition will be selected this week.

The seven students will be selected from representatives of the 65 primary schools across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), who are involved in a preliminary competition at the Ministry of Education’s Curriculum Unit in Kingstown this week.{{more}}

The students are competing in eight zones: Grenadines, Kingstown, North Leeward, South Leeward, Georgetown, Union, Marriaqua and Calliaqua.

Last Thursday, Courts launched this year’s competition at the Spring Village Methodist School, home of last year’s national winner, Joelle Campbell.

Campbell, who celebrated her 10th birthday on the same day, said during school assembly that the occasion was a glorious one for her.

She thanked Courts and the Ministry of Education for the opportunity to represent SVG on the regional stage, and wished her school’s next competitor Leah Millington the best of luck during the preliminaries.

Education officer Albena Jack, who was present at the launch, used the opportunity to commend Campbell for her performance at the finals, which she described as flawless.

Although Campbell did not win, Jack indicated that the student did her best and that all of SVG should be proud of her effort.

Courts Commercial manager Lisa Veira also praised and thanked Campbell, as well as the Ministry of Education for making the event, which

is in its eighth year a success.

Veira, like many others, is hoping that SVG would finally be able to bring the title to these shores.

This year’s finals will to take place on October 14 at the Peace Memorial Hall, with the regional finals taking place in Nevis later that month.