The Canouan LOV Community Organization on Monday, November 28 made a donation to the Canouan Secondary School to cover the cost for the entire 2023 graduating class to sit Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations in Mathematics and English.

In 2023, students from the Canouan Secondary School will sit the CXC external examinations for the first time as a cohort.

The school was opened in 2019 with students entering Form 1 and this year’s examination is historic on a number of levels.

It is the first time that students from Canouan do not have to travel to the mainland to attend secondary school and for the first time, a cohort of students that received their education on Canouan will be allowed to sit CXC examinations.

The donation of EC$1100 was presented to the principal Terry Ollivierre.

Lavern King, a member of LOV in a release observed that it was extremely difficult in the past for Canouan residents to acquire a secondary education because their parents not only had to find the means to send them to school but also to ensure their board and lodging on the mainland.

King noted that many students dropped out because they were “treated terribly in private accommodation.”

She also noted that now the secondary school is on Canouan, she views the donation as giving forward to ensure that residents take full advantage of the opportunity hence the effort by the group to assist.

The release said the Canouan LOV Community Organization was able to raise the funds through donations (including a contribution from Beefy Entertainment) and also through fundraising activities on the island.

Valcina King-Gregg, a spokesperson for the group noted that as a group they will be considering mentorship and homework assistance going forward but they will need the help of residents and the business community on the island.

RELATED ARTICLE: Education Minister explains low percentage passes of some schools in CAPE and CSEC exams