Chairman Burrowes calls on young winners to educate relatives on voting process
WINNERS in the Guyana Chronicle’s online ‘Master Mind’ Quiz were yesterday urged by the company’s Chairman Keith Burrowes to spend less time on the popular social site ‘Facebook’, and more time embracing the country’s politics as a part of their civic responsibility.
 It was the fourth prize-giving presentation since the game was established, and students, in their school uniform, sat proudly beside their parents and guardians at the ceremony, held at Chronicle’s office, Lama Avenue, Bel Air Park.
 The winners for the period September 4 through October 1 were: Sarah Garrido of Green Acres School Group (1st); Reshan Rahim of St. Gabriel’s Primary (2nd); Vani Ramnarain of Montrose Primary School (3rd); Maya Persram of Marian Academy (4th); Rahul Lildhar of Novar Primary School (5th); Shanae Harte of New Guyana School (6th); Onecia Bollers of St. Margaret’s Primary (7th); Ruel Douglas of Mae’s Primary (8th); Noah Rajak of Eccles Primary (9th); and Mukhtaar Alli of Grove Primary (10th).
 The top ten scorers for the period of October 2 to October 29 were: Sarah Garrido (1st); Maya Persram (2nd); Reshan Rahim (3rd); Vani Ramnarain (4th); Mukhtaar Alli (5th); Shanae Harte (6th); Onecia Bollers (7th); Denisha Leitch of Port Mourant Primary (8th); Yutesh Dyal of Port Mourant Primary (9th); and Akeem Bashar of C.W.C Primary (10th).
 For both periods, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, and the Guyana National Newspapers Limited, sponsored the first to fifth place winners, while NT Computec sponsored the sixth to tenth place winners.
 The chairman observed that the number of students participating has increased, and that even those from overseas are now part of the game. The intention of it, he said, is to stimulate competition.
 The quiz has so far attracted over 200 players and the number keeps rising each day.
 So far, Burrowes said the game has seen over 3000 questions, and he thanked the Chronicle’s General Manager Nandkumar Puran, Editor-in-Chief Mark Ramotar, and Finance Controller Moshamie Ramotar for keeping the game going.
 Burrowes also thanked a team comprising Kevin Sukhdeo, Courtney Perry and Akash Persaud for their passion for the game, even though they are not being paid for their work.
 According to Burrowes, his intention is to have an ‘Advocacy Body’ set up following the November 28 elections. He said it struck him recently to see that there was a lack of civic responsibility among children. Nevertheless, he pointed out that politics affects everyone.
 A form was circulated that provided the students with education on voting, and Burrowes urged the winners to start early in looking at organizations that they could join when they are older.    
 He told them that getting to know more about politics would not take away from their academic time, but would help them to be more rounded individuals.
 Burrowes urged parents to ensure that their children join a group as part of their extra-curricular activities. This, he observed, would help balance them with their academic work.
 The chairman announced that a decision has also been made for the parents of children who win consecutively to receive prizes. Parents must be honoured in some way, he said. 
     When the chairman conceptualized this idea two years ago, the level of interest now being shown was never envisaged. “This is very commendable,” he said.
 Following the presentation of prizes yesterday, Burrowes asked parents and others for suggestions to on improve the game, and promised to look into each one raised.  
     Chronicle’s General Manager Nandkumar Puran observed that the group participating was bigger than the last time and thanked students for their participation. He also thanked the parents for encouraging their children to participate.
 Parents who were present were high in praise for the Chronicle and indicated that it has helped their children with their school work.
 Another batch of children will be honoured before elections day.
 President Bharrat Jagdeo, at State House on Main Street, Georgetown, had started the much-touted quiz, an innovative and interactive online forum targeting primary school children preparing for the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).
 Interacting with some of the target group from schools in Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica), he had assured them of his commitment to the success of the venture.
 He stressed that the quiz corner will make a big difference for not only primary school children, but older ones, as well as adults.
     Referring to the interactive nature of the website, the President said it would foster a sort of friendly competitiveness and expand the participants’ knowledge base at the same time.
     “This kind of competition breeds entrepreneurial behaviour. We lost a class of entrepreneurs when we pursued a different path in the past. We need to rebuild that class of entrepreneurs,” President Jagdeo said.
     Education Minister Mr. Shaik Baksh, who was also present at the launch, said his ministry is fully supportive of the venture and suggested that, in time, the site’s content will be expanded to reach Grades Two and Four.
     “This will help improve results in the key areas of English, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies,” he posited.
     Baksh added that the Chronicle’s Master Mind Quiz Corner will bolster the efforts being made in the education sector.
     At the launch, the chairman had said that pupils are eligible to compete by securing a copy of the Guyana Chronicle, filling out the coupon and forwarding it.
     The entry forms can be sent either directly to the Chronicle headquarters on Lama Avenue, or through their respective schools, but with the written consent of parents/guardians.
     Once received by the sponsors, an account will be created and the player will then be contacted. Players will earn points with each correctly answered question being worth a point.
     The competitors will be given 60 questions to answer every day and, to date, 2,000 questions have been developed with the support of NCERD.
     At the end of every quarter, those competing will have their scores tallied and the highest scorers would win prizes.
     One of the more attractive features on the website is the homework helper, through which children are able to post challenging questions online and receive feedback from other contestants.