WINDSOR Forest Primary School, at West Coast Demerara, held its annual graduation last Tuesday on the premises.

Chief Education Officer (CEO), Mr. Olato Sam, who was among those present, commended the performance of the institution, not merely for its improved excellence in academia but also the concurrent inculcation of assessment and value systems.
He lauded the parents of the graduating pupils for putting in a special effort to ensure the success of their children.
According to Sam, the full support of parents is of vital importance in a child’s future, especially in its academic life when he or she is about to sit an examination.
He said: “Today, we mark the annual progress of the young ones. The ministry is proud to have seen this level of progress and the teachers must be lauded for the success of these children, as they played an important role in making this possible.”
He acknowledged that it was the teachers who assisted the children as they worked beyond the hours for which they were paid.

MANY CHALLENGES
Sam told the children they can describe this phase as leaving one lifestyle and embarking on another. Nevertheless, it is a time for celebration as they would have faced many challenges in their academic experience, so far.
He went on to emphasise: “Secondary school is preparation for university and should not be treated carelessly. Whatever they choose to do at secondary school will reflect years from now as the individuals they will become.”
Another speaker, Mr. Vishnu Bandhu, executive member of the Windsor Forest/La Jalousie New York Association, a non-profit organisation which seeks to better and enhance the local district, said the grouping, over the past 10 years, has been providing assistance and rewarding top performers of the school with money.
He said, this year, the best graduates were rewarded with US$100 each and the others US$50 individually.
Bandhu said they have done many things to benefit the school and the community in general. For example, constructing  a tarmac, building a sanitary block, painting the school building, erecting an economic centre and donating items such as chairs, computers, refrigerators, etc.
He disclosed that they are in discussions to construct a library and rehabilitation centre for the community.
Bandhu, who is a successful and prominent businessman, explained that his organisation is made up of persons who once used to live in the district and have migrated, but still have its interest at heart.

MORE BENEFITS
He noted that the Windsor Forest/ La Jalousie New York Association has been cooperating with the United Federation for Art and Culture – of which he is the President –  to make even more benefits possible.
Bandhu said he is most thrilled to have heard that Windsor Forest Primary School had pupils amongst the top 100 performers in the country and declared it a “significant accomplishment.”
He also encouraged the children to study harder as they enter secondary schools and focus to make themselves better human beings.
He identified several members of the Windsor Forest/La Jalousie/New York Association, including the President, Peter Chu-A-Kong; General Secretary, Mahmood Ishmael; Treasurer, Shafi Ramjan and coordinator, Rickey Singh.
Meanwhile, Regional Chairman of Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), Mr. Julius Faerber, said he is pleased that the school has done exceptionally well with its pupils securing places at senior secondary schools.
He, too, commended the staff and headteacher, noting that they have been improving, tremendously, over the years.
Faerber remarked that, overall, the quality of education in the region has greatly improved and, thanks to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), the sector will be seeing more developments in time to come.

MORE STEPS
He said the children are, today, seeing the fruits of their sacrifices and urged them to continue studying hard as there are many more steps to climb on the ladder of total success.
Faerber said the region, as a whole, has done better this year with the number of senior secondary school places its children have secured.
Headmistress of Windsor Forest Primary, Ms. Ann Barnes, admitted that she is exceptionally proud of all the graduates, especially top graduate Shameer Mohamed.
She said, with the extra help coming from the teachers, great success was the result for the children who were eager and thirsty for knowledge.
Barnes said, bringing the pupils to where they are today was no easy task but it paid off and seeing their happy faces is something for which she would give all her time.
She cautioned that secondary school will not be an easy ride, but advised the children to be strong and willing, so as to make it through, successfully.