DEPUTY Chief Education Officer, Ms. Donna Chapman has warned that standards must be maintained, as she congratulated those attending this year’s honouring ceremony which took place recently in Linden as she urged recipients of awards not to become complacent and advised them to make a positive difference in society. The deputy education officer was at the time attending the Regional Education Department of Region 10 (Upper Demerara /Upper Berbice). She lauded the achievements for the past year with its annual Department of Education Awards ceremony held last Thursday at the Mackenzie Primary School, Linden.

The honouring ceremony catered for students, teachers and retirees in various categories along with sports.
Chapman quipped: never to become mediocre in what they do as she praised the region’s teachers for their steadfast dedication to their profession as she urged the retirees to “use your retirement years wisely, enjoy them but don’t retire. Today you will receive a token of our appreciation.”
In comparing the challenges for male and female teachers she noted “our young men are at risk as too many young men are committing suicide and acts of murders, many boys are not taking education seriously, resulting in girls out performing them.”
She hoped that this activity will be perennial as she pleaded that “our children are our greatest resource in any community.”
Also highlighting the ceremony were the announcements by Regional Education Officer, Ms Marcia Paddy-Andrews of the outstanding performances at the National Science Fair by Region 10, which included taking away the Best Overall Tertiary Project prize along inclusive of nine trophies. Ms Andrews also noted that the region also won the 2014 Children Mashramani Road March title.
Last year there was a marked increase in children entering the nursery schools in Region 10 as a result of the decrease in the age category where in 2013 there were 1,261 admissions, while for 2014 it reflected 1,496. .
Speaking proudly in the presence of Chief Education Officer Olato Sam, Deputy Chief Education Officer Ms. Donna Chapman, and Region 10 Literacy Coordinator Ms. Ava Chapman, the Regional Education Officer Ms Andrews-Paddy informed that the Amelia’s Ward Primary School excelled last year by making available to 75 new pupils with hot meals and this helped facilitate an improvement in the overall attendance at the school. In addition, there was a general improvement by nursery school pupils, said the REDO following the change of age requirement to nursery schools.
Further, Region 10 saw more than 50 percent averages in students who write the National Grade Four Examination while approximately 11,385 students participated in several activities and competitions with outstanding results.
The REDO also reported that a 50 percent increase in Mathematics and English passes at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Examinations. Additionally, the region was among those regions which attained more than 50 percent average at the National Grade Four Examinations.
Among other achievements, Andrews highlighted that schools in the region which accounted for 11, 385 students last year, participated in a number of activities and competitions which saw students performing exceedingly well.
Ms Paddy Andrews reported that all administrators reported for duty at the commencement of the final term last year as she related the unique achievement of the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School (CWSS) who repeated as champions of the Digicel National Schools’ football tournament.
It was also acknowledged that the inaugural Jump Rope competition was successfully done during the Linden Town Week of activities as she congratulated all for making the event a memorable one. (Joe Chapman)