TOP-performance students at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) from East Berbice were Friday presented with bicycles and backpacks through President David Granger’s 5Bs (Buses, Boats, Bicycles, Breakfast and Books) initiative through the Ministry of Social Cohesion .The presentation was made by Minster of Social Cohesion Amna Ally to the top 52 performers in the region. It represented the single largest recognition across  the country for top achievers at the recently concluded NGSA.
The bicycles were donated by Fazil Yunas of Yunas Civil & Building Construction Services, while the backpacks were donated by Starr Computers.
Minister Ally reminded everyone that previously there was no such recognition, but through President Granger’s initiative and support from corporate Guyana, students are getting the recognition they deserve.
“I am very proud of Region Six, you will note that we have been moving across the other administrative regions of Guyana and are honouring the top 10 to 20 students for their performance at the NGSA, but in Region Six we decided to honour 50 students.
“You are one of the regions that stand out and the reason you are standing out is because of Mr Yunas’s contribution.
“This is the largest recognition of its kind across Guyana; thanks to Mr. Yunas and through the President’s dream and his government’s vision for an educated nation, we were able to make this presentation here today.”
Minister Ally said through her ministry, which is the driving force of the 5Bs initiative, they recognised the need for students to be rewarded at the end of the NGSA and at the same time motivate others to excel, so that they too can strive to be rewarded.
“As you are aware, the President is very passionate about education and would do everything in his power to ensure we have an educated nation, which is why he started with the 3Bs project that has now grown to 5Bs; and with the support of people like Mr. Yunas and corporate Guyana, the people are finding it easy get their children to school and staying in school.”
So far, the under the  5Bs project, 10 busses, nine boats  and several hundreds of bicycles have been distributed and another 300-350 bicycles are expected to be distributed to NGSA students.
The Minister of Social Cohesion also encouraged the students to be respectful of their guardians as they move away from their parents and homes to their new schools in Region Four.
“I want to encourage you to be  all-rounders.
“We want you to study hard but participate in sports/ extra-curricular activities and I want to assure you, you will have the facilities to become all-rounders.”
Businessman Fazil Yunas, in an invited comment, said he was very happy to be part of the President’s programme and is optimistic that this donation will help to motivate other students to excel at their examinations, so that they too can be rewarded.
“Since the (5Bs) started, I wanted to make a contribution as I recognised that the programme is helping the average citizen get their children in school to become educated and help break the cycle of poverty.
“So I met with the minister and she told me about this idea to honour the students and I immediately committed to it as I know it will encourage more students in Region Six to do better.
“I also promised the minister that once I have the means I will continue to contribute towards the programme, because we have a responsibility to give back to the community and I am very pleased to see how happy and excited the students were to receive their gifts and hope others strive for better next year.”
Regional Education Officer, Volika Jaikishun, in her brief address commended the students for a job well done.
She said she was proud that the top 50 awardees for Region Six all came from the public schools unlike other regions where the private schools dominated.