By Tamica Garnett
IN a good showing of social corporate responsibility, SuperBet, Metro Office and Computer Supplies and Fibre Tech Plastics have all come onboard to tangibly reward the 12 top performers at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).
SuperBet and Metro have partnered to offer the pupils stationery supply grants. The two top pupils will receive grants valuing $35,000 each while the others will receive $25,000 each. Fibre Tech has also presented each of the two pupils with a new chair and desk combination.
The pupils were presented with their items on Wednesday at a small presentation ceremony held at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston, Georgetown.

“I’m elated to see my hard work pay off by getting the results that I wanted and now these gifts. I really appreciate the gestures and want to thank everyone who helped to make this happen,” commented young Samuel Barkoye, one of the two 2020 top NGSA performers.
Barkoye, who wrote his NGSA at North Georgetown Primary, shares the top spot with Rovin Lall, who hails from Stella Maris Primary. They both attained 525 marks out of the maximum 528 marks and were awarded spots at Queen’s College.
“I am very happy to receive the gifts and I’m so happy that the work paid off from all those hard working nights. I want to thank the sponsors who gave us the gifts,” Lall said of the kind gestures.

Also at the presentation were Education Minister, Priya Manickchand and Chief Education Officer, Dr. Marcel Hutson.
Minister Manickchand commended the companies for coming onboard to reward the pupils for their hard work and celebrate their achievements. She also expressed the hope that other corporate entities would be inspired to follow suit.
“This is a good example of how partnership with public and private sectors can work to make sure we not only celebrate you [the pupils] but give you useful tools going forward. We expect and hope that others will get on board,” the minister said
“To SuperBet, Fibre Tech and Metro, we thank you for taking the time to make the effort. For me, it shows what we can do together; it shows us that we are not in this education journey alone and I thank you for this effort.”

USE WISELY

She charged the students to use their grant wisely, particularly given how education delivery in Guyana will be of a more advanced nature going forward and learners will need even more advanced equipment such as electronic devices.
She also reminded that even as they receive their grants from the businesses, the $15,000 cash grant per learner is still imminent and charge them to also use that wisely.
“Make sure you collaborate with your parents to make sure you prepare for post COVID-19 activities because there will be a certain level of online engagement,” the minister noted.
Also making remarks at the ceremony was Dr. Hutson, who highlighted the importance of celebrating achievement. He also commended the businesses for taking the step to reward the pupils.

“That which we do not recognise will exit our lives, so it is always good to celebrate people and their achievements. I want to commend those who decided to come alongside the education system and ensure that our students receive what is rightly due to them,” Dr. Hutson said.
He encouraged the top performing pupils to continue to strive for excellence in their future, but went on to also note that even as the top performing pupils are celebrated, acclamation should also be considered for pupils who persevere above hard struggles and do well.
“In the near future we will not be looking at the top 10 but at the students of promise,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of SuperBet, Head of Marketing, Nickoli Primo praised the pupils for being stellar illustrations of hard work paying off.
“You would have shown what the outcome can be when you’re willing to overcome, of when you buckle down, ignore obstacles and work. We take you as examples of what can happen when you focus,” he said, adding: “We hope that this incentive goes somewhere in helping you in your future. With hard work and dedication, there are always great things ahead.”