THE Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board concluded its awareness programme, in secondary schools across the country, with an awards ceremony last week Thursday. The exercise targeted 12 ideal schools in Regions 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam), 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara), 4 (Demerara/Mahaica), 5 (Mahaica/Berbice), 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) and 10(Upper Demerara/Upper Berbice).
President’s College (PC) was awarded first place while Anna Regina Secondary and Black Bush Polder Secondary were adjudged second and third, respectively.
The first and third placed received trophies and farming equipment, valued $300,000. Their assignment had been to establish pesticides awareness corners in their schools, to provide a wealth of information, to all students, about the Board as well as pesticides that are hazardous yet beneficial.
Resources and supplies for the purpose were provided by the Board, with schools expecting to add their own bit of creativity.
This aim of targeting students enhances awareness for the proper use, storage and an overall better understanding of how pesticides work.

Very pioneering
The chosen schools were very pioneering in their displays of their particular corners, a release stated.
However, it said only nine of them completed the task and were able to develop very useful sections in the schools. 
Six schools were awarded consolation prizes of book certificates valued $20,000 each.
The books selected by the students are expected to strengthen agriculture science programmes in schools.
Meanwhile, the Board will be executing this awareness scheme annually, targeting more schools countrywide, the release indicated.