Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Hon. Ronald Jones, addressing the 2016 Graduation and Awards Ceremony of the SJPP, on Saturday night.
Valedictorian of the Class of 2016 – Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP), Rachel Drayton, receiving her Diploma in Mechanical Maintenance and the A&C Security Award from St. Clair Pinder, former Senior Accountant at SJPP.
Christopher Rouse graduated with a certificate in Mechanical Maintenance.
THE 2016 graduation class of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) has been urged not to become complacent and to never lose sight of their goals.
During the Graduation and Awards Ceremony held at the school’s Wildey, St. Michael auditorium on Saturday night, Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, the Hon. Ronald Jones, told the graduands that SJPP should be but a stage in their educational journey.
“Lifelong learning creates the journey for you to achieve beyond your wildest dreams,” he stressed.
This year 276 full-time students, who completed all courses in their programme of study, received certificates. In addition, 221 students who were successful in most courses in their programme were awarded unit certification.
“Don’t simply be satisfied and say okay I have a diploma in human ecology, business studies, etc. – just don’t be satisfied. One of you who have done those studies, might eventually by your own studies become the instructor or teacher here at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic or go on as a result of your entrepreneurial ability to open several hair and nail salons… The point I am making is that this is but a stage in your journey,” Jones said.
The Education Minister also shared that he gets very concerned at comments which indicate that “education is for work”. He explained to the graduation class that this is not true, pointing out, “Education is for living. And work is only a stage to make that living.
“If education was simply for work, a lot of people would not become educated because some people don’t like work. There are several in Barbados who want the money, but not the work; who ask for a job, but then don’t work and those are some of the things we must change as we go past 50 years.”
Jones further stressed, “There are too many persons waiting on others to give them sustenance. You can’t do that because you don’t know the other person’s situation… That ‘oh poor me’ attitude must disappear. Prepare opportunity to be gained. That negativity as we approach 50 must disappear.”
Highlighting the achievements of the faculty and students of SJPP during the academic year 2015-2016, Principal Hector Belle expressed, “We are celebrating a great victory.
“For you who are here consider yourselves victorious, you have travelled the full journey… By now you should be cognisant of the importance of being well-trained in this stage of what I call global economy and competitiveness, and it is imperative that you are in a constant state of learning, in order to remain relevant.”
Also reflecting on the graduation theme “Great Work: The only way to do great work is to love what you do”, Belle told the graduands to let it serve as a reminder that if they produce skills to the highest standard, they will always be in demand. (TL)
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