Lawrence T. Gay students receive examination kits

WHEN the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination or Common Entrance, as it is also known, rolls around later this month, the students of the Lawrence T. Gay Memorial School will not be disadvantaged by a lack of equipment to get the job done. That is because all 75 students slated to sit this year’s exam were presented with examination kits by parliamentary representative Ian Gooding-Edghill.

With the donation making up part of the annual presentation to students of the school, each child will be armed with clipboards and stationery for the July 14 assessment that will have a bearing on the trajectory of the rest of their lives. Speaking just after the presentation, which was made at the Combermere School yesterday, Gooding-Edghill explained that this was nothing new for him as he has kept the school near and dear to his heart for many years.

“As you may be aware, I have been doing this initiative for a number of years. In fact, on record it is approximately ten years that I have been supporting the pupils with examination kits, presentations at graduations and other donations that I give to the school during the course of the year. I started this initiative long before I became the Member of Parliament for St. Michael West-Central and I intend to continue this initiative throughout the years,” he said.

Noting that he has a passion for and commitment to service, having grown up in the area, the parliamentary representative said that there were a number of other initiatives that would be rolled out for the school.

“It is absolutely necessary that we in the community help those within the community and that will continue to be my mandate – first of all as a former resident of the area, having grown up in Long Gap, Spooner’s Hill; and also in my capacity as their Member of Parliament.”

With the school facing its share of challenges in recent times after environmental issues have rendered the compound unusable for the time being, Gooding-Edghill stated that he was not in a position to speak to what was being faced at the school, but said he was happy about the response by the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training.

“I am very pleased with the progress with the Ministry. I’m also pleased with the arrangements that we have in place for the students. As you can see, the students who are writing the 11-Plus examination are housed here at the Combermere School and that says a lot. The fact that they still have their teachers, who have an excellent job,” he said.

He also took the opportunity to tip his hat to and pay deep gratitude to teachers, especially those at the primary school level, noting that the teachers at the school have gone above and beyond to prepare the students throughout the years.

“That says a lot about the quality of teaching that we have in Barbados. It says a lot about the quality of the teaching service generally and we have a committed principal at the Lawrence T. Gay School who also goes above and beyond, like the teachers, like the ancillary staff, to ensure that the students feel accommodated, that they are very well taken care of and they do their best in very challenging times,” he said. (MP)