Irish Town Primary Sixth Graders Challenged to Perform

Hon. Marcella Liburd and Scholarship recipients

(EMU) – St. Kitts, September 12, 2012: Sixth Graders at the Irish Town Primary School now have a motivational tool to inspire them annually with the introduction of the Hon. Marcella Liburd Academic Award of $500.00 each for a male and female student.

In a brief address at the handing over ceremony, Minister Liburd expressed that the criteria for gaining such an award was high academic performance and exemplary behaviour as well as ambition. She added that having parents in an income bracket deserving such assistance was another consideration.

Headmistress at the School Jean Nisbett Boddie, told the Education Media Unit she was pleased that Minister Liburd had recognized and awarded the school by way of some of its most promising students. She said this has motivated other students to express their desire to strive for the award in the future. Ms. Boddie enthused that the school’s improved performance over the past academic year was mainly due to a “student motivation drive” undertaken by herself and staff members.

Principal Boddie said the focus was on building students’ self esteem through various avenues including bringing in past students who are doing well in the society and who have secured lucrative employment and become upstanding members of the community.

Commenting on the improved performance of the Irish Town Primary School Ms Boddie revealed that of twenty students graduating last school year, three quarters went into 1A1-1A3. She was pleased to further report that her school tracks students’ academic performance through high school, and it was revealed that past students who graduated fifth form last academic year also did extremely well.

Deandre Seaton and Juliana Pemberton were the first recipients of the award.