By Chantalé Fletcher
PUPILS Ameerah Beekhoo and Aaron Subero both got their President’s Gold Medal on Monday.
The Silver Medal awards for the 2020 Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam were received by Anjanaa Dan and Mercedes David.
The other awardees were given to students who excel at Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE), and National Examinations Council (NEC) Examinations for technical and vocational education.
Anjali Maharaj and Amrit Galbaran captured the President’s Medal (gold) for CAPE; Maali Rose and Anusha Saha received the CSEC gold and silver respectively while Richard Ramlochan was the first to receive a special medal President’s medal for technical and vocational education.
President Paula-Mae Weekes during the President’s Medal awards ceremony at President’s House, Port of Spain, congratulated all awardees on achieving the pinnacle of academic success in their respective examinations.
She described the medals as the culmination of their hard work, sacrifice and laser focus on the goals they set themselves.
Speaking to the SEA achievers, Weekes said, “I encourage you, while you continue to give pride of place to your schoolwork, take the opportunity to participate in and enjoy all your new school has to offer including sports and extra-curricular activities. I wish you all the best, particularly as you return to school full time in the third term.”
She said, “Your medals of gold and silver are surely testament to your nerves of steel and as we speak of nerves, let’s not forget your parents and teachers. They may not have shown it as they supported, comforted and guided you through the stormy waters, even while experiencing their own challenges, but I feel sure that they had their moments of anxiety on your behalf.
“Concerned aunties, granddads, neighbours, and siblings joined the chorus—encouraging you to keep at your studies despite the changes and confusion, consoling you when exam dates and formats were modified, and cheering you on as you ran the final stretch.”
President Weekes ended her presentation with the words of Indian philosopher and spiritual leader Jiddu Krishnamurti:
“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.”
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