Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

EXPECTATIONS ARE high at Port Antonio Primary School in Portland where 11-year-old Jermaine James is highly touted to secure a Government scholarship in next year's Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).

Jermaine, who listed mathematics and social studies as his favourite subjects, also believes that a scholarship is awaiting him.

"I think I have an advantage. I managed to get some copies of past GSAT papers and I realised that it was not as challenging as I thought it would be. I am well aware of the task ahead and I am very focused," Jermaine told The Gleaner.

He added: "I am determined to undertake any challenge and, with support from my parents, my peers, along with skilful tutoring from my teacher, who is well experienced in preparing students for GSAT, I will secure that scholarship."

Kennecha Davis, Jermaine's teacher, is bubbling with confidence about the likelihood of him securing a Government scholarship, which will see him becoming the first student of this school to achieve that feat.

"There is no doubt in my mind," Davis said. "I have decided to take them (students) early in the mornings before school begins, to work on some of the skills that I think they will need. I will be with them on Saturdays. Jermaine is a committed student who is destined to do well, and his strong subject areas are social studies, mathematics, and language arts."

Davis said she hopes the level of commitment and dedication displayed by Jermaine as captain in the recently concluded Bible quiz competition, which was won by that school, will continue in the lead-up to GSAT.

rural@gleanerjm.com