Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

PORT ANTONIO, Portland:

ALREADY FACED with delays in his study programme for the upcoming Grade Six Achieve-ment Test (GSAT) as a result of Hurricane Sandy, 11-year-old Jermaine James is trying to make up for time lost.

Jermaine, who is highly touted by teachers and students at Port Antonio Primary School to secure a coveted GSAT scholarship after displaying signs of brilliance, is reportedly coping well, despite the setback. And according to teacher, Kennecha Davis, despite the delays, she is expecting that by January 2013, he will be well conditioned, and right where she wants him to be.

"I am preparing him not just for GSAT. I am thinking long term and, as such, the level of teaching that he is receiving is advanced enough to assist him in high school and beyond. I will be implementing additional study hours, and this will come on stream during the holiday in December.

"As it is now, I am doing things a little differently according to his ability, and once he has grasped the basics, then I will up the tempo in January," said Davis.

According to the teacher, James has fully grasped most, if not all, of the areas, which were drawn from the various subjects, and as a result, she believes that he is well on the way to secure that GSAT government scholarship, which would be the first for that school.

Jermaine said he has spent many hours on Saturdays studying and learning new things. This, he said, assisted him greatly, as not only is he more knowledgeable about current affairs, but also in the areas of mathematics, language arts, social studies, and science, which will greatly assist him in the upcoming GSAT.

rural@gleanerjm.com