PATH achievers make ministry proud
Published:Thursday | April 15, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Minister of Labour and Social Security, the Hon Pearnel Charles, says that the excellent record of students who are being supported by the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), showed that the programme was reaching the most vulnerable groups in the society.
Charles said that since February, 2010, the total number of registered student beneficiaries stood at 201,414, compared to 175,000 for the same period last year, and that over the last two years, the Government had invested in the educational needs of 320,000 students, at a cost of approximately $350 million, resulting in increased school attendance and improvement in immunisation rates.
Charles was giving the main address at the 2010 Top Achievers Awards for students who have benefited from PATH at the Terra Nova Hotel on Tuesday.
Approximately 30 students received cash awards of between $8,000 and $20,000, trophies and plaques, to celebrate very outstanding performances in both the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) and Caribbean Secondary Education Council (CSEC) examinations.
Awards were presented for both 2008 and 2009.
There was a total of 12 GSAT awardees, comprising students who had attained 90 plus averages in the examination.
Top school 2009
Aabuthnott Gallimore High School, St Ann, where more than half of the school population is on PATH, was chosen top school of 2009 and the Mile Gully Health Centre, Manchester, top health centre for 2009.
For 2008, St George's Girls and Infant School in downtown Kingston, where 70 of the 200 students are on PATH, and Great Valley Health Centre, Hanover, were chosen top school and top health centre, respectively.
Charles noted that PATH had received $1.4 billion in the 2010/11 Budget and said the ministry would continue to strengthen its partnership with the beneficiaries.
Top achievers for 2009
Velrita
Brown, Montego Bay High School
Ken O'Connor, Ferncourt High, St Ann.
Top
scholars for 2009
Sashelle Riley, Montego Bay High,
Rammon
Green, Tichfield High, Portland.
Top achievers for 2008
Shashane
Wallace, Manchester High
Burchell Gordon, Ardenne High, St
Andrew
Top scholars for 2008
Monique Grayson,
Montego Bay High
Krishna Barrett, Cornwall College, St James
Top
GSAT girl, 2009
Whitney Baker of Siloah Primary, St Elizabeth
Top
GSAT boy, 2009
Raju Gunnings of Unity Primary, Westmoreland
Top
GSAT girl, 2008
Sho-Ann Waul of Mannings Hill Primary, St
Andrew
Top GSAT boy, 2008
Salmon of Rousseau Primary in Kingston
Top achiever
prizes went to students who, in the estimation of the judging panel and
based on nominations from the schools, best exemplified scholastic
excellence, high levels of school involvement, involvement in sport or
extra-curricular activities and high standards of behaviour and
deportment.