500+ Belizean students honoured for CXC grades
This morning hundreds of students and their proud parents gathered at the Saint John’s Junior College gymnasium to mark Belize’s academic performance in the annual CXC exams. Hosted by the CXC National Committee of Belize, the ceremony celebrated more than grades, it recognized the fact that more families are making the sacrifice to ensure that their children get the best education available.
Maud Hyde, Chief Education Officer, Min. of Education
?To all the awardees here today, I say congratulations for a job well done. You are all champions in your own right and much deserving of the attention and respect you are enjoying today.?
During special ceremonies held this morning Chief Education Officer Maud Hyde praised the more than six hundred students for their outstanding performance in the May/June 2005 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations.
Today, three hundred and fifty-seven students received Certificates of Excellence, while Certificates of Achievement were awarded to another two hundred and forty-six students.
According to the CXC national Committee Chairman Alan Genitty, the numbers represent a significant improvement as only four hundred and ninety-six students were similarly recognised in 2004.
Alan Genitty, Chairman, CXC Committee
?Today?s group of six hundred and three students represent more than three and a half times the 1999 figure of a hundred and sixty-five students and represents a two hundred and sixty-five percent increase in the number of students receiving recognition from the CXC National Committee over the past six years.?
The two top honour students of the year are Lowell Navarro, a graduate of Saint John?s College and Jessica Chee, an alumnus of Saint Catherine?s Academy. Navarro and Chee maintain they did not expect high scores.
Lowell Navarro, 1st Place Candidate, CSEC Examination
?None of us, I might say could have expected such an outcome. The passage of time has allowed us to honour and integrity to accept such recognition for hard work and late nights burning the midnight oil.?
Jessica Chee, 2nd Place Candidate, CSEC Examination
?I am definitely proud of what I have done. In all honesty I was not expecting to rank as high as second in the country. I knew that nine ones were somewhat of a very good job, but I had no idea it would have been so good. I feel quite proud.?
It was an equally proud moment for the parents of the honoured students. Those we spoke with expressed that the reward represents not only a pass in the exam, but a crowning moment to the achievements of their sons and daughters during high school.
Many of the young men and women have not determined what kinds of careers they will pursue in the future, but tonight the Ministry of Education hopes that the brightest of the bright will play an integral part in the country?s development.
Maud Hyde
?Be mindful that the Belizean population is a very young population. According to the last census, almost fifty-two percent of our population is younger than nineteen years old, and more than sixty percent is below the age of twenty-four years. These statistics serve well to emphasise the point that the future of our nation truly lies in the hands of our young people.?
?The Government of Belize currently commits the largest percentage of the national budget to education. This indeed is a strong indication of the national emphasis placed on education. However, it is more than what we put into the education system that will mark our success. But it is also what the education system is able to produce by way of well informed citizens who are critical thinkers with strong values and a deep commitment to national development.?
For their outstanding performances today Navarro and Chee formally received full scholarships to the tertiary institution of their choice and laptop computers.
Today’s ceremony was also very special for a young man from the Corozal District, Marvin Vasquez, as this year he became the first student of the Corozal Junior College and the country, to receive a certificate of recognition. Vasquez was recognised for his performance in the Caribbean Advance Proficiency Examination, CAPE.
