Ministry of Education Hosts the 2019 P.S.E. Awards Ceremony
A week after the results of the 2019 Primary School Exams were released, the Ministry of Education brought together the top twenty-five students for an award ceremony in their honour. Today, the bright minds, in the presence of their parents and teachers, took to a stage to receive plaques and certificates for having done exceptionally well in the two-part exams held earlier this year. While Belize District fielded eleven of the top scorers, there were marked improvements from schools in the south. News Five’s Duane Moody reports from the Belize City Civic Centre.
Duane Moody, Reporting
It was a time for celebration this morning inside the Belize City Civic Centre as twenty-five primary school students from across the country were recognized for topping the 2019 P.S.E. While some were visibly nervous, it was a proud moment for parents and peers who cheered them on as they all received awards, certificates and in the case of the top three students, laptops and cell phones.
AnnElyse Fleser Perdue
AnnElyse Fleser Perdue, 2nd Place, P.S.E. 2019
“Education is made up of three parts. One third is the effort of our teachers, one third is the effort of our parents and one third is the effort that the student puts in. Looking back over my primary school years, I know that you all will agree with me when I say that this is indeed a true statement.”
Forty primary schools from across the country were also awarded for outstanding performance in four categories for having fielded a particular number of students for the exams.
Patrick Faber
Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
“It is also now geared towards recognizing those top performing schools and those schools that have most improved and also those schools that have consistently been performing well. So we recognised forty schools in four categories and the categories merely had to do with the number of test takers per school. So if you had a large number, you are in category one and if you had a very small number, you are in category four, but it is the same weighting that we use to judge the schools. So we recognized the top ten schools in each of those four categories. I must say that while you had some schools that don’t have a top performer, you have some schools that have done very well and have consistently done so. So we are proud of those schools and the idea behind this is to encourage schools to try to improve next year. That is really where the solution lies to fixing all of this. If the schools take on ownership, they engage the parents, they engage their students, they engage their teachers, they engage the wider school community which includes the Ministry of Education, there can be a wonderful success coming to all of our schools and children.”
In her address, top performer for the 2019 P.S.E., twelve-year-old Jasmine Espat wanted to inspire the minds of her peers and motivate others to achieve much more.
Jasmine Espat
Jasmine Espat, 1st Place, P.S.E. 2019
“This journey has taught me that with all success comes both hard work and sacrifices and you must be willing to accept this. I challenge you to set forth a goal for yourself and fix your mind upon achieving it. In whatever you do, ask yourself if it will take you closer to where you want to be. Be true to yourself in your response. This, I guarantee you; will lead you on a path to unimaginable places.”
A total of seven thousand, fifteen students sat the 2019 exams. Duane Moody for News Five.
