The hard work put in by the pioneers of the George Stephens Sr. Secondary School has begun to bear fruits.{{more}}

This year, the institution participated in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations for the first time and recorded a 70 per cent overall pass rate.

“Today we are celebrating success,” said Acting Principal Anella Roban, during her address at a brief ceremony on Monday, September 20, to mark the school’s fifth anniversary.

She said the results were astounding, considering that most of the students were placed in the system despite not having the necessary qualifications.

This proved a major challenge for the new school, but Roban said the institution has been dealing with the issue.

“Student apathy, we have taken this on,” she said.

“We know you, the students, are struggling to develop your identity,” Roban said, adding that she and the staff committed to continuing the vision that got the school going.

On September 5, 2005, the George Stephens Sr. Secondary School was officially opened with 130 students and its fair share of challenges and uncertainty.

At last week Monday’s event, Cabinet Secretary Susan Dougan, delivering the feature address, added that the decision to place a secondary school in Colonaire came at a time when the government was seeking to fulfill one of its millennium development objectives, that of universal access to education.

Dougan, who was Chief Education Officer at the time, said that this decision meant students needed access to secondary schools.

She lauded the students for their good work over the initial years.

“Education has impacted wonderfully on you,” she said.

“We have seen behavioural changes.”

The Cabinet Secretary urged the students to build on the positive start.

“We expect you to do well and to be the best that you can be; you have skills, so go for it,” Dougan told the gathering.

“It is no longer going to be business as usual, you (students) have to get in line with what the others are doing,” she said. (DD)