Lodge Village Government School student Aaron Weekes is the winner of the 2011 Ministry of Education and Pearson Education Writing competition.{{more}}

Weekes won out over eight other students who took part in the February 10th finals, which took place at the conference room of the Ministry’s Curriculum Unit, followed by the prize giving ceremony at the Peace Memorial Hall in Kingstown.

Daneel Mcphy, a pupil of the Georgetown Government School, placed second in the competition, while Joseanne Carrington of the Kingstown Preparatory School placed third.

Bequia Anglican School representative Osley Ollivierre received an honorable mention.

The finalists were given three topics to write on, inclusive of a picture, and were judged primarily on use of language, imagery, consistent development of their writing and dialogue.

Senior Education Officer Aldia Dyer said that the competition was introduced in an effort to promote literacy, and that the finalists distinguished themselves as part of an elite group because many people view reading as a challenge. She said she hoped that the competition will motivate children to publish.

Partners in the competition, Pearson Education, represented by Byron Wilson, congratulated the finalists in the competition, adding that it was time to develop a cadre of writers to document the history of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The writing competition was introduced in 2004.