Dear Editor,

I take this opportunity to congratulate the Ministry of Education on the wonderful job it is doing for education in Jamaica. With all the constraints, the smoothness with which the GSAT results have been communicated to the schools has been greatly improved.

I must also congratulate all the scholarship winners. I am sure these winners, along with their teachers and parents, together worked exceptionally hard to achieve success.

I would like to bring to your attention a student of St Andrew Preparatory School, Anjuii Barrett, who has been placed at her first choice school, Campion College.

Her grades are as: language arts – 97 per cent; social studies – 96 per cent; mathematics – 99 per cent; integrated science – 97 per cent; communications task – 100 per cent (12 out of 12). Normal average for these grades is 97.8 per cent.

I am not sure what extra-curricular activities the top achievers have participated in. However, Anjuii is the top swimmer in Jamaica in the age group 10 and under. She is a registered member of the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica and represents Marlins Swim Club at regular swimming championships that are held at the National Stadium swimming pool. (I am a former assistant treasurer of Marlins Swim Club.)

It is normal for parents to withdraw their children from activities such as swimming during the GSAT period. However, Anjuii was never made to stop. In fact at the Walter Rodgers Age Group Swimming Championship which was held between February 17 – 20, 2011 (on the eve of GSAT), she dominated the age group 10 and under, winning a total of eight medals including four gold, three silver and one bronze. She was also awarded the FINA high performance trophy.

Over the years Anjuii has won approximately 85 medals and seven trophies both for her school and club, and based on the path she is on she is expected to represent Jamaica in the not too distant future at the Carifta Swimming Championship, etc.

I would recommend that when accolades are being presented to your top GSAT awardees (which they fully deserve), Anjuii should be included on account of her overall performance both academically and in sports.

Joseph Reynolds

Kingston 5

khanireynolds@cwjamaica.com