SCHOOL: Mona High

POPULATION: 1,335

FOUNDED: 1979

ADDRESS: Mona Road, Kingston 6

PRINCIPAL: Keven Jones

INTER-SCHOOL competitions, particularly the sport-related type, have been a sticking point in the national discourse for some time. One discussion surrounding the issue is whether, beyond a few pieces of copper and moments of glory, they offer any real benefit to the students involved. We put these issues to the head students of Mona High School, one of the most involved in inter-school activities and a contender in some of the major competitions, including ISSA/JHF Girls’ and Boys’ Hockey Competition, Manning Cup, ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, and Schools’ Challenge Quiz (SCQ), to name but a few.

Mona High is ranked the top-performing upgraded high school.

HEAD BOY: Andre Moore

DOB: May 28, 1997

CAREER ASPIRATION: Information technology specialist

HEAD GIRL: Shanique Roberts

DOB: December 2, 1996

CAREER ASPIRATION: radiologist

C&E: What are your thoughts on inter-school competitions?

AM: It allows for students to get active and involved in the school, because school is not only about academics. Inter-school competitions also provide an avenue for students with sport talents to showcase them.

C&E: What do you think students gain from participating in these competitions?

AM: It builds students’ level of competitiveness for future careers in sports. It also creates the possibility of scholarships to move on to university/college.

SR: I must first say a school is an institution that is necessary not only for academic purposes, but to have well-rounded individuals in society. Inter-school competitions contribute to this theory as many students of Mona High School in previous school years have attained scholarships to attend other institutions to not only give them the opportunity to further their educational goals, but to be involved in these activities at higher levels.

C&E: Do you think companies are exploiting the school spirit and enthusiasm of students with some of these competitions?

AM: No, they do not. I think it’s great for companies to get involved because it is sponsorship that allows some of these competitions to carry on.

C&E: Do you think schools take these competitions too seriously?

AM: No. schools train hard for some of these inter-school competitions. So the level of seriousness they show means they just want to win, and see that training hard actually pays off.

C&E:Mona High has been involved in Schools Challenge Quiz (SCQ) over the years. Does this help students’ academics in any way?

SR: Yes. A friend of mine is on the Schools’ Challenge Quiz team and it has helped her tremendously in her studies. She’s always ahead of the class in the content to be taught, as SCQ covers a wide variety of knowledge. It all boils down to balancing time.

C&E: The ISSA/Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Championships is one of the major events in the school year. What are your thoughts on the high level of preparation that student athletes undertake for the championship?

AM: The schools just want to win. In some cases, it may affect some students academically. It also may cause long-term injuries to some athletes, causing their careers to end at the high school level. But every school wants the glory of winning Champs.

C&E: Do you think schools pay too much attention, and by extension money, on preparing their track teams for Champs (including buying equipment, hiring coaches and other technical staff, etc)?

SR: No. Our small island is well known for sports. How else will we continue this trend?

C&E: What of the transfer or “buying” of student athletes?

AM: If the students have an opportunity to be better athletes I don’t see the issue with transfer of student athletes.

SR: This issue has always been a debatable one. I personally am not a fan or supporter of the “buying” of student athletes. I believe schools should groom and make use of their resources.

C&E: The Ministry of Education had proposed to manage transfer of student athletes. Do you think they should?

SR: I wholeheartedly agree! This could contribute to the solution of the elevation of academic standards among student athletes in high schools.

C&E: Do you think the Ministry should regulate the number of inter-school competitions instituions enter?

AM: I don’t think so because this will result in some not participating and every school should be able to enter inter-school competitions even if they are not really good at the competition; the more they enter the more they will improve.

C&E: Do you think that inter-school competition poses a distraction to students?

SR: It always boils down to the type of student. Students should be able to identify their main priorities in school and balance them.

C&E: Do you think they foster unnecessary tension and even violence between schools?

AM: Not really. It is just the level of competition; there is no real violence.

SR: To some extent. In previous years inter-schools competitions posed problems between schools and their competitors. However, persons and organisations have made initiatives to really educate students that these competitions should be conducted on a positive basis.

C&E: As student leaders, how can you help your school and students to strike a balance between inter-school competition and academic focus?

AM: I will suggest to the principal that an after-school programme for a particular day can be useful so that student athletes can stay updated on their academics.

C&E: Do you plan to pursue leadership at higher levels?

AM: Yes, I do. One day I will obtain my MBA after completing my bachelor degree in ICT.

SR: Most definitely; the country needs more innovative minds to run this economy.

— Aldane Walters