Students rewarded in Pearnel Charles Reading Competition
Member of Parliament Pearnel Charles hosted the 12th staging of the Clarendon North Central Reading Competition which attracted hundreds of students from across the constituency.
The competition was held over two Fridays in July at the Donald Sangster Community Centre in Summerfield and, according to the MP, who is also Speaker of the House of Representatives, “the overall performance of the boys and girls was tremendous.”
The Pearnel Charles Reading Competition was funded from the $4-million budget set aside for education from the MPs Constituency Development Fund allocation.
“All students got certificates of competence for participation in the reading competition,” Charles said. “The second round went beyond reading … it involved comprehension as well, and 130 children made it to that point out of the overall 216 that started in the first round.
“I made a pledge over 10 years ago that no child should be in a school in my constituency and cannot read. And any parent who cannot afford to send that child to school, those bills are mine. I will do it. Every child in my constituency up to age 10 must be able to read — that is my goal,” the veteran MP said.
Twelve primary and all-age schools participated, and apart from the 216 certificates of participation, 12 students and six school also got trophies donated by Charles.
As part of the greater education programme, students at all levels will soon be assisted with the provision of tuition fees and uniforms by the MP.
Food For the Poor has donated books.