MORE than 1200 grade six students in 15 primary schools across the island were feted recently by Scotiabank Jamaica Foundation (ScotiaFoundation) as the cohort prepares for their final sitting of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations.

Lessening the financial burden for several parents as they prepared for the new academic year, ScotiaFoundation invested roughly $10 million to donate backpacks, notebooks, and other school supplies to the students. Each student also received a book voucher valued at $5,000 to purchase textbooks and other supplies at any Sangster’s Book Store.

Schools that benefited included Central Branch All-Age, St George’s Girls’ School, and Calabar Infant and Primary School (Kingston); Independence City Primary (St Catherine); Boundbrook Primary (Portland); Morant Bay Primary (St Thomas); Hall’s Delight Primary (St Andrew); Ballards Valley Primary (St Elizabeth); New Green Primary and Christiana Leased Primary (Manchester); Servite Primary and Steer Town Primary and Junior High (St Ann); Negril Primary (Westmoreland); Barrett Town Primary and Infant (St James); and Hague Primary (Trelawny).

The foundation also paired the back-to-school giveback with mini fun days at some schools, engaging the students through games, rides, and delectable treats just before the start of the new school year.