Takamaka, first primary school to get ‘Hall of Fame’ |20 July 2018

Takamaka primary school has become the first school in the country to have a Hall of Fame which will honour pupils who have excelled not only academically but through good deeds and character.

Five students selected for this year’s Hall of Fame are Rohan Albert, Alejandro Sanguignon, Hope Nourrice, Christ Magnan and Haille Denis.

These five students sat for the Primary Six national exams last year and achieved excellent academic performances, with Haille Denis emerging as the best pupil nationally.

The Hall of Fame is an initiative of Georgina Dhillon, the chief executive of Rila Institute of Health Studies based in the United Kingdom.

It was the Minister for Education and Human Resource Development Jeanne Simeon and Mrs Dhillon herself who inaugurated the Hall of Fame.

Also present were Dr Odile Decommarmond, the principal secretary for early childhood, primary and secondary education; senior officials of the ministry; Magda Rose, the head teacher of Takamaka primary school; Dr Justin Valentin, the chairman of the school council; parents and the pupils themselves.

The Hall of Fame is popular around the world, having its roots in baseball and thereafter athletics and basketball, particularly in the United States.

Schools have also adopted the concept whereby this initiative aims at giving respective schools the opportunity to recognise and reward pupils, who have worked tirelessly to perform to the maximum in their studies and other non-academic activities.

The selection criteria for the Takamaka primary school was a score of 80% and above in the various examinable subjects which makes the pupils eligible for being among the top scorer at national level.

They must be ranked among the top 10 in the P6 national examinations.

To develop a child holistically one student is awarded for his/her overall academic or non-academic performance but needs to be somebody whose contribution has impacted positively in the life of the school.

An in addition to that the awardees must display perseverance, self-discipline, curiosity, honesty, commitment and responsibility among other core values.

“It is hoped that through such initiative, awardees will serve as role models for the others. By honouring their achievements it is believed that this will inspire others to excel in the different areas of studies as well as in extra-curricular activities,” said Ms Rose.

“This Hall of Fame goes a long way. It gives you the opportunity to actually show gratitude and understanding and to also appreciate these great kids, five of them, who have done so well,” said Mrs Dhillon.

Mrs Dhillon also remarked that investment is not just about money, it is also something one does for the benefit of someone else.

Congratulating the Takamaka primary school for having deservedly been selected for the launching of such an initiative due to the school’s continued excellent performance, Dr Decommarmond said the ministry has decided to frame its own selection criteria in relation to the ministry’s context.

“The trust is on improving attainment and we want our pupils not just to perform to the best of their abilities, but also to excel, both nationally and internationally,” she said.

In his closing remark, the council chair, Dr Valentin, said there is something good happening in the school which less performing schools can take as a model, referring to Takamaka primary school’s previous achievements.

“The Hall of Fame crowns our hard work,” said Dr Valentin.

The song ‘The World’s Greatest’ by R. Kelly was sung by the pupils to enliven the ceremony.